Restoration work at Buckingham Palace has uncovered a collection of objects hidden beneath floorboards and inside the building’s infrastructure, with some items dating back to the 19th century.
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items → uncover → century
The discoveries include battered hobnailed boots, old newspaper pages, betting slips, theatre listings from 1889 and a ticket for a card game held at the palace in 1949.
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discoveries → include → 1949
According to the BBC, workers also uncovered a typed document outlining Queen Elizabeth II’s arrangements for a diplomatic reception in 1977.
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workers → accord → 1977
The items came to light during a refurbishment aimed at replacing ageing cables, lead pipes, electrical wiring and boilers.
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items → come → cables
Old newspaper pages and other items were found at Buckingham Palace
Workers discovered several items during the refurbishment.
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Workers → find → refurbishment
These included a pair of battered black hobnailed boots, several betting slips, an empty Silk Cut cigarette carton and a bottle of Schweppes Still Malvern English Spring Water.
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These → include → Water
Pages from a 1966 edition of the Daily Express were also among the items recovered.
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Pages → recover → items
The newspaper carried an article about the Great Train Robbery and the prison where those convicted of the crime were held.
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those → carry → crime
Workers also recovered a pewter tankard, a wooden junction box and a faded box containing six Christmas cards.
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Workers → recover → cards
The objects are thought to have belonged to palace staff who worked there decades ago.
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who → think → staff
Many had remained hidden beneath floorboards or within the building’s infrastructure.
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Many → remain → infrastructure
PC: BBC
Historical items were found during Buckingham Palace restoration
The discoveries include a fragment of a theatre listing published in The Standard newspaper, now known as the Evening Standard, on 27 November 1889.
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discoveries → find → November
Workers also recovered fragments of Minton decorative ceramic tiles from a fireplace hearth, with the design dating to around the mid-1800s.
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design → recover → mid-1800s
The ticket cost sixpence, or 6d, and dates to the reign of King George VI, King Charles III’s grandfather.
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ticket → cost → VI
The collection also contained blank Littlewoods Football Pool betting slips from 1957.
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collection → contain → 1957
Queen Elizabeth II’s diplomatic reception schedule uncovered at Buckingham Palace
A typed schedule detailing Queen Elizabeth II’s plans to host a diplomatic reception at Buckingham Palace in 1977 was among the recovered papers, dating to her Silver Jubilee year.
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schedule → uncover → year
The schedule revealed the monarch would work the room in a clockwise direction, and aides were asked to encourage the 350 British guests to mingle with the diplomats at the annual gathering.
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aides → reveal → gathering
The schedule specified that British guests would be distributed throughout the State Rooms, except the Music Room and West Gallery, where they should be encouraged to talk to diplomats.
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they → specify → diplomats
Why is Buckingham Palace replacing its ageing cables and pipes
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Palace → replace → cables
The refurbishment aims to replace ageing electrical cables, lead pipes, wiring and boilers amid concerns about fire and water damage.
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refurbishment → aim → damage
Many are set to be replaced for the first time in 60 years.
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Many → set → years
Workers also found electrical wire covered with vulcanised Indian rubber cabling, which posed the greatest fire risk to the building.
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which → find → building
The palace prioritised this cabling for replacement when restoration work began.
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work → prioritise → replacement
The 10-year refurbishment is funded through a temporary increase in the Sovereign Grant, which pays for the royal family’s official duties.
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which → fund → duties
King Charles III and Queen Camilla currently live at Clarence House and will not move into Buckingham Palace once the refurbishment is complete.
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refurbishment → live → Palace
The Aporia
