There are literally actual changes happening inside Buckingham Palace. Renovations of the Queen's official residence is, apparently, taking place and Her Majesty has given permission to share an update of the progress of the work being done in her castle.
The official Royal Family Instagram account has a video of one of the restorations being done at Buckingham Palace. Specifically, the 19th century wallpaper in the Yellow Drawing Room is being taken down for conservation.
Some construction work is also happening around the drawing room hence the wallpaper must be taken out and protected. While it's tucked away, the wallpaper will also be restored to its old glory. It will be placed back up the palace walls when the construction of the drawing room is finished.
The process of taking down the wallpaper, discovered by Queen Mary in storage after the First World War, is intricate and time-consuming. This is an integral part of what the palace calls its Reservicing program, which aims to mitigate risk like fire and flood, as well as keep the Queen's home up to date on its health and safety standards.
The renovations also aim to make this part of the palace more energy-efficient. The additions will make the drawing room more accessible to all. The drawing room is where Queen Elizabeth usually entertain her guests, like world and state leaders, as well as other dignitaries.
According to Tatler, Buckingham Palace has been undergoing renovations to the tune of over $470 million in its East Wing since 2019. Some of its artworks and precious items have been removed to protect from damage as the work is still ongoing.
The renovation is actually done in multiple stages as the palace has different wings with 775 rooms. It also makes sense to divide the work so that daily activities and major events in Buckingham Palace, such as the Trooping the Colour, will not be interrupted or canceled.
At this point, the early preparations in the complicated renovation project is done but more work is expected. Thus, Queen Elizabeth is apparently hiring another project manager to oversee the next phase. The renovations of the whole palace was actually pegged to take place for a decade.
Buckingham Palace was built in 1703 and became the home of Queen Victoria. Given its age, the castle needed essential updates to its electrical and plumbing, as well as a fresh coat of paint. The last time the Queen's home had a major renovation was over 50 years ago.
