Emergency repair work to Buckingham Palace’s State Dining Room nears completion

The State Dining Room at Buckingham Palace remains closed, more than 16 months after damage was discovered in a timber beam that helps hold up the ornately gilded ceiling. Initially a palace spokesperson had played down reports that the room would need to be closed for official functions and visitors for up to six months. Subsequent investigations revealed a serious problem, requiring emergency stabilisation and a crash-deck scaffold. The room had been lined with full-length portraits from