Hillborough Castle is owned by the Government and its management is contracted to Historic Royal Palaces by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

[2] The Board of Historic Royal Palaces consists of a Chair and eleven Trustees, all non-executive and unpaid.

The remaining Trustees are appointed by the Secretary of State, two ex-officio: the Constable of the Tower of London and the Chairman of the Campaign Board.

[a] The Chief Executive is granted a general delegation to act on behalf of Trustees, save for reserved matters.

The palace underwent extensive renovation in the Baroque style during the reign of William III, designed by Christopher Wren.

[8] The Banqueting House, on Whitehall in the City of Westminster, central London, is the only large surviving component of the Palace of Whitehall, being one of grandest surviving examples of the architectural genre of banqueting houses in the classical style of Palladian architecture.

The Great Pagoda was built in 1761 by Sir William Chambers as a present for Princess Augusta, the founder of the Kew Gardens.

The castle is the official residence in Northern Ireland of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and of the British monarch and other members of the British royal family when they visit the region, as well as a guest house for prominent international visitors.

Historic Royal Palaces cites the 100 acres of picturesque gardens and castle State Rooms as attractions.

In the year to 31 March 2023, Historic Royal Palaces total income was £102.5m, more than half of which (£63.3m) coming from ticket admissions to the various sites, 80% of which was collected at the Tower of London.

Retail income from the site gift shops and online sales totalled £15m, and functions and events raised £6.4m.

[19] Total expenditure in the year to 31 March 2023 was £82.1m, of which £68.5m was allocated to expenditure on charitable activities, including £22.5m on Palaces (conservation work on both the buildings and collections; research; acquisitions; and maintenance of buildings and grounds), £40.1m on Experiences (exhibitions; special events; online activities; schools projects and programmes; and community events); £4.8m on costs attributable to fund-raising, membership and sponsorships; and £1.2m on workplace Culture.

[20] Management of the unoccupied Royal palaces in London was consolidated in the Office of Works over the course of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

[f] The Tower, along with all its military buildings, staff and tourist income[g] was fully transferred to the Office of Works in 1903.

[25] Kew Palace and Queen Charlotte's Cottage in Kew Gardens were transferred to the Office of Works in a deal brokered by its Permanent Secretary Lord Esher, whereby in exchange the dilapidated Kensington Palace would be renovated as a residence for Queen Victoria's children, and its State Apartments opened to the public.

[26] In 1970 the Ministry of Public Building and Works[h] was absorbed into the Department of the Environment,[i] a super-ministry created by the newly-elected Heath government.

In 1998 Historic Royal Palaces became an independent charity contracted by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to manage the London palaces on behalf of The King in Right of Crown, and in 2014 by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to manage Hillsborough Castle.