Buckingham Palace has been the official London residence of Britain’s sovereigns since 1837. Today it is the Queen’s official residence.
The palace was originally built as a large townhouse for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703. King George III bought Buckingham House as a private residence in 1762.
The residence was enlarged over the next 75 years until it consisted of three wings surrounding a central courtyard. The main architects were John Nash and Edward Blore. William Ailton and Nash redesigned the surrounding gardens, which were originally landscaped by Capability Brown. They are the largest private gardens in London.
Buckingham Palace became the official royal palace of the British monarchy with the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837. The last major structural additions were made during her reign. A large wing was constructed facing east, towards the Mall. The former state entrance, Marble Arch, was removed to its current position near Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park.
Queen Victoria largely abandoned Buckingham Palace after the death of her husband, Prince Albert. It was only after the accession of Edward VII in 1901 that the palace returned to its earlier glory.
The Victoria Memorial scheme was completed between 1901 and 1924. It created the current palace forecourt, dominated by Sir Thomas Brock’s Victoria Memorial sculpture, and the current gates and railings.
In 1913, Sir Aston Webb was commissioned to redesign the palace’s east, and principal, facade. The work was intended provide an impressive backdrop to the Victoria Memorial. Webb refaced the east front in Portland stone and created its now famous balcony. The work was completed just before the outbreak of the First World War in 1914.
Buckingham Palace survived the First World War unscathed. However, it was a target for German air raids during the Second World War and was bombed seven times. The most serious and publicised bombing resulted in the destruction of the palace chapel in 1940. The then Queen famously stated, ‘I’m glad we have been bombed. Now I can look the East End in the face’.
At the end of the First and Second World Wars, vast crowds spontaneously gathered at Buckingham palace. On V.E. Day, 8 May 1945, the palace was at the heart of Britain’s jubilant celebrations. The Royal Family and Winston Churchill appeared on the balcony to greet and acknowledge the cheering crowds in the Mall.
The Queen’s official residence is also the venue for state occasions, royal entertaining and a base for all official heads of state visits. In 1999, Buckingham palace contained 19 state rooms, 52 bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms. The palace is furnished and decorated with priceless works of art that form part of the royal collection, now one of the world’s major art collections.
A national icon, Buckingham Palace has been the site of protest action and publicity stunts. In the early 20th century, suffragettes chained themselves to the palace railings. More recently, anti-nuclear protestors scaled the palace walls and held a sit-down protest on the lawn in 1993.
Buckingham palace is one of London’s most popular tourist attractions. Changing the Guard, more formally known as Guard Mounting, is one of the oldest and most familiar daily ceremonies associated with the palace.