Queen may have to move out for repairs of Buckingham Palace
26 Jun 2015 5:07 AM IST
They said the 89-year-old British monarch’s official London residence needs a total overhaul such as rewiring, new plumbing, asbestos removing, and redecoration. The last time the building which dates back to the 18th century had any renovation work was in 1952.
“One option is for the palace to be vacated; we’re getting experts to look at these scenarios and cost them for us,” a palace official said at a briefing on the Queen’s royal accounts.
“The initial estimate for the refurbishment of Buckingham Palace looks like 150 million pounds,” he said.
However, some campaigners in favour of an elected head of state have called for Buckingham Palace in the heart of London to be turned into a museum for the people of Britain. “If the taxpayer is footing the bill, the taxpayer should reap the reward. Buckingham Palace already houses one of the world’s greatest art <g data-gr-id="38">collections ?</g> so let’s see it handed back to the people,” said Graham Smith, chief executive of one such group called Republic.
The Crown Estate, which owns property on behalf of the British monarch, returned record profits of 285 million pounds to the taxpayer last year ? up 6.7 per cent.
The Queen is paid 15 per cent of the Crown Estate’s profits by the UK government, including from the Crown Estate in Scotland, under the Sovereign Grant formula launched in 2011.
The latest accounts show that the Queen last year received 37.9 million pounds from the grant, of which she spent 35.7 million pounds. That figure will increase to 40.05 million pounds this year and is expected to rise to 42.8 million pounds next year.
The figure does not include the cost of providing security for the Royal Family.
The Crown Estate’s annual results show its capital value is at a historic high of 11.5 billion pounds, up 16.1 <g data-gr-id="36">per cent</g>. There has been a 21 <g data-gr-id="37">per cent</g> increase in travel costs, which rose from 4.2 million pounds in 2013-14 to 5.1 million pounds in 2014-15.
The Queen, is currently touring Germany with husband Prince Philip, spends a third of the year hosting events at Buckingham Palace.
Queen Elizabeth II rides Berlin boat
Waving to cheering crowds as she began a three-day state visit, Queen Elizabeth II met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel today and rode in an open-topped boat along the Spree River in Berlin.
The 89-year-old monarch and her husband, 94-year-old Prince Philip, started their jam-packed day at Berlin’s Bellevue Palace, where they were greeted by President Joachim Gauck, Germany’s head of state, and his partner, Daniela Schadt.
The British royals signed a guest book before going back outside and shaking hands with dignitaries and others.
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