Buckingham Palace, the iconic building of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and probably of the whole of the surface of Earth, is nearing the end of its £369 million, 10 year refurbishment. This sum of money has been possible from a 65% increase in the Sovereign Grant, voted through by Parliament with minimal votes against. The 10 year refurbishment and updating work is for repair of boilers, electrics, replacing lead pipes, and some pretty good decorating afterwards to leave the historic building in a very good condition.
In 2027, next year, it is now announced that the King and Queen will not live there, but remain in Clarence House. Buckingham Palace is to remain as the headquarters of the Royal Family, for the extensive administration, State events and foreign heads of State, banquets, and the garden parties for which there is none else. There will also be an expanded public access, probably at a significant entrance fee, and that will likely mean tours and guides and a real inside view of our Royal State building.
Now, this blog was staying with friends a couple of weeks ago, and conversation turned to the State of the Nation, as it does with most people, up and down the land, whether with friend or foe. This particular evening was definitely with friends. And amongst friends there is still a lightness, a freedom, the sort of conversation that wings its way around, picks up just about everything, glasses are filled and refilled, and the summer evening dusk turned to darkness. And from that household of friends that night a genius idea came forth from father and daughter. And this was it….
Alongside Parliament in the Palace of Westminster on one side of the governance of the ‘UK’, and the Royal Family on the other, in the other Palace of Buckingham, there is a third strata in British life in the twenty-first century, and that is J D Wetherspoon, owned, managed and all round governed by Tim Martin, and whose establishments have come to underpin the culinary, alcoholic intake, and social life of the ‘UK’. And for good reason.
Now, this genius idea put out by the friends of this blog was this: that Tim Martin be approached to purchase Buckingham Palace freehold, with all fixtures and fittings, garden sheds, furniture, tapestries, glassware, paintings, curtains, carpets, existing alcohol supplies, horses, carriages, statues, china, silver, gilded mirrors, and all staff contracts to be continued.
Tim Martin is the only man in the ‘UK’ who could make a real ‘access to the people’ business of this beautiful and iconic building, right in the centre of London that it is. A smaller nearby building could be easily found to house the headquarters of the Royal Family, and the State Banquets when visiting dignitaries and Heads of State arrive to dine with King Charles and Queen Camilla would be easily accommodated in the latest J D Wetherspoon. The extensive menu with a changing array of regional British alcohol, the jacket potato and tuna for under £10, (including an alcoholic drink), or the steak and ale pie, gourmet burger, or fish and chips, are all a proper plate of food. This blog being a big fan of the Wetherspoon breakfast, up and down the land, is sure that foreign dignitaries would be overjoyed at such a heavy plate of breakfast, refill coffee and the best craic in town.
This genius suggestion, which is being put to Tim Martin, went further. Buckingham: The Palace has extensive rooms on several floors, and with the J D Wetherspoon hotels being added to the business capability of this man, our iconic Royal building is just perfect for a new Wetherspoon hotel. The existing staff, with continued contracts, would continue to serve breakfast in bed, or walk around the extensive drinking and eating rooms at ground level, smiling, serving with linen cloth over the arm, answering any historic questions a guest may have, maybe suggesting something from the menu.
Upstairs in the hotel the deluxe room would be the balcony, where guests could pay extra to have cut outs of their Royal of choice waving behind them, as they themselves wave and are cheered by crowds below. Polite foreign visitors would wave politely and smile and view the beautiful architecture and surrounds, the red jacketed guards and the lovely fountain in front. British drinkers could shout down to the outdoor tables, and the British drinkers at the outside tables would shout back up, all in good fun as long as no Newcastle United and Sunderland A.F.C happened to be in town the same weekend.
For Buckingham: The Palace to be added to Tim Martin’s portfolio of historic buildings would certainly be viewed as the best solution that could possibly be. His record of restoring old buildings, putting the historic information all round the walls in maps, pictures, portraits, information, ensures the provenance of our history is not lost, in an age where few are interested in anything before 1945. He is the man to save the heritage. He is the man to add the Hog Roast Club to his menu, or even Venison Roast Club, on the spit outside, the tankards of ale lining the bar.
Whatever legislation it required to change the ownership of the seat of the Royal Family, there would certainly be unanimous approval from the MPs, and being a short walk from the other Palace, of Westminster, it is in everyone’s interests to celebrate this glorious new era for our cherished Royal icon.
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