Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace. This is the principal façade, the East Front; originally constructed by Edward Blore and completed in 1850. It was remodelled in 1913 by Sir Aston Webb.

Aerial view

Buckingham Palace is a palace in London. It is in the City of Westminster, in central London.

The Palace is the main official residence where the British monarch lives and works.^[1] The palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality. It has been a focus for the British people at times of national rejoicing and crisis.

Buckingham Palace was built in 1703 by John Sheffield, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Normandy, as a townhouse residence in London. It was bought by the British royal family in 1761. It became the official London home of the family in 1837 and was greatly expanded in the 19th century. It has 775 rooms, 19 staterooms, and 78 bathrooms. Leading up to it is a ceremonial road called The Mall. A German bomb damaged the Palace during the London blitz.

The Palace's guard is changed every day at 11:01am.

Buckingham Palace Media

Engraving of Buckingham House, c. 1710
The house in 1819, by William Westall
Buckingham Palace c. 1837, showing Marble Arch at left, a ceremonial entrance. It was moved next to Hyde Park to make way for the new east wing in 1847.
The Victoria Memorial during a dress rehearsal for Trooping the Colour in 2015, seen from within the Palace
Piano nobile of Buckingham Palace. The areas defined by shaded walls represent lower minor wings.
Note: This is an unscaled sketch plan for reference only. Proportions of some rooms may slightly differ in reality.
Prince William and his wife Catherine greeting Barack and Michelle Obama in the 1844 room
Queen Elizabeth II's final appearance on the balcony during her Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022
A state banquet held in the Ballroom in 2011
President Nixon with members of the royal family in the ground-floor Marble Hall

References

↑ By tradition, the British Royal Court is still officially resident at St. James's Palace which means that, while foreign ambassadors assuming their new position are received by the British sovereign at Buckingham Palace, they are accredited to the "Court of St. James's Palace". History of St James's Palace (Official website of the British Monarchy).

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[1] By tradition, the British Royal Court is still officially resident at St. James's Palace which means that, while foreign ambassadors assuming their new position are received by the British sovereign at Buckingham Palace, they are accredited to the "Court of St. James's Palace". History of St James's Palace (Official website of the British Monarchy).

[1]