Buckingham Palace Renovation Uncovers Hidden Artifacts from 1889 to 1977
Beginning in 2017 and expected to wrap up in March, a $500 million refurbishment of Buckingham Palace has revealed a variety of historical items. Among these discoveries are a newspaper clipping from 1889, a 1977 itinerary for Queen Elizabeth II's diplomatic events, betting slips from 1957, a ticket for a 1949 whist drive, and fireplace tiles dating back to the mid-19th century. The 1977 itinerary noted that the queen would navigate the ballroom in a clockwise direction while adhering to a strict no-smoking policy. Spearheaded by Luke Willis, this renovation aims to modernize infrastructure that hasn’t been updated since the 1950s, with 47,000 floorboards being removed and recorded. Buckingham Palace, constructed in 1703 and enlarged in the 1820s, has served as the royal residence since 1837. Following the refurbishment, King Charles III and Queen Camilla will continue residing at Clarence House.
Key facts
- Renovation of Buckingham Palace began in 2017 and is scheduled for completion in March.
- The project cost almost $500 million and aims to replace outdated mechanical and electrical infrastructure not updated since the 1950s.
- Artifacts found include a newspaper clipping from 1889, a 1977 diplomatic reception schedule, 1957 betting slips, a 1949 whist drive ticket, and a 1966 Daily Express page.
- The 1977 reception schedule specified that Queen Elizabeth II would move through the ballroom in a clockwise direction, with drinks from 9:30 to 10 p.m. and a smoking prohibition.
- 47,000 floorboards were removed, documented, and numbered during the renovation.
- Buckingham Palace has been the official residence of the British monarchy since 1837.
- King Charles III and Queen Camilla will not move into Buckingham Palace, remaining at Clarence House.
- The palace attracted 590,000 visitors last year and will allow more public access after refurbishment.
Entities
Artists
- Elizabeth II
- George III
- George IV
- Queen Victoria
- George VI
- Charles III
- Queen Camilla
- Luke Willis
- Ryan Upton
- James Chalmers
- Bruce Reynolds
- Aaron Chown
- Ruth Comerford
- Michael Holden
- Sonja Anderson
Institutions
- Buckingham Palace
- PA News Agency
- Royal Family Channel
- BBC News
- London Evening Standard
- Littlewoods Football Pools
- Silk Cut
- Daily Express
- Durham Prison
- Clarence House
- Reuters
- Smithsonian magazine
Locations
- London
- England
- United Kingdom
- West End
- Glasgow
- Scotland
- Durham
- North Dakota
- United States
- Peru
- Washington, DC