Buckingham Palace will upgrade its cybersecurity systems as concerns grow over Russian activity and threats to the UK.
Officials within the Royal Household have acknowledged that some Palace IT systems have become outdated. As a result, they now plan to replace ageing technology and strengthen cybersecurity.
The decision comes as tensions between the UK and Russia continue to rise. Meanwhile, Western officials have warned about the growing risk of Russian activity against NATO countries.
Russia has increasingly used tactics that experts describe as operating in the “grey zone”. These activities can include cyberattacks, sabotage, espionage and other actions that fall below the level of traditional warfare.
The Royal Family has already experienced a cyber incident. In October 2023, hackers targeted the official royal website and took it offline for around 90 minutes.
Following that incident, Palace officials now want stronger systems to protect royal operations and sensitive information. At the same time, the planned upgrades will form part of wider improvements across the Royal Household.
Treasury minister Dan Tomlinson confirmed that the increased Sovereign Grant will help the Royal Household replace ageing systems. In addition, the funding will support cybersecurity improvements and energy-efficient heating systems.
The Sovereign Grant will provide £99.9 million in core funding for the Royal Household in 2027-28. This represents a significant increase from the £72.1 million allocated in 2025-26.
However, the overall Sovereign Grant will fall from its current level of £137.9 million. The government will reduce temporary funding for the major renovation of Buckingham Palace as the work approaches completion.
Furthermore, Tomlinson pointed to the increased workload facing King Charles and Queen Camilla. The King has taken on more official engagements and state visits in recent years. Consequently, the Royal Household faces higher staffing and operational costs.
Therefore, the new funding will support several priorities beyond cybersecurity. Palace officials also plan to address maintenance backlogs and improve energy efficiency.
At the same time, governments and major institutions across Europe face growing digital threats. Cyberattacks have become an important security concern as geopolitical tensions continue to increase.
For the Royal Household, protecting sensitive systems has therefore become a major priority. Stronger cybersecurity could help the Palace defend its digital infrastructure against future attacks.
Overall, the planned upgrade highlights the growing importance of cybersecurity for Britain’s monarchy. It also shows how rising geopolitical tensions can affect even the country’s most prominent institutions.
