Nevermind the bridge, Buckingham Palace is falling down!

In an unpleasant reminder of the Windsor Castle fire, a "crumbling" Buckingham Palace is struggling to get funding for much needed repairs to it's roof and exterior walls. For a number of years the Royal Household has been pairing down its operating costs but the general upkeep of the Royal Palaces, Buckingham Palace in particular, has suffered for it and is now in need of extensive repairs. The Queen's official London residence is in such a sad state of disrepair that the crumbling outer structure has become a danger to those living in, working at or visiting the Palace.

The danger--and embarrassment--of the matter became quite clear when a large chunk of stone fell from the palace façade narrowly missing the Princess Royal's car. Another piece fell off in front of guests as they arrived for a royal reception. The much needed repairs have been put on hold due to a back log of other projects and a limited budget. The Queen has now put in a request for extra funding to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, which has overall responsibility of the maintenance of official royal palaces.

Sir Alan Reid, Keeper of the Privy Purse, has has asked, on behalf of the Queen, that government's grant for the upkeep of palaces be increased by £1m a year. The annual £15 million grant for maintenance was made made in 1991 and has been declining over the past 17 years. Says Sir Alan Reid, "Now there is a critical backlog in maintenance projects, and if our historic buildings are to remain safe it is essential that the grant is increased by £1 million a year."

The government however has been dragging it's feet when it comes to the upkeep of the royal palaces. And public feeling allows them to keep up their 'maybe later' attitude as the palaces continue to fall further into disrepair. For although the Royal Family do not own the palaces they call home, the Royal Family's immense personal wealth does rather put taxpayers noses out of joint when they hear a royal request for more funds. For although these historic buildings, much like the Crown Jewles, are used by the Monarch, they are actually owned by his or her subjects who entrust them to the Monarch.

But when there are millions of pounds riding on the line--and plenty of other progects they could be spent on--people tend to forget that. The Queen found herself in this quandary when in 1992 a fire destroyed parts of Windsor Castle. Although the government grudgingly chipped in some of the costs the £37 million rebuilding repairs were mostly paid for with funds raised by opening up Buckingham Palace to the public.

Therefor a senior palace aide at Buckingham has said they were "unlikely to be successful" in getting the funds for the repairs needed at Buckingham in their entirety. If at all. Ironically this standstill situation will only make repair costs rise in the long run.

But perhaps there is good news? Even if the actual owners don't want to be good landlords perhaps the Royal Household can make up the difference? After all they were able to raise 70% of the repair costs for Windsor Castle without costing taxpayers a single extra cent (unless you include any British subject who paid for a ticket to see Buckingham's State Rooms). If the Royal Household can use their wits to save (and even improve) Windsor Castle then surely they can give it another go for dear old Buckingham Palace, which is not only one of London's most famous landmark's but also the home, office and reception area for visiting dignitaries and honoured British and Commonwealth subjects of the Monarch who works so tirelessly on behalf of her subjects who deserve a palace which reflects the history and strength of their countries.

So for heaven's sake someone take responsibility and shell out the dough and make the place look respectable again. It's an embarrassment that's being shown off to the whole world which (in the form of tourists) presses its face against Buckingham's gates day in and day out. It's not like the Prime Mister has to pay for the repairs to his or her own official residencies (or official holiday homes). Perish the thought.