Buckingham Palace is installing a gym onsite to provide ‘big company benefits’ for its 450 staff.
Set to be ready in spring 2009, the ‘royal fitness suite’ will be located at the Royal Mews, currently home to the monarch’s horses and state coaches.
The gym will be filled with modern fitness equipment and will be staffed by a personal trainer. Facilities will include running machines, cross-trainers, exercise bikes, rowing machine and weights. Plans are also under way to install showers and locker rooms.
A spokesperson for the palace said: “We’re always looking for ways to help to keep our staff fit and healthy, so this is something we’ve been considering for a while. We also wanted to be in line with bigger organisations and the benefits they offer.”
Other facilities available to employees include squash and tennis courts, whilst staff have also formed their own football and social clubs.
The project is being funded by the Buckingham Palace Staff Welfare Fund, which is contributed to by employees and donations from the Queen herself.