What it’s really like to live at Buckingham Palace

Plumbing and electricity problems, Out-of-date decor, Falling masonry, Walls filled with asbestos, Secret doors, The late Queen liked it breezy, No one sits on the throne, Lots of garden parties, Staff living on site, A post office, A movie theater, Activities and programs, No pictures allowed, No wandering freely outside

Buckingham Palace, built in 1703 and designated a royal residence in 1761, is now well-known as the official residence of the late Queen Elizabeth II, but it's also an official state building. The famed royal grounds operate in both private and public spheres, containing both rooms designated for official purposes—the ones which we see—and private areas and apartments, which stay guarded from public view.

With its 829,000 square feet and 775 rooms (including 19 state rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 92 offices, 78 bathrooms, and 188 staff bedrooms), the palace certainly has space for all the royals to live, but it's not as enticing as it might seem. While there are some definite perks to living in the palace, there are also a surprising number of challenges and inconveniences.

Click through to find out what life at Buckingham Palace is really like.

Plumbing and electricity problems

Plumbing and electricity problems, Out-of-date decor, Falling masonry, Walls filled with asbestos, Secret doors, The late Queen liked it breezy, No one sits on the throne, Lots of garden parties, Staff living on site, A post office, A movie theater, Activities and programs, No pictures allowed, No wandering freely outside

In 2015, matters really came to light when reports came out that Her Majesty’s toilet, an old-fashioned chain-pulled cistern, was falling apart. In 2017, the British government reportedly allocated US$500 million to upgrade water pipes, electrical wiring, light fittings, and radiators, some of which pre-dated WWII.

Out-of-date decor

Plumbing and electricity problems, Out-of-date decor, Falling masonry, Walls filled with asbestos, Secret doors, The late Queen liked it breezy, No one sits on the throne, Lots of garden parties, Staff living on site, A post office, A movie theater, Activities and programs, No pictures allowed, No wandering freely outside

According to historian Ellen Leslie, none of the state rooms have been redecorated for more than six decades. "Most people decorate their houses, mainly for fashion reasons, every 10 years or so," she told the BBC, "but this isn't what the Royal Family are into when it comes to Buckingham Palace. They want it to keep looking the same."

Falling masonry

Plumbing and electricity problems, Out-of-date decor, Falling masonry, Walls filled with asbestos, Secret doors, The late Queen liked it breezy, No one sits on the throne, Lots of garden parties, Staff living on site, A post office, A movie theater, Activities and programs, No pictures allowed, No wandering freely outside

Another safety issue that almost landed right on the head of Princess Anne in 2007 is the crumbling masonry. Another chunk fell in 2009 and just missed a police officer on duty. Emergency repairs were called in to re-face the interior of the quadrangle.

Walls filled with asbestos

Plumbing and electricity problems, Out-of-date decor, Falling masonry, Walls filled with asbestos, Secret doors, The late Queen liked it breezy, No one sits on the throne, Lots of garden parties, Staff living on site, A post office, A movie theater, Activities and programs, No pictures allowed, No wandering freely outside

Pictured on the right is Mary Costello, whose husband died after exposure to asbestos at Buckingham Palace, after winning compensation at London High Court in 2005. The Royals were subsequently hit with a huge bill to remove potentially deadly asbestos from the electrical cabling ducts under flooring in the south wing of the palace, royal accounts revealed in 2012.

Secret doors

Plumbing and electricity problems, Out-of-date decor, Falling masonry, Walls filled with asbestos, Secret doors, The late Queen liked it breezy, No one sits on the throne, Lots of garden parties, Staff living on site, A post office, A movie theater, Activities and programs, No pictures allowed, No wandering freely outside

Though many of these are obviously kept secret, the White Drawing Room is one well-known example. The late Queen used the intimate State Room for small gatherings and occasionally her Christmas broadcasts. She enterd the room via a hidden door disguised as a mirror and cabinet before receiving guests, the royal family website confirms.

The late Queen liked it breezy

Plumbing and electricity problems, Out-of-date decor, Falling masonry, Walls filled with asbestos, Secret doors, The late Queen liked it breezy, No one sits on the throne, Lots of garden parties, Staff living on site, A post office, A movie theater, Activities and programs, No pictures allowed, No wandering freely outside

The late Queen Elizabeth II and her late husband, Prince Philip, reportedly slept apart in separate rooms because the Queen likes to keep the windows open even in the coldest months, the Daily Beast reports.

No one sits on the throne

Plumbing and electricity problems, Out-of-date decor, Falling masonry, Walls filled with asbestos, Secret doors, The late Queen liked it breezy, No one sits on the throne, Lots of garden parties, Staff living on site, A post office, A movie theater, Activities and programs, No pictures allowed, No wandering freely outside

The Throne Room, one of the state rooms, hosts two thrones called the Chairs of Estate which were made for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, in 1953—which was also the last time anyone sat in them. After her coronation ceremony, the queen used the Throne Chair, now located at Windsor Castle. 

Lots of garden parties

Plumbing and electricity problems, Out-of-date decor, Falling masonry, Walls filled with asbestos, Secret doors, The late Queen liked it breezy, No one sits on the throne, Lots of garden parties, Staff living on site, A post office, A movie theater, Activities and programs, No pictures allowed, No wandering freely outside

The late Queen welcomed over 30,000 guests each year to her summer garden parties, according to Hello Magazine. If you’ve got it, flaunt it!

Staff living on site

Plumbing and electricity problems, Out-of-date decor, Falling masonry, Walls filled with asbestos, Secret doors, The late Queen liked it breezy, No one sits on the throne, Lots of garden parties, Staff living on site, A post office, A movie theater, Activities and programs, No pictures allowed, No wandering freely outside

With a space as huge as Buckingham Palace, it understandably needs a lot of people to keep it running smoothly. The palace has 188 staff bedrooms where workers sleep while on duty. From housekeepers to telephone operators to butlers, there is an extensive training program to learn how to not only work but also how to live at Buckingham Palace. There are also reportedly perks like exclusive phone packages and car leasing discounts.

A post office

Plumbing and electricity problems, Out-of-date decor, Falling masonry, Walls filled with asbestos, Secret doors, The late Queen liked it breezy, No one sits on the throne, Lots of garden parties, Staff living on site, A post office, A movie theater, Activities and programs, No pictures allowed, No wandering freely outside

You can probably imagine how private correspondence with the British Royal Family and its staff must be, which is probably part of the reason why they have their own post office on the Buckingham Palace grounds.

A movie theater

Plumbing and electricity problems, Out-of-date decor, Falling masonry, Walls filled with asbestos, Secret doors, The late Queen liked it breezy, No one sits on the throne, Lots of garden parties, Staff living on site, A post office, A movie theater, Activities and programs, No pictures allowed, No wandering freely outside

A home theater, but in a palace! It’s fun to imagine the royal family watching something like ‘The Crown’ in a private theater, but according to Insider, the secret theater (in the south drawing room) is for staff movie nights, and they're reportedly not allowed to watch 'The Crown'!

Activities and programs

Plumbing and electricity problems, Out-of-date decor, Falling masonry, Walls filled with asbestos, Secret doors, The late Queen liked it breezy, No one sits on the throne, Lots of garden parties, Staff living on site, A post office, A movie theater, Activities and programs, No pictures allowed, No wandering freely outside

The staff can also enjoy activities and programs on-site like book clubs or choir. 

No pictures allowed

Plumbing and electricity problems, Out-of-date decor, Falling masonry, Walls filled with asbestos, Secret doors, The late Queen liked it breezy, No one sits on the throne, Lots of garden parties, Staff living on site, A post office, A movie theater, Activities and programs, No pictures allowed, No wandering freely outside

 It doesn’t matter how well the palace light is reflecting off the gold ornamentations and onto your skin, or what kind of crazy stuff you see—you’re not allowed to take photos inside the palace.

No wandering freely outside

Plumbing and electricity problems, Out-of-date decor, Falling masonry, Walls filled with asbestos, Secret doors, The late Queen liked it breezy, No one sits on the throne, Lots of garden parties, Staff living on site, A post office, A movie theater, Activities and programs, No pictures allowed, No wandering freely outside

With vast amounts of tourists, paparazzi, and press at the ready, you have to time your exits and entrances well. 

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