Buckingham Palace to get £369m refurbishment Buckingham Palace is to undergo a 10-year refurbishment costing the taxpayer £369m, the Treasury has announced.
The Queen will remain in residence during the work, to begin next April.
Ageing cables, lead pipes, wiring and boilers will be replaced, many for the first time in 60 years, amid fears about potential fire and water damage.
Tony Johnstone-Burt, Master of the Queen's Household, said phased works offered the "best value for money" while keeping the palace running.
The Royal Trustees, who include the prime minister and chancellor, recommended that the works be funded by a temporary increase in the Sovereign Grant.
The grant - which this year totalled nearly £43m - is 15% of the profits from the independent property business Crown Estates, which go to the Treasury.
The trustees say the grant should rise to 25% of the profits for the repairs. This would require MPs' approval.