Well, it appears that having millions of people handle/handle famous objects every day is not a good idea. The gates are not simply tired: they are just loved excessively. It seems that there are simply too many hands and so much photos (too many selfies) raked over the top of the gates, rubbing for luck, and wearing away the surface of the painting, to render them in danger of breaking down and becoming unusable.
Crowds are drawn to the Buckingham Palace gates every day. People lean against them, touch them, run their fingers across them, and pose for photos (again). In reality, one tourist’s interaction does not cause undue wear; it’s simply the fact that thousands of people are exposing the surface to constant abrasion.
Through time, the surface of the gates has worn down, dulled, and eroded from repeated human interaction, not vandalism.
These Gates are Not Just Any Gates
The purpose of the gates was not simply to be decorative, they were commissioned by King George V (early 1900s) and are filled with royal symbolic meaning and represent the history and value of the Palace. The gates help to create the feeling of the Palace as visitors come in, and the same for official visitors as well as the members of the Royal Family.
A Color You May Have Never Known
If you were to guess which color the gates were painted when they were first made, most likely you would say black, but that was not the case. The original color of the gates was actually a shade of deep bronze green, and the black finish that we see today was added many years later around the 1930s. Now, The Palace is planning to restore the gates back to their original bronze green color.
There are several reasons why The Palace wants to restore the gates back to their original color. Research from various sources such as paint study and records have concluded that bronze green was the most historically appropriate color for the gates, and restoring them back to bronze green would bring them into line with their original appearance.
The Emotional Connection With Paint
As well as being historically accurate, the choice of color for the gates has a strong emotional connection to Prince Philip. He drove a number of cars painted in bronze green, including his funeral Land Rover, which was painted in the same color.
The royal family has also worn green clothing at memorial events, to quietly show their respect and remembrance of him. Repainting the gates in this way also carries an emotional and symbolic weight.
How the Restoration Will Be Done
There will be no need to dismantle the gates for restoration, as everything will be done on-site and in place where they are standing. The gates will be stripped of the old paint, the metal will be repaired and a new layer of protective paint will be applied. The stone columns and bases of the gates will also be cleaned and restored at the same time.
The described method reduces the chances of damage and/or having to cut or move ornate ironwork sections that may be more than 200 years old.
Interesting Fact, Less Interesting Memory
Prior to this incident, the gates were in a bit of disrepair. In the event of a drivable incident where someone crashed a vehicle through the gate. Compared to the level of damage seen from the driver, daily tourist contact is not extremely damaging to the gates; however, the long-term effects of continually touching the gates can also have a severe impact on them.
As was mentioned, Buckingham Palace has the status of being one of the world’s most photographed structures. Buckingham Palace, like all other prestigious locations in the world, is now learning from its experience with millions of visitors and that when there are millions of hands involved, there will be consequences.
The restoration project is not about making Buckingham Palace a higher standard of luxury or establishing a vanity project for the royals. The restoration is being completed in an effort to protect the history of the gates from being damaged as a result of people loving them. The gates have withstood the elements, the test of time, and the most recent car accident but with continual tourist contact, the gates can no longer live in their repose.
So now you know, you can look, you can admire, you can take photos, but maybe keep your hands in your pockets!
