Buckingham Palace being ‘ emptied’ for major refit

London, Oct. 5: Thousands of works of art, clocks, chandeliers and furniture have begun being removed from Buckingham Palace as part of a major refit, royal officials said on Friday.

More than 200 rooms over six floors of the east wing, which faces out onto The Mall, will be emptied over the next six months to prepare for the replacement of ageing electrics and pipework.

Objects being removed include 200 paintings, 40 chandeliers, 100 mirrors, 30 clocks, 200 books, 40 historic textiles and 560 items of everyday furniture, from beds to desks and chairs.

It is part of a £ 369 million ($ 481 million), 10- year project to upgrade Queen Elizabeth II's London residence, which officials fear is at risk of a "potentially catastrophic" failure that includes fires and floods.

Some of the most urgent work has already been carried out, notably removing 3,000 metres ( yards) of decades- old rubber cabling, which has become cracked, leaving the electrical wires exposed.

The rest of the renovations will be done wing by wing, although the State Rooms will be dealt with incrementally to ensure they remain open for formal banquets and public tours.

The queen's private apartments in the north wing will be done last, in 2025, when the monarch, now 92, will move to another part of the building.

Her husband Prince Philip, who was involved in the repairs of Windsor Castle after a major fire there in 1992, has been keeping a close eye on the project, the official said.

So has the queen's son and heir Prince Charles. It is possible that he will be king before the renovations are finished.

The refurbishment programme began in April 2017, after Parliament agreed the funding, and officials have spent much of the time since in detailed planning.