The ongoing £370 million restoration of Buckingham Palace has unearthed a collection of forgotten items, offering a glimpse into the lives of those who have worked and lived within the royal residence.
Among the discoveries are a pair of well-worn worker's boots, a betting slip for the Littlewoods Football Pool from 1957, and an empty packet of Silk Cut cigarettes, a brand reportedly favored by Princess Margaret. These items, found preserved beneath floorboards and in other concealed areas, were uncovered by renovators during the decade-long project.
The reservicing aims to update the palace's electrical wiring, plumbing, and heating systems, alongside broader infrastructure overhauls to prevent long-term damage. The project began in 2017 and is scheduled for completion next year.
Other historical finds include a fragment of theatre listings from The Standard newspaper dating back to 1889, and a ticket for a 'whist drive' organized by the Royal Household's social club in 1949. The whist drive ticket, priced at sixpence, was found embedded in building rock.
Details from 1966 editions of the Daily Express newspaper, reporting on the Great Train Robbers housed in Durham Prison, were also discovered. A typed schedule from 1977, detailing Queen Elizabeth II's hosting of a diplomatic reception during her Silver Jubilee, revealed the monarch's planned route around the Ballroom in a clockwise direction. The schedule also outlined instructions for staff regarding guest mingling and a strict timetable for the event, including a ban on smoking in certain state rooms.
Workers also removed approximately 2 kilometers of old electrical wiring covered with Vulcanised Indian Rubber (VIR) cabling, identified as a significant fire risk due to its tendency to become brittle with age.
Additional items recovered during the restoration include Minton decorative ceramic tiles from a fireplace hearth, an aged pewter tankard, a bottle of Schweppes Still Malvern English Spring Water, a wooden junction box, and a faded box containing six Christmas cards.