The Occupied Royal Palaces are used by The Queen as Sovereign to fulfil the role and functions of Head of State. Today, as in the past, they serve many functions - as venues for State and official events, and as working spaces for a wide range of people and as historic buildings for visits by members of the public.

The Queen invites approximately 80,000 guests annually to the Palaces, to events including receptions, garden parties and Investitures. The Palaces are also used for formal and ceremonial entertaining, including an annual diplomatic reception for foreign ambassadors, receptions and State Banquets for visiting Heads of State, and regular audiences with senior figures in the UK's national life and foreign ambassadors.

Another role of the Royal Residences is as a working environment for the people who help The Queen in her work. The Queen is aided by around 1,000 people, including Royal Household staff, Police and Armed Service personnel, Post Office staff, and building and maintenance contractors. They work in offices, service areas, workshops, stores, coach houses, stables and garages in, and associated with, the Occupied Royal Palaces. These spaces cover about 75% of the total area of the Palaces.

Most of the Royal Residences are also in use as visitor attractions, to which there are approximately 1.7 million visitors each year. In the case of some residences - such as Buckingham Palace - visits to the State Rooms are restricted to periods when they are not being used in an official capacity.