King Charles and Queen Camilla look to expand Buckingham Palace with latest move

Alastair Stewart gives rare insight into security measures at Buckingham Palace .mp4
GB News
Ed Griffiths

By Ed Griffiths


Published: 01/03/2025

- 18:41

The palace is undergoing a £369million refurbishment programme

King Charles and Queen Camilla are looking to expand the royal workforce at Buckingham Palace despite the monarch's residency undergoing significant refurbishments.

The palace has listed various job vacancies on its website, focused on the kitchens.


The positions include a junior pastry sous chef, a chef de partie and a sous chef to join the kitchen.

The palace is also currently searching for people to fill various other administrative and organisational roles.

King Charles and Queen Camilla

King Charles and Queen Camilla are looking to expand the royal workforce at Buckingham Palace despite the monarch's residency undergoing significant refurbishments

Getty

It comes as the palace is undergoing a £369million refurbishment programme, with the Palace closing its doors to hosting state visits until 2027.

The change in staff suggests that the project might make some exponential progress in the next couple of years.

The closure marks a significant shift in royal hospitality arrangements as the palace undergoes its largest refurbishment in decades.

The King welcomed the Emir of Qatar in December for the final state visit until refurbishments are complete.

Buckingham PalaceAerial view of Buckingham PalaceGetty


All subsequent state visits, including Donald Trump's recent invitation, have been relocated while the extensive renovation works continue.

In the next International visit, the monarch will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to his Sandringham estate on Sunday.

The King will host the Ukrainian leader at his Norfolk country retreat due to the refurbishments.

Zelensky has already arrived in the UK ahead of a European defence summit hosted by Prime Minister Keir Starmer but is yet to meet the King.

President Zelensky and King Charles

King Charles will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to his Sandringham estate on Sunday

Getty

The extensive renovation project began in 2017, whilst Queen Elizabeth was on the throne.

It focuses on replacing ageing cabling and plumbing systems that have not been updated since the 1950s.

The works were deemed essential to prevent potential "catastrophic fire or flooding" risks in the palace, with dangerous asbestos also removed from several rooms through "abrasive brickwork cleaning".

The project is funded through the taxpayer-funded sovereign grant which is also used to pay the workers at the palace.