MASONRY FALLS FROM BUCKINGHAM PALACE NARROWLY MISSING A POLICE OFFICER

A LARGE PIECE OF MASONRY FELL FROM THE FACADE OF BUCKINGHAM PALACE, MISSING A METRO POLICE OFFICER ON PATROLLING THE PALACE GROUNDS. THE STONEWORK FELL CLOSE TO THE OFFICE OF THE KEEPER OF THE PRIVY PURSE, SIR ALAN REID. THE GOVERNMENT HAS CONSISTENTLY REFUSED ANY EXTRA MONEY TO HELP MEET THE COST OF A TOTAL REFURBISHMENT AND PRESERVATION OF THE PALACE DESPITE A SIMILAR INCIDENT IN 2007 IN WHICH LUMPS OF MASONRY AND STONE WORK NARROWLY MISSED PRINCESS ANNE AS SHE WAS PREPARING TO GET INTO HER CAR. THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD RECEIVES AN ANNUAL BUDGET FOR BASIC REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE AT ALL ROYAL RESIDENCES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE. LAST YEAR'S PAYOUT WAS £15.5 MILLION. THE LATEST PIECE OF STONE TO FALL WAS DESCRIBED BY A FRIEND OF THE ROYAL FAMILY, SPEAKING TO THE DAILY MAIL, AS 'QUITE A SUBSTANTIAL PIECE OF STONE.' 'PARTS OF THE BUILDING HAVE BEN SWATHED IN SCAFFOLDING FOR SO LONG THAT IT'S A JOKE, IT'S THE ONLY THING THAT KEEPS ITS FROM FALLING DOWN', SAID THE FRIEND. THE LATEST MASONRY FALL TOOK PLACE AT THE FRONT OF THE PALACE IN VIEW OF THE MAL. A PALACE SPOKESPERSON CONFIRMED THE INCIDENT HAPPENED 'RECENTLY' AND 'WAS WITNESSES BY A POLICE OFFICER' BUT INSISTED THE STONE WAS A 'SMALL PIECE' THAT COULD BE MEASURED 'IN INCHES RATHER THAN FEET'. IT WAS NOT KNOWN HOW CLOSE THE POLICE OFFICER WAS FROM THE FALLING STONE, THE SPOKESPERSON SAID. MANY ROOMS AT WINDSOR CASTLE AND BUCKINGHAM PALACE ARE LONG OVERDUE FOR REDECORATION, RESTORATION AND THE ELECTRICS AT THE PALACES ARE REPORTED TO BE LARGELY UNTOUCHED SINCE 1948.