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Could you rent Buckingham Palace for one month? And what you need to know to work in Buckingham Palace? Find out in our video!
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00:00Are you bored of where you live? Fed up with not having a room with a moat or a garden
00:04big enough
00:05for a parade of elephants? Maybe it's time for a change. So, here are a few options to think about
00:11in your house search. First up, have you ever considered renting Buckingham Palace? Smack dab
00:19in the center of London, the sprawling palace is one of the most visited tourist spots in the UK,
00:24especially for people looking for a taste of the royal treatment. In the early 1700s,
00:30the Duke of Buckingham commissioned an architect named William Wynd to build Buckingham House.
00:36Yes, house, not palace. It was only the early beginnings of what the Grand Palace looks like
00:42today. In 1761, King George III bought Buckingham House for his wife, Queen Charlotte. But it was
00:49their son, King George IV, who began to morph Buckingham Palace into its current magnificence.
00:56Maybe, in fact, he may have gone a bit overboard. King George IV had great taste in decor. He
01:03appointed John Nash, a neoclassical architect, to elevate the building and its grounds to a
01:09shining monument of opulence. Parliament agreed to cover £150,000, about $200,000, of the bill.
01:17But by the end, the renovation costs had spiraled out of control to nearly half a million, which is
01:23close to $1 billion in today's currency. With 775 rooms, the palace has a lot to offer,
01:31including some unique features that you might not find in other properties on the market,
01:35such as a river that runs beneath it. Back in the day, the river Tyburn was packed with salmon,
01:42a fisherman's daydream. Today, it flows through an underground channel, trickling beneath Buckingham
01:48Palace on its way through London. Some fishing enthusiast organizations have rallied to bring
01:54the river back up above ground. But that would mean tearing down several buildings along the way,
01:59including Buckingham Palace. So they might need to settle for other places to cast off for the time
02:05being. Buckingham Palace's 39-acre garden has many uses. It's the Queen's private London garden,
02:12and it also plays a key part in many royal events throughout the year. The most famous of these
02:17events are the Queen's Garden Parties, which can each welcome up to 24,000 guests into the garden's
02:24walls. The size of the garden is so vast that it could fit 29 football fields inside its walls,
02:30and still have a bit of room to host afternoon tea. There's even a lake. Camels, crocodiles,
02:37elephants, and many other whimsical members of the animal kingdom have called the palace home.
02:42During the rule of King Henry VIII, deer roamed wild throughout the grounds. Then, years later,
02:50King James introduced an entire zoo, which future royals after him gladly took up as a tradition.
02:56Queen Charlotte was given a zebra and eight elephants, and Queen Victoria had great fun
03:02riding jumbo, ringmaster P.T. Barnum's famous circus elephant. So how much would it cost to
03:09rent out Buckingham Palace for a month? Well, it comes in at a budget-friendly amount of about
03:15$17.5 million a month. That means it would fetch about $230 million a year in rent. Let's put that
03:23number in perspective. For $17.5 million, you could buy the world's most expensive watch,
03:29encrusted with 1,200 diamonds. So that's a $3.5 million clock for yourself and three of your
03:36friends. And you'd still have $3 million left over. If Buckingham Palace isn't your flavor,
03:42maybe another royal residence, Windsor Castle, might better suit your taste. The castle spans over
03:48580,000 square feet and holds a millennium of royal history, dating all the way back to the Normans.
03:56Windsor Castle is the largest and oldest occupied castle in the entire world. First built by William
04:02the Conqueror in the 11th century, it's been the home of 39 monarchs since. Now, the Queen spends most
04:09of her weekends away from her duties at the castle. Some of its highlights include a moat room. Yeah,
04:15a room for your moat. In the state apartments, you can view paintings created by many famous artists
04:22hanging on the walls. And of course, there are the arms and armor in the Grand Vestibule. I keep my
04:28armor in the Grand Vestibule in my house too. So how much would this beauty cost to rent? The monthly
04:34rent would cost you as much as to buy 40 average UK homes mortgage-free, which is $13.6 million.
04:41For the same amount, you could also buy a private island 30 minutes off the coast of Manhattan.
04:47So choose wisely. If neither of those is in your budget, how about Kensington Palace? It's the current
04:54home of Prince William and Kate Middleton in the center of London near Hyde Park. It's filled with
05:00multiple wings and royal apartments, where many past royals have called home, one of which being
05:06Princess Diana. Will and Kate's apartment is far from what you'd picture when you think of a regular
05:12one. It's more like a mansion inside a larger mansion. A portion of it even includes a clock tower.
05:19In 1689, King William and Queen Mary bought the mansion in a village called Kensington for £20,000,
05:25about $5.3 million today. At the time, it was called Kensington House.
05:31Since then, generations of royals have continued to live in the palace. Queen Anne worked on expanding
05:37its gardens and also built the Orangery, which started out as a greenhouse. Now it serves as a
05:44restaurant open to the public. With a measly 20 rooms, it makes up for it with 30 acres of grounds.
05:51Inside, there are two greeting rooms and multiple studies for the royals to work in. Plus,
05:56it has three kitchens. So, you could get three different midnight snacks and never visit the
06:01same fridge twice. In addition, the royal apartment inside has its own private gym and an elevator,
06:08which is helpful since it spans four different floors. Renting Kensington Palace would set you back
06:14about $2.1 million a month. $2.1 million could get you a top-end Lamborghini, which has 770 horsepower
06:22and can zoom up to 60 miles per hour in just 2.8 seconds. You'd have some cash left over,
06:29though, because the Lamborghini only costs $1.9 million. So, you could throw a few Honda Civics
06:35in your shopping cart, too, if you wanted. Sandringham House is the beloved country home
06:40away from home of Queen Elizabeth II. Sandringham is a huge estate that the royals use for many
06:46occasions, since it has features ranging from fruit farms to a full museum. Mostly,
06:51it's where the English royals love to spend their winter holidays. It's in Norfolk, England,
06:57about 100 miles north of London, and is built on 20,000 acres of land. To put that in perspective,
07:03an acre was first measured as the size of land that could be plowed in one day with an ox
07:08in
07:08the Middle Ages. So, to plow Sandringham Estates' land in one day, you would need 20,000 people
07:15and 20,000 oxen. In 1862, the British royal family bought the estate as a country retreat
07:22for the Prince of Wales, Edward VII, and his fiancée, Alexandra of Denmark. After that,
07:29the estate was passed on to Queen Elizabeth II. There are more than 200 people who work on the
07:34estate, which includes farmers, gardeners, and workers in the sawmill and fresh apple juice
07:40pressing plant. How much would monthly rent be in this sprawling abode? About the same cost as
07:46buying 53 Arabian horses, which is $8.5 million. The Palace of Versailles in France was originally
07:54a private retreat for Louis XIII and his family. Under the direction of Louis XIV, the royal residence
08:01was expanded and remodeled into immense and ornate premises surrounded by stately gardens.
08:06Every detail of it was designed to glorify Louis XIV and highlight his extravagance.
08:13A landscape artist crafted French gardens with fountains that created an illusion of magically
08:18still water, meant to express the power the king had over even nature. It was also the private
08:25residence of Marie Antoinette. Of all of them, the most decadent room is the Hall of Mirrors.
08:31It's a long gallery lined with 17 mirrors, which sit opposite 17 windows to reflect the gardens
08:38outside. Opulent chandeliers gleam on the intricately painted ceiling, and the walls are built from white
08:44marble. How much does it cost to live like Marie Antoinette for a month? Well, there actually are
08:51rooms available for the public to rent. They start at $2,600, and with 2,300 rooms in total, that
08:58brings
08:59the rental value for the whole place up to $179 million per month. That's the equivalent of buying
09:0555 grand pianos sculpted from pure crystal, which costs $3.2 million each.
09:12Okay, but really, did you know there are castles you can actually rent?
09:16There's a castle called Pete's Castle in Ireland, which was built over 600 years ago. Even though it
09:23has retained its original structure from the 1400s, in modern years, it's been renovated to make it a
09:28dream destination. But keep in mind, it's an actual ancient castle, so it's no four seasons. There are
09:36narrow staircases, and none of the rooms were designed for running water. Meaning, if you need
09:41the bathroom at 3 a.m., it's a chilly walk. It costs $145 per night, and it's open for anyone
09:48looking for
09:49a royally extravagant holiday to rent. If that's more in your budget range, I understand. We can't all
09:56have the money to buy 53 Arabian horses every month.
10:01Queen Elizabeth's love for corgis is famous worldwide. It's no wonder that all her dogs
10:07got special homemade chef-cooked meals. Ex-chef of Buckingham Palace, Darren McGrady, said in an
10:15interview that royal corgis only ate fresh food and had their own menu of home-cooked meals,
10:20which included rabbit, liver, cabbage, and rice. Queen used to have eight dogs, and each corgi got food
10:29from an exotic porcelain meal bowl. One particular bowl for each dog, so no one had to share. Butlers
10:36arranged and served dog meals by order of seniority, from the oldest pup to the youngest. After the meal
10:43was over, two butlers collected empty bowls. Her Majesty stopped breeding corgis in 2015. However,
10:51today, the queen still has two corgis, according to media reports. Besides having access to high-class
10:58cuisine, her royal pets have their own special butler, who takes care of all their needs. Dogs
11:05aren't the only pets treated like kings in Buckingham Palace. Horses also get their share. Sometimes,
11:12Her Majesty feeds them by herself. Therefore, not every carrot is suitable for this purpose.
11:18All carrots must be perfectly prepared, finger-sized, and peeled. Royal staff also has plenty of rules
11:25when it comes to tea brewing. The perfect recipe includes a teaspoon of leaves per one teacup.
11:31The water temperature should be 158 degrees Fahrenheit for green tea and 212 degrees Fahrenheit
11:37for Earl Grey or English breakfast tea. Milk is always at last. People who serve tea must use a
11:45thermometer to check the water temperature. Green tea should be brewed in 3 minutes, while black tea
11:52requires 5 minutes. Royal tea can only be sweetened with honey. The royal staff accounts for 1,000 people
12:00working for the queen in her palaces. Buckingham Palace has 188 modest staff bedrooms, where the
12:08employees sleep after long work hours. Getting hired is not as difficult as it might seem, according to many
12:14media reports. But surprisingly, the salary is not usually very high. They have to live in relatively
12:21modest conditions and are forced to part with their families for a long time. Some of the advantages of
12:27working in the palace include free phones, car, and bike leasing, and free lunches. Those who want to
12:33be hired as royal butlers can first apply to the butler course at the Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire.
12:39This organization offers paid etiquette courses that vary in duration, including a four-week training
12:46course worth £7,000. However, it doesn't guarantee you get the job, but improves the chances.
12:53In recent years, one of the palace jobs advertised was the polisher of the queen's historic vases and
13:00irreplaceable paintings at the Palace of Holyrood House in Edinburgh. This duty required any candidate
13:07to work 20 hours a week for a paycheck of $10,500 a year. No previous experience needed. The most
13:15important
13:15quality for a member of the royal staff is to keep secrets well. While providing services for the royal
13:21household, staff members can witness delicate information that can be very valuable for the
13:26media. Some of the former workers have written books about their work at the palace. Therefore,
13:33today, all new royal employees are forced to sign a non-disclosure agreement.
13:39Telephone operators in Buckingham Palace receive more than 7,000 calls a week. Their annual salary
13:46starts from £23,000 plus benefits, according to media reports. The queen should always be elegantly
13:54invited to dinner. People who get the honor to speak to her must learn particular polite phrases.
14:00Improvisation and informal language aren't welcome. Royal staff risks being fired if they say,
14:06your dinner's on the table. Instead, they should say something like, your majesty, dinner is served.
14:13Prince Charles had the habit of eating soft-boiled eggs after hunting. And since his arrival was
14:19usually unexpected, the kitchen staff have a weird tradition. In 30 minutes before his supposed arrival,
14:25they began to boil eggs every three minutes so that the prince could enjoy a fresh snack
14:30immediately after hunting. Every kitchen employee knows that the royal family diet has a huge list of
14:37restrictions to eliminate any risk of poisoning. Drinking tap water when traveling is not allowed.
14:42They also skip any exotic or spicy foods and meals made with raw or undercooked meats, such as tartare.
14:49The queen and her family never eat with their hands. They always use a knife and fork,
14:54even while eating fruits. Former royal chef Darren McGrady confessed that he hadn't prepared pizza for
15:0111 years in a row. The menu was very conservative. Queen didn't ask him to cook any fast food except
15:08for
15:09burgers. But those burgers had to be made in a particular way, with venison and without a bun.
15:15Her Majesty usually enjoys her afternoon tea between 3 and 5 pm with a crustless, curved sandwich.
15:22Her favorite toppings include cucumber, balmoral smoked salmon, ham with mustard, egg with mayonnaise, or tuna.
15:30Royal staff in charge of serving food have unique maps of arranging various meals for various family members.
15:37To make the royal family's life and cooking easier, these serving rules haven't been rearranged for decades.
15:45Vacuum cleaners are forbidden in Buckingham Palace in the mornings. Instead, the cleaning team quietly sweeps the carpets.
15:52This rule prevents staff members from waking up the royals too early with annoying vacuum noises.
15:58Only royals themselves are allowed to walk wherever they want. The palace has many long corridors,
16:04and unspoken rules prohibit staff members from walking down the middle of the carpets.
16:09Instead, they walk on the sides of the hallways to avoid bringing extra dirt from shoes,
16:14leaving unnecessary footprints and wearing down the carpets.
16:18Most employees from Buckingham Palace need to have a very strong back because they have to stand on their feet
16:24most of the working day. Especially the famous guardsmen in beautiful red uniforms and black hats,
16:30one of the symbols of England. These young men are obliged to stand still on guard, completely silent.
16:36If a guardsman gets noticed laughing or talking to the tourists, he'll be fined one-third of his monthly salary.
16:42So, if you ever travel to Buckingham Palace, have mercy on the guys and don't make them laugh.
16:49Royal nannies must be ready for difficulties too. They carry plenty of responsibilities,
16:55from proper nutrition, cyber security, and safe driving. In order to get qualified for this job,
17:01women have to complete three years of intensive training. All royal nannies get a very old-fashioned
17:08education that encourages outdoor activities. That's why they should be ready to spend a lot
17:13of time outside the house, even if the weather is rainy and cold. Nannies from Buckingham Palace are
17:19obliged to put on the traditional uniform only for official occasions, such as weddings and birthday
17:24parties. This outfit includes a conservative tan uniform, a bowler hat, and white gloves. In the
17:31remaining work hours, they can wear ordinary clothes. Surprisingly, the security check of the future
17:37royal employees only takes from four to six weeks. And not all jobs require the applicants to be British
17:44citizens, but a work permit in the UK is essential. The official protocol requires that the royal family
17:50members must be driven when they travel to any public event. But, Queen Elizabeth had previously
17:56been spotted by media while driving around her estates behind the wheel herself. At the age of 18,
18:03she took lessons as a driver for the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service. But, of course,
18:08the palace hires special chauffeurs to transport the queen on public roads. The Royal Chauffeur Job
18:14advertisement promises a scary worth of £23,000 to £24,000 a year for a 48-hour work week. Just
18:23like
18:23other staff members, chauffeurs are invited to live in the palace and all meals are free for them.
18:29The successful candidate should be able to work under pressure, have strong attention to detail,
18:34obtain a driving license, have excellent manners and communication skills. The job includes driving
18:40around and meeting royal family members, as well as guests and household officials. Apart from driving
18:46royal vehicles, the chauffeurs are responsible for keeping all the cars in pristine condition.
18:52Chauffeurs should also contribute to managing and running the Royal Mews Garage, which looks after all
18:58the state vehicles. The queen's car collection is worth millions and includes a Range Rover, Bentley,
19:04and even Jaguar. The Astronomer Royal is a traditional member of the royal staff
19:09since the 17th century. In the past, astronomers were responsible for drawing maps of the heavens
19:16for navigation, which has led to many scientific discoveries. But nowadays, this position is mostly
19:22ceremonial. Today, astrophysicist Martin Rees holds this position. He was hired in 1995 and is the 15th
19:31astronomer royal in the country's history.
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