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Buckingham Palace is the London residence and administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom since 1837. It’s located in Westminster.
History
Buckingham Palace was originally known as Buckingham House. It was built in 1703 for John Sheffield, the 1st Duke of Buckingham and Normanby, by architect William Winde. At that time, it featured one central block with two service wings.
The Duke’s son, Sir Charles Sheffield, sold the house to King George III in 1761. It was used as a private retreat for Queen Charlotte, and 14 of her 15 children were born there. George III started renovating the house in 1762. People started referring to it as Buckingham Palace around 1791.
King George IV renovated the palace under architect John Nash in the 1820s, while King William IV continued work under Edward Blore. With the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837, Buckingham Palace became the principal royal residence.
In 1847, Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert, found the palace to be too small for the growing royal family and their court life. They decided to enclose the central quadrangle and built the East Front, which is the face of the palace today. It was built by Thomas Cubitt.
Buckingham Palace contains over 830,000 square feet of floor space. It has 775 rooms, including 19 State Rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 92 offices, 188 staff bedrooms, and 78 bathrooms. There’s also a post office, cinema, swimming pool, doctor’s office, and jeweler’s workshop. Over 50,000 people attend official events at the palace annually.
Who’s Home?
How do you know when the Queen is home? Check out the flags flying above the palace. When the Queen is at Buckingham Palace, the Royal Standard is flown. All other times, the Union Jack is flown.
Victoria Memorial
In front of the palace is the Victoria Memorial. It was commissioned by King Edward VII to honor Queen Victoria after her death, and was sculpted by Sir Thomas Brock. The memorial was designed in 1901 and unveiled on May 16, 1911, but it wasn’t finished until 1924. At 25 meters tall, it’s the tallest monument to a king or queen in England.
The memorial features an enthroned Queen Victoria facing the city. It was carved from a solid block of marble. A statue of Motherhood faces Buckingham Palace, representing Victoria’s great love for her people. On top is a gilded bronze statue of Winged Victory. The four corners feature figures of Peace, Progress, Agriculture, and Manufacture, each standing with bronze lions.
Queen’s Guard
The Queen’s Guard are soldiers posted for duty at the palace. They’re fully functioning soldiers and not strictly ceremonial, as many tourists believe.
The Queen’s Guard wear red coats in the summer and gray coats in the winter. The official Changing the Guard ceremony takes place every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 11am, weather permitting, and daily in the summer.
Visiting
It’s possible to visit the State Rooms on a self-guided tour. They’re open every summer from July to September, plus select dates from December to May. Highlights include the White Drawing Room, Throne Room, Picture Gallery, Ballroom, and Grand Staircase. Allow about 2 ½ hours to visit. Photography is forbidden inside. See my main Buckingham Palace page for more details on pricing and ticket packages.
Palace Garden
After visiting the state rooms, visitors exit through the Palace Garden. First, to the right of the exit is the Garden Café, where you can get a snack or drink while looking at the Palace Lawn. Garden parties are usually held on the lawn each July.
As you leave Buckingham Palace, you can get a good look at the rear of what was the original Buckingham House. Notice the relief sculptures on the walls.
The path leads visitors to the exit of the complex through a portion of the 40 acre garden. It passes the toilets, gift shop, a scenic lake, and an ice cream shop. The rest of the garden contains a helipad, tennis courts, and a small summer house.
