Buckingham Palace is more than 300 years old, so it’s no surprise really that it contains more than a few historical treasures.
During an ongoing renovation project, electricians working to rewire the castle unearthed a few relics of the past, including a newspaper clipping and several cigarette packages that somehow remained perfectly preserved under the castle’s floorboards.
According to the royal family’s Twitter account, the newspaper clipping was from the Evening Standard newspaper that was published in 1889. As the Daily Mail noted, the clipping was published just days before the world’s first jukebox was unveiled.
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The family also shared a trio of photos, each showing off different cigarette boxes found in the floor. The brands were all popular during the 19th and 20th century and included Player's Navy Cut, Woodbine, and Piccadilly.
All of the items are thought to be discarded rubbish by courtiers who worked for Queen Victoria.
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While these items are certainly a cool find, they won’t likely be the last, as the renovation projects at Buckingham are expected to go on for years. According to a video by the Royal Family, the project is currently focusing on replacing all the “vulcanized Indian Rubber” wiring that was installed in the home in the late 1940s. While the rubbering was high-tech at the time, wear and tear has caused the rubber to crack and expose live wiring throughout the home. This, in turn, put Buckingham at risk for fires.
And the renovation could certainly take a while, as the wiring snakes through most of the highly delicate structure.
But fear not, as the Queen’s private apartment is not part of the renovation, and the palace remains open to tourists hoping to sneak a peek at the royal life. Though, visitors will likely also run into more than their fair share of construction workers as, according to the Daily Mail, the $500-million renovation project isn’t expected to be completed until 2027.
