The Crown Fuels: Properties featured in The Crown rack up energy bills of up to £2m

News Desk
Authored by News Desk
Posted Saturday, November 21, 2020 - 6:30am

The Crown is renowned for providing a dramatic look into the life of The Royals and their family, from behind-the-scenes conversations to the grandeur of their homes. But what may shock consumers this season is the eye-watering amount of energy these historic properties require each year to run.

Buildings expected to feature prominently in season four of The Crown - including Diana’s family estate Althorp House - are estimated to cost its actual residents up to a combined £2,261,196 a year in gas and electricity bills alone, according to an analysis by switching and comparison website energyhelpline.com.

While it may come as no surprise that Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle cost the most to run - racking up to an estimated £1,708,880 in energy bills between them each year - Althorp House comes in third place with an annual bill of up to £130,250.

Table: Largest estimated energy bills and potential energy savings, broken down by Royal property

Property

Rooms

Estimated area (sq ft)

Annual energy cost on SVT

Potential annual saving by switching to a fixed deal

Location 

Residents

Buckingham Palace

775

828,000

£1,078,470

£299,487

Westminster,

London

The Queen’s working residency 

Windsor Castle

100

484,000

£630,410

£175,062

Windsor, Berkshire

The Queen’s weekend retreat 

Althorp House

93

100,000

£130,250

£36,170

Althorp, Northamptonshire

Princess Diana’s family estate and home from the age of 14

Sandringham House

Unknown 

79,706

£103,817

£28,830

Sandringham, Norfolk

The Queen’s country home, Diana was born at neighbouring property Park House

Balmoral Castle

52

77,948

£101,527

£28,194

Aberdeenshire, Scotland

The Queen’s second private home

Anmer Hall

30

44,970

£58,573

£16,265

Anmer, Norfolk

William and Kate’s summer home

Gatcombe park

27

40,473

£52,716

£14,639

Avening, Gloucestershire

Princess Anne’s home

Kensington Palace

20

29,980

£39,049

£10,844

Kensington, London

Charles and Diana’s former home, now home to Prince William and Kate

Highgrove House

19

28,481

£37,097

£10,302

Tetbury, Gloucestershire

Prince William and Harry’s childhood home

Clarence House

15

22,485

£29,287

£8,133

Westminster,

London

Formally the Queen mother’s home, Diana resided here in preparation for her marriage. Now home to Charles and Camilla

Total

1,131

1,736,043

£2,261,196

£627,926

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-

Source: https://www.energyhelpline.com/the-crown-fuels 

Despite the age and size of the Royal properties featured in the new series, The Royal Household has implemented a decade-long Energy Management Strategy, set to improve its energy efficiency by 40 per cent - achieving a 24% reduction in heating and lighting last year.

And it’s not just environmental savings to be had as Buckingham Palace, for instance, could save £299,487 each year by switching to the most competitive fixed rate energy deal. Across the ten properties, switching to a better deal would save an impressive £627,926 each year. 

Tom Lyon, Director of Energy at energyhelpline.com, comments: “It’s fair to say that we all love watching The Crown and getting a look inside these grand homes and, considering the size and age of these impressive buildings, it’s perhaps little wonder that their energy bills will be equally grand.

“For example, some of Buckingham Palace’s radiators are over sixty years old, and the electrical cabling and heating date from the 1950s. But with measures like installing LED lighting which uses up to 86% less electricity across the estate, it’s incredible to see the environmental and cost-savings being made. 

“While the energy bills for these historic and large buildings will be eye-wateringly high, moving to a fixed rate deal in our own homes is one of the easiest ways to cut bills, with the average person saving a sizeable £289 per year by switching.”

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