Buckingham
Palace is the London residence of the reigning monarch of
the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is
often at the centre of state occasions and royal hospitality.
Originally
known as Buckingham House, the building at the core of today's palace was
a large townhouse built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703.
It was acquired by King George III in 1761 as a private
residence for Queen Charlotte and became known as The Queen's
House. During the 19th century it was enlarged, and were constructed three
wings around a central courtyard. Buckingham Palace became the London residence
of the British monarch on the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837.
The
last major structural additions were made in the late 19th and early 20th
centuries, including the East front, which contains the well-known balcony on
which the royal family traditionally congregates to greet crowds.
There
are 775 rooms, including 19 state rooms, 52 principal bedrooms, 188 staff
bedrooms, 92 offices, and 78 bathrooms. The palace also has its own post office,
cinema, swimming pool, doctor's surgery, and jeweller's workshop.
The
original early 19th-century interior designs, many of which survive, include
widespread use of brightly coloured scagliola and blue and pink lapis,
on the advice of Sir Charles Long. King Edward VII oversaw
a partial redecoration in a Belle Époque cream and gold colour
scheme. Many smaller reception rooms are furnished in the Chinese regency style with furniture and
fittings brought from the Royal Pavilion at Brighton and
from Carlton House.
The
throne room of Buckingham Palace is used for court gatherings, investiture ceremonies in the UK's
honours system and as a second dancing room. It is dominated by a proscenium
arch supported by a pair of winged figures of 'victory' holding garlands
above the two thrones, which are originals from the Queen's coronation in 1953.
It is in the throne room that the Queen, on special
occasions, receives loyal addresses. Another use of the throne room has been
for formal wedding photographs
The
state rooms, used for official and state entertaining, are open to the public
each year for most of August and September and on some days in winter and
spring.
The
balcony of Buckingham Palace is one of the most famous in the world. The first
recorded Royal balcony appearance took place in 1851, when Queen Victoria
stepped onto it during celebrations for the opening of the Great Exhibition.
Since then, Royal Balcony appearances have marked many occasions from The
Queen’s annual official birthday celebrations to watch the RAF Flypast at the
end of Trooping the Colour, Royal Weddings, as well as special events of
national significance.
The Queen's Gallery was built on the site of the palace chapel that was destroyed by a German bomb during World War II. The Queen's Gallery is opened to the public in 1962 to exhibit works of art from the Royal Collection.
The
garden at Buckingham Palace covers the area of 42 acres (17 ha), and is
the largest private garden in London.
Every
year, some 50,000 invited guests are entertained at garden parties, receptions,
audiences, and banquets. Three Garden Parties are held in the summer,
usually in July. The Forecourt of Buckingham Palace is used for Changing
of the Guard, a major ceremony and tourist attraction (daily from April to
July; every other day in other months).
Changing
the Guard – also known as Guard Mounting – is the iconic ceremony which is seen
by millions of people each year at Buckingham Palace. This ceremony is a
colourful military tradition carried out by soldiers on active duty from the
Foot Guards who have guarded the Sovereign and the Royal Palaces since 1660. The
sight of their famous bearskin hats and red tunics is indelibly linked with
Buckingham Palace and the British Monarchy. This ceremony is accompanied by a
full military band playing traditional marches and songs from musicals and
familiar pop songs. Household Troops have guarded the Sovereign and the Royal
Palaces since 1660. When Queen Victoria moved into Buckingham Palace in 1837,
the Queen's Guard remained at St James's Palace, with a detachment guarding
Buckingham Palace, as it still does today.
Thus,
Buckingham Palace is not only the official residence of The Queen of The United
Kingdom, but a symbol and home of the British monarchy, an art gallery, and a
tourist attraction.