Image: © Historic Royal Palaces/Twitter
A frank Twitter thread from Historic Royal Palaces has revealed the financial uncertainty facing the organisation behind heritage tourist attractions such as Hampton Court Palace.
“We’ve got to be honest — we need your help,” begins the statement from Historic Royal Palaces. Operating as a self-funded charity during the lockdown has seen the organisation lose 85% of its income.
£95 million has been torn away from its budgets, which is all the more stark when the charity explains that it spent £37 million solely on conservation and maintenance in the last financial year.
With plans afoot to reopen parts of Hampton Court Palace and Hills Castle this week, the organisation – like so many others across the sector – knows that pre-booked ticket sales can provide a modicum of certainty at this financially volatile time.
We’ve got to be honest — we need your help.
As a self-funded charity we're privileged to look after 6 remarkable buildings. Usually visitor income funds our work, but the lockdown has left us with a £95 million shortfall this year (an 85% reduction in our usual income). (1/4) pic.twitter.com/wRneqXRK9R— Historic Royal Palaces (@HRP_palaces) June 16, 2020
“The collapse of international tourism as a result of the pandemic means we’ve got a long way to go until we can hope to fully recover,” Historic Royal Palaces stated in its address to prospective visitors.
“We urgently need your support. By booking a visit, becoming an HRP member, buying from our online shop or making a donation, you can help us protect the palaces, so that future generations can enjoy these wonderful old places for centuries to come.”
