BUCKINGHAM PALACE AND WINDSOR PALACE, TWO OF THE MOST POPULAR STATE-OWNED TOURIST ATTRACTIONS, REQUIRE AT LEAST £20 MILLION TO BE SPENT ON NEW ROOFS AND UPDATED HEATING SYSTEMS. THE STATE ROOMS HAVE NOT BEEN REDECORATED SINCE THE CORONATION IN 1953. THE REWIRING WAS OVERHAULED AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE IN 1948, PROMPTING CONCERN OVER SAFETY. LEAKS IN THE ROOF OF THE PALACE'S PICTURE GALLERY HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A THREAT TO WORKS BY MASTERS SUCH AS REMBRANDT. THE CRUMBLING FACADES ON ALL SIDES OF THE QUADRANGLE AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE ARE IN NEED OF MAINTENANCE. THE WORK, WHICH IS CLASSED AS URGENT BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL DANGER TO THOSE WALKING UNDERNEATH, WILL COST AN ESTIMATED £3 MILLION OVER FIVE YEARS. THE GOVERNMENT HAS CONSISTENTLY REFUSED TO HELP MEET THE COST OF REFURBISHMENT DESPITE REPORTS THAT A LUMP OF MASONRY NARROWLY MISSED THE PRINCESS ROYAL LAST YEAR AS SHE WAS GETTING INTO HER CAR. A SIMILAR INCIDENT TOOK PLACE FOUR MONTHS EARLIER ON THE DAY THAT ALMOST 1,000 PUPILS AND TEACHERS WERE DUE TO VISIT THE PALACE FOR A SCIENCE FAIR. LAST WEEK IT WAS REPORTED ANOTHER PIECE OF MASONRY FELL NARROWLY MISSING A PATROLLING POLICE OFFICER. THE ROYAL MAUSOLEUM AT FROGMORE, NEAR WINDSOR CASTLE, WHICH HOUSES THE TOMB OF QUEEN VICTORIA, HAS BEEN DESIGNATED BY ENGLISH HERITAGE AS 'AT RISK' AFTER PART OF THE CEILING FELL IN. A LARGE STRETCH OF ROOF AT WINDSOR CASTLE ALSO NEEDS REPLACING
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