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

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	-	-

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.”