英國白金漢宮要大修 歷時10年花3.69億英鎊

Buckingham Palace is to undergo a 10-year refurbishment costing the taxpayer 369 million pounds, the Treasury has announced.

英國財政部近日宣佈，白金漢宮即將進行重新裝修，預計將耗時10年，花費3.69億英鎊。

The Queen will remain in residence during the work, to begin next April.

這項工程將於明年四月份開始動工，期間女王仍將繼續住在白金漢宮。

Ageing cables, lead pipes, wiring and boilers will be replaced, many for the first time in 60 years, amid fears about potential fire and water damage.

由於擔心潛在的火災和水患，白金漢宮裏老化的線纜、鉛製的管道、電線和鍋爐等都將被替換，其中許多都是60年裏第一次更換。

Tony Johnstone-Burt, Master of the Queen's Household, said phased works offered the "best value for money" while keeping the palace running.

據女王的管家託尼·約翰斯通-伯特表示，階段性的工作既要把錢花得“物有所值”，又要保證白金漢宮的正常運轉。

The Royal Trustees, who include the prime minister and chancellor, recommended that the works be funded by a temporary increase in the Sovereign Grant.

皇家受託人（包括英國首相和財政大臣）建議稱，本次工程的費用可以通過臨時增加“君主撥款”來籌集。

The grant - which this year totalled nearly 43 million pounds - is 15% of the profits from the independent property business Crown Estates.

這筆撥款（今年總額近4300萬英鎊）是獨立地產業務“皇家財產管理公司”利潤的15%。

The trustees say the grant should rise to 25% of the profits for the repairs.

皇家受託人表示，這筆撥款應該提升到利潤的25%，從而提供維修工程的費用。

As Her Majesty's administrative headquarters, the Queen spends a third of the year hosting events at Buckingham Palace.

作爲女王陛下的行政指揮總部，女王每年會有三分之一的時間在白金漢宮舉行活動。

When in town, she holds weekly audiences with the prime minister, and every year welcomes more than 50,000 people as guests to state banquets, dinners, receptions and garden parties.

當女王在城裏的時候，她每週都要招待首相，並且每年都要接待超過50000人蔘加國宴、宴會、招待會和花園聚會。

The palace has 775 rooms, including 19 state rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms.

白金漢宮共有775個房間，其中包括19個國事大廳、53個皇家寢宮和客房、188個工作人員寢室、92個辦公室以及78個浴室。