Here’s where it gets a bit spy. The King’s private apartment windows are on the north side of the Palace, facing the Mall. If you see lights on after sunset, especially in the Belgian Suite (yes, it’s a real name), he might be home. But don’t camp out with binoculars—that’s creepy, and the police will ask you to leave. A better trick: check the official royal website for his calendar. It lists public engagements, so if he’s scheduled to open a cheese factory in Dorset, he’s not in the Palace.
Pro tip: The King loves a last-minute walkabout. If you see a sudden crowd gather near the gate, and a cluster of people holding umbrellas without rain—that’s his security detail. You’re about to get a wave.
