Buckingham Palace, home to the British Royal Family, is set to undergo a series of needed renovations over the next decade that will cost $456 to $458 million.
The palace was built in the early 1700s and was bought for a royal residence by George III in 1761. The 775-room dwelling is now home to Queen Elizabeth II and she conducts most of her official business and ceremonies there. According to The New York Times, she will not have to move out while the renovation work is being completed.
Among the renovations that will be done are updating or replacing the boilers, water pipes, and 60-year-old electrical wiring and cabling. The renovations are meant to make the home safer and prevent hazards like those that caused the Windsor Castle fire of 1992, which destroyed a large part of the structure and took five years to restore.
An official report on the state of the building called the wiring “high risk” and said it “needs immediate attention,” the Times reported. Additionally, the boilers are from the early 1980s and spare parts have become difficult to find.
The palace has more than 200 bedrooms and 78 bathrooms as well as 92 offices and 19 state rooms.
Although the cost is being given as $456 to $458 million, NBC News reported officials expect the cost to be reduced to about $275 million due to increased efficiency and cost savings after the renovations are completed.
Still, some aren’t happy about the cost of the renovations after years of budget cuts in Britain. According to The New York Times, CEO Graham Smith of Republic, which advocates for the abolishment of the monarchy in Britain, said, “While everyone else is suffering cuts, the palace keeps getting more money from the taxpayer.”
The British government pointed out, however, that well over half a million people visit the palace each year, spending billions of pounds and providing thousands of jobs.
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