Pride in the palace

Buckingham Palace has long been the place to be seen. Queen Victoria was the first monarch to make a public appearance on the balcony, in 1851. In 1914, Suffragettes publicised their cause by chaining themselves to the railings. Later that year, King George V was called on to the balcony three times to show the people that he approved of the declaration of war.

During the Blitz, the palace was hit by bombs several times – once when King George VI and Queen Elizabeth were taking tea. The experience bonded them to Londoners. In 1945, it was the epicentre of victory celebrations.

Time has done what the Germans failed to do. The palace is now, in places, falling down, and is to receive a £369 million facelift. Republicans will moan but, as always, they fail to grasp that the monarchy is a working institution that is critical to Britain’s economy and diplomacy – and Buckingham Palace is a showcase for the nation. The monarchy is how the world sees us. It is sensible to invest in looking our best.