Early this month we wrote about a proposal to open Buckingham Palace to the public beyond the two months it is currently open, in a bid to raise funds for urgent repairs needed, the bill running to the many millions of pounds.

The Telegraph is now reporting that this proposal (by MPs) has been turned down because the palace is a place of work for the royal family, who use it to hold receptions and investitures, and to receive and entertain dignitaries.

This includes the proposal to open the palace only on Saturdays and Sundays, reportedly on the basis that the cost of hiring the necessary staff would exceed the extra revenue generated.

For the previous blog, click here. For the Daily Telegraph article, click here.

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Click the image to see the photo at The Daily Telegraph

 Back when HM The Queen was still just HRH The Princess Elizabeth, Buckingham Palace sported its own “victory” vegetable garden allotment as a way to economize during the rationing days of the Second World War.  Now, following in the footsteps of American First Lady Michelle Obama’s White House garden, a new vegetable patch has been planted at Buckingham Palace.

The allotment is located in the “Yard Bed” section of the extensive grounds of the Palace.  The organic garden measures ten yards by eight yards, according to the Telegraph.  In keeping with guidelines for organic gardening, no chemicals have been used in the cultivation of the garden.  To recycle Palace resources, mulch from the Palace’s own composting has been used to line the beds.

The Queen has been said to be keen to gesture to the nation that she understands the trouble in the global economy, and her vegetable garden is only one of many being planted during the recession in Britain and abroad.  Many have turned to home gardening as a way to avoid paying high prices for produce.

The Queen recently toured the new garden at the Palace; the Telegraph explains: “Claire Midgley, the Deputy Gardens Manager, last week showed the Queen a variety of vegetables that are being grown, including runner beans, ‘Stuttgarter’ onions, ‘Musselburgh’ leeks, sweetcorn, ‘Red Ace’ beetroot, ‘Fly Away’ carrots and an endangered variety of climbing French beans called ‘Blue Queen.’”

For more about The Queen’s current activites, please visit this thread.  To read more about Buckingham Palace, try this one.

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Click to see the image at the British Monarch official website

 Buckingham Palace is to many an emblem of the British Monarchy. According to reports however, it is also a palace in need of some serious renovations. It is argued that the palace should open its doors to the public more often to fund the repairs and renovations. In total, renovations needed for the royal estate (not just Buckingham Palace) are expected to amount to £32 million, more than double the yearly allowance which was fixed at £15 million in 2001. The royal household has applied for an increase of £4 million.

In the approximately two months the palace was open to the public in 2007-2008 (August and September), more than £7 million was collected, but an arrangement dating back to 1850 means that over 90% of this was donated to the Royal Collection Trust for HM’s artworks (a trust which is chaired by Prince Charles). This has been criticised in a report by MPs.

Repairs at Buckingham Palace of greatest importance include re-wiring for electricity (last done in the 1940s), repainting the state rooms (which hasn’t happened during HM’s reign) and some roof replacements.

The Palace is responding to the suggestion by saying that opening longer would interrupt official business, however it has been noted in the media that the Houses of Parliament are open year-long, and America’s White House is open weekdays.

According to the British Monarchy official website, Buckingham Palace is comprised of 775 rooms, including 19 staterooms. The palace is a key location for the first day of State Visits, when the visiting Head of State is normally welcomed in the Bow room for lunch and then later entertained at a gala dinner in the ballroom, which was built during Queen Victoria’s reign in the 1850s. It is also used for royal ceremonies and investitures.

The daily management of Buckingham Palace is the responsibility of Household, under the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

HM was in residence at Buckingham Palace for 111 days in the last calendar year.

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 The security of Buckingham Palace has been questioned following the revelation that several media personnel have been able to gain access to the palace. One journalist was even employed by the Palace a few years ago, while another two are reputed to have gained entry to the palace in return for a ₤1,000 bribe.

The latter journalists toured the royal family’s fleet of cars, including those personally used by HM Queen Elizabeth II. The pair claims to have entered the Royal Mews unchallenged. It is believed that HM was in residence at the palace at the time. According to online reports, this security breach occurred earlier this month and a chauffeur has been suspended as a result.

The former (the employment of a journalist at the palace) occurred in 2003, and it is reported that the position he held within the palace was that of footman. He worked there for a period of two months, according to British newspapers (online editions), and took photos of the royals’ private living quarters that were published in the Daily Mirror.

For more information about royal security, including these incidents, see this thread.

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 The summer opening of Buckingham Palace this year includes a special exhibition to mark 60 years of the Commonwealth. Part of the exhibition will include a display of over 100 gifts given to the Queen and Prince Philip from their travels to the Commonwealth countries. Sometimes the Queen receives beautiful jewels as gifts which often have a symbolic reference to the country she is visiting. Two fantastic brooches will form part of the display at the palace.

The Fern leaf brooch (image1) was given to the Queen on Christmas Day 1953 by the women of Auckland. The Queen was visiting New Zealand on part of her six-month long Commonwealth Tour of 1953/4 and she delivered her first Christmas Day message from Auckland (image2). The brooch of diamonds set in platinum is in the shape of a leaf of a Silver Fern which is the national emblem of New Zealand. On subsequent tours to New Zealand, the Queen has chosen to wear the fern brooch. She also is seen wearing the brooch when carrying out engagements in the UK which relate to New Zealand for example in November 2008 promoting tourism to New Zealand image3 or in 2006 at the opening of a war memorial to New Zealand victims image4.

The Wattle Brooch (image5) was also presented during the Commonwealth Tour in 1954 by the Government of Australia and was presented to her by the Prime Minister Mr Menzies whilst the royal couple stayed in Canberra. The brooch consists of 150 yellow and white diamonds in the design of a large wattle spray which is the national flower of Australia and there are also three tea tree blossoms in the centre. The Queen frequently wears this brooch during tours of Australia image6 (arriving in Canberra March 2006) image7 (1970 tour – this whole outfit will be on display in the Palace this summer). The Queen also wore the Wattle brooch at the 50th anniversary service of her coronation in June 2003 image8.

More information on the summer opening of Buckingham Palace and the special Commonwealth exhibition can be found at this website

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