Former Buckingham Palace press secretary Dickie Arbiter has revealed that the fire at Windsor Castle was the biggest crisis he dealt with while working for the Royal Family. Appearing on Royals Unscripted, Arbiter told Daily Express royal editor Emily Ferguson that the 1992 fire was the most significant challenge, not because of the damage to the castle itself, but because it damaged Queen Elizabeth II's image for some time.
The Government Minister's Fateful Response
Arbiter explained that the crisis was compounded by what happened less than 24 hours after the fire started. The government minister responsible for the Department for National Heritage went to Windsor and was briefed, but Buckingham Palace had little to tell him as the extent of the damage was not yet known. Recovery work and the future of the castle repairs had not been discussed.
Despite this, the minister told TV reporters something that resulted in public outcry. Arbiter recalled: "There were no secrets, Buckingham Palace had no secrets. Nobody knew the extent of the damage. Nobody knew. You can't answer questions on a matter you just have no answers to."
Public Outcry and the Queen's Response
When asked by a TV reporter "Who's going to pay for it?", the minister replied: "The Government will pay." Arbiter said: "With those words, he threw the late Queen out to the wolves. That was a Saturday morning. On Monday morning, he repeated the same thing in Parliament. For weeks, the late Queen was pilloried."
Arbiter continued: "It was the wrong thing to say, and the Queen suffered for it. Until such time as she announced – well, we announced – that Buckingham Palace would be open to visitors in the summer months. Then everything was sweetness and light after that."
Restoration and Funding
The fire destroyed about 115 rooms, and the restoration of the castle is believed to have cost around £36.5 million. Opening Buckingham Palace to the public for an £8 entry fee raised enough to cover 70% of the repairs. The late Queen contributed £2 million of her own money and committed to paying income tax from 1993 onwards. Private donations were also made via an independent trust.
