The renovators are in and British royals are out as Buckingham Palace gets US$485 million refit
The famous front wing of the palace in London is getting a decade-long repair job, forcing three of Queen Elizabeth’s children to move their flats and offices
Britain’s royal family are to move out of the famous front wing of London’s Buckingham Palace later this year as part of a massive decade-long repair project, palace aides said on Thursday.
The overhaul will cost £369 million pounds (US$485 million).
The royal household will “decant” from the east wing of the palace, the public facade which houses the balcony on which Queen Elizabeth and her family appear for significant events, as part a programme of urgent work to replace ageing electrical wiring and heating systems.
News of the renovations was revealed by royal aides as they gave details of the “Sovereign Grant”, the annual government handout that covers staffing costs, upkeep of royal palaces and travel expenses.
The grant is based on 15 per cent of surplus revenue from the Crown Estate, a property portfolio belonging to the monarchy, from two years previously. In 2016, this percentage was raised to 25 per cent for a decade to pay for the overhaul of Buckingham Palace.