Edward Heath's 96 Foot Model Of Buckingham Palace Burns To The Ground For Charity (VIDEO)

'The Wife's Threatened That If I Do Another One She'll Leave Me'

A 96-foot effigy of Buckingham Palace burned to the ground this weekend, courtesy of a UK man named Edward Heath. But don't worry, there's no need to alert Scotland Yard. The impressive pyrotechnic show was put on with a seal of approval from the Queen herself, reports the Daily Mail. The event was planned as a charity bonfire, not as a fiery political statement.

Heath, who happens to share the same name as a former British Prime Minister, torched his 96-foot wide model of the palace after spending nearly five months fashioning the intricate replica from 1,000 wooden panels. The mini Buckingham featured the famous gates, a version of the balcony where Prince William and Kate Middleton shared there first married kiss, and even a tiny Union Flag to complete the piece.

The structure was set aflame to a crowd of nearly 2,000 observers this past Sunday at the Royal Oak pub in Dilhorne, Staffs, transforming from model home to embers in about an hour and a half. Commenting on the flaming performance, Heath stated to the Daily Mail, "It was absolutely brilliant, the crowd was just massive, the nice weather must have brought them all out. Everything went perfectly."

Heath is a seasoned bonfire professional, having previously burned effigies of Wembley Stadium and the White House for charity. According to the Telegraph, he wrote to the Queen before attempting his Buckingham endeavor, saying, "[She] wished me all the best for the future and my adventures raising funds for charity...I read this as a seal of approval."

Over the past 20 years, Heath has raised more than £80,000 ($126,944) assembling and burning his various effigies for eager crowds. This year's money will go to the Air Ambulance and a local primary school.

But what's next for the flame-happy Mr. Heath? "This may be my last one," he stated to The Telegraph, "The wife's threatened that if I do build another one she'll leave me."

Watch the video of the burning Buckingham in the video above and let us know what you think of Heath's craftsmanship in the comments section.

Burning Buckingham Palace

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