Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace stands in central Westminster as the official London residence and administrative headquarters of the United Kingdom’s monarch. You see a grand façade, a central courtyard, and the surrounding St James’s and Green Parks. William Winde built Buckingham House for the Duke of Buckingham in the early eighteenth century. King George III later bought it for Queen Charlotte, before John Nash transformed it with three new wings.

Queen Victoria established the palace as her London residence in 1837, linking it closely with the British monarchy. Today, 775 rooms include 19 state rooms, 92 offices, 78 bathrooms, and a ballroom measuring 36 metres long. The 39-acre grounds contain London’s largest private gardens, with a lake, tennis court, and helicopter landing area. During the Second World War, the building survived nine bomb attacks while King George VI and Queen Elizabeth remained inside.

The Changing of the Guard brings red-uniformed soldiers and military bands to the forecourt outside. More than 350 clocks and watches require weekly attention from two horological conservators. The Queen’s Gallery occupies the site of a chapel destroyed during the war, while the oldest wine vaults lie beneath the west wing. On the famous balcony, royal appearances have marked occasions from Queen Victoria’s first public appearance to royal weddings.