Not Any Old Palace

I remember when I first visited Buckingham Palace years ago, and like many first-timers, I was in awe. I visited 19 staterooms, and each one seemed more opulent than the one before. However, the novelty wore off on subsequent trips to the Palace. Even the Throne Room seemed dark and heavy. After two hours, I was relieved to be out of the Palace and into the Garden area for some fresh air. 

King Charles III doesn’t like Buckingham Palace, and I don’t blame him. It's big, old and feels claustrophobic.  I understand Prince William isn't keen on living in the Palace when he becomes King. Why? It's enormous, and despite it being a working Palace, it requires a lot of upkeep. I believe they're undertaking further renovation work as I write. I wouldn't be surprised if they turn it into a Museum. 

It's Big 

Despite its enormous size, apparently there are over 770 rooms, the Palace attracts thousands of fee-paying visitors, who want to see how royalty live. Unfortunately, they get disappointed because the residential quarters are off-limits to the public. Plus, you won't 'bump into' a royal either, as they go on holiday when the State Apartments are open in summer. 

I understand that not all visitors make good guests, whether it's our house or royalty.  It has been known that some people actually leave chewing gum in the State Apartments. Yuk. Previously, they would remove the Carpet used by the Royal family, replace it with the Summer version for visitors, and then change it back in time for October, when Queen Elizabeth II returned from Balmoral. They no longer do this due to costs. 

I once asked one of the Assistants why they didn’t cover the carpets. She said when they did, people would leave chewing gum underneath. Sometimes up to 2 lbs a day. That's shocking. In 2014, the then Queen Elizabeth II advertised for a cleaner who could remove chewing gum. Poor Maj. 

Here are 10 funky facts about Buckingham Palace

1. The Royal Family will never run out of cash in the Palace. Although the King's head is on many British Notes, anyone who needs money has to withdraw it from somewhere. For that reason, there is a cash machine in the basement. It is not for general public use. I bet the machine is never out of service!  

2. Despite the Palace being surrounded by security, there have been a couple of notable breaches. One took place between 1838 and 1841 by someone called The Boy Jones. He was a teenager at the time and broke in, stole food from the kitchen, sat on the throne, and even dared to take Queen Victoria's underwear. Queen Elizabeth II came face-to-face with her intruder, who made it into the Queen’s personal bedroom. The Queen remained calm and kept the intruder talking until she raised the alarm to her bodyguards. 

3. The Palace was bombed 9 times during WWII. The royal family chose to stay out as a sign of resilience, but also, as Queen Elizabeth I said, 'I can now look at the East End' in the eye. She could empathise with them after they experienced their houses being destroyed or damaged. 

4. There's a fendersmith whose job is to clean and repair the metal fenders (guards) in front of all the fireplaces. 

5. It is a little village inside Buckingham Palace. Not only do they have their own ATM, but they also have their own Post Office (I've received post from Buckingham Palace with a Buckingham Palace stamp). There is a cinema, a swimming pool, a doctor's surgery, a chapel, and a police station. 

6. The Palace might be a maze above ground, but there are underground tunnels underneath the Palace. No, trains go through them, but the tunnel connects to places like Houses of Parliament and Clarence House. It is said that King George VI and the Queen Mother explored the tunnel and found a man from Newcastle living there. 

7. The walls are built from oolitic limestone, which is a sedimentary rock packed with ancient fossils. Basically, prehistoric creepy crawlies are embedded in its structure.

8. The Palace is a significant employer, but it also offers specialist roles such as a full-time clockmaker who is responsible for hundreds of timepieces. There is also a flag Sergeant, who is solely responsible for handling all the flags flown from the building. 

9. Do you know how the balcony appearances became a must-do for significant events? It was Queen Victoria who started the tradition in 1851 during the Great Exhibition. 

10. Queen Elizabeth II was a pioneer and champion for girls from an early age. The then Princess Elizabeth and her sister ran a Girl Guide Company from the Grounds of Buckingham Palace. They met in the Royal Summerhouse with other girls from aristocratic families.