A recent survey conducted by YouGov, commissioned by The Times, reveals that the majority of Britons are against using taxpayers’ money to fund the extensive 10-year renovation program of Buckingham Palace, valued at £369 million.
The poll, which interviewed 2,500 people, indicated that 56% of the respondents believe the government should not use public funds for the refurbishment of the palace. Only 29% supported the idea of taxpayers covering the costs for royal memorabilia and renovations.
The survey suggests that public support for the renovation would increase if the royal family could find a way to cover the costs without relying on taxpayer money. Norman Baker, author of “And What Do You Do: What the Royal Family Don’t Want You To Know,” emphasized this point. She argued that the renovations should be scaled down, as they are currently too lavish. Baker also proposed that the funds could be generated from the sale of tickets to visitors, similar to how the repairs of Windsor Castle were financed after the 1992 fire. She stressed that the money should not come from public taxpayers.
Since 2017, ongoing renovations at the palace have focused on replacing outdated wiring and plumbing, which had not been updated since the 1950s. As a result of these works, all state visits will be relocated to Windsor Castle by 2027, and the meeting rooms will be upgraded. The royal reconstruction has also required King Charles to relocate his private office from the northern wing to the Belgian Apartment on the ground floor of the garden palace, overlooking the west.
The restoration works have been financed through a state grant supported by taxpayers. To accommodate visitors, the palace is temporarily closed every summer. This year, the renovation of the Eastern Wing, which began in 2018, has progressed. This wing includes the famous central balcony overlooking the Mall, which visitors could see for the first time this summer.
