BUCKINGHAM PALACE has been accused of using endangered species of hardwood to renovate a gallery.
Environmental pressure group Greenpeace claims the 拢20m overhaul of the Queen鈥檚 Gallery uses doors, panelling and flooring made of wenge, utile, sapele and African mahogany, which are all threatened species.

The group alleges that none of the wood used in the Queen鈥檚 Gallery is independently certified, and that most comes from illegal logging in central Africa.

Greenpeace also claims the gallery contains Brazilian mahogany from the Amazon rainforest. Brazil banned trade in the mahogany last October.

A Palace spokesperson said: 鈥淲e will be looking to see if Greenpeace鈥檚 allegations can be substantiated.鈥� The spokesperson added there was no proof that any of the timber used in the gallery was illegally logged.

There is no proof that any of this timber was illegally logged

Buckingham Palace spokesperson

Project architect John Simpson and contractor Wates Special Works are helping in the Palace鈥檚 investigation.

The allegations are part of Greenpeace鈥檚 campaign against the use of illegally logged timber in British construction projects. Thirty-six activists were arrested in April when they occupied the construction site at the new Cabinet Office. They claimed it used timber banned for commercial use.