Buckingham Palace
Main façade of Buckingham Palace
Building information
Town	London
Country	United Kingdom
Coordinates	51°30′03″N 0°08′32″W / 51.500833, -0.142222Coordinates: 51°30′03″N 0°08′32″W / 51.500833, -0.142222
Architect	William Winde, John Nash, Edward Blore, Aston Webb
Client	John Sheffield, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Normanby, The Crown in Right of the United Kingdom (Victoria, Edward VII, George V)
Construction start date	1703
Owner	The Queen in Right of the United Kingdom (Elizabeth II)
Style	Georgian, Regency, Victorian, Neo-Renaissance
Size	77,000 m² (828,818 ft²)

Queen Victoria, the first monarch to reside at Buckingham Palace, moved into the newly completed palace upon her accession in 1837. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. Captain William Winde (c 1645-1722 was an English gentleman Architect, whose Royalist military career resulting in fortifications and topographical surveys and John Nash ( 18 January 1752 – 13 May 1835) was an English Architect responsible for much of the layout of Regency Edward Blore (1787 - 1879 was a 19th century British Architect and Antiquary. Sir Aston Webb, RA, FRIBA, ( May 22 1849 - August 21 1930) was an English Architect, active in John Sheffield 1st Duke of Buckingham and Normanby, KG, PC ( 7 April 1648 &ndash 24 February 1721) English statesman TalkCommonewalth realm.--> The monarchy Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901 was from 20 June 1837 the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Year 1703 ( MDCCIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year TalkCommonewalth realm.--> The monarchy For the ship see RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Context States headed by Elizabeth II Georgian architecture is the name given in most English -speaking countries to the set of Architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840 The Regency style of Architecture refers primarily to buildings built in Britain during the period in the early 19th century when George IV was The term Victorian architecture can refer to one of a number of Architectural styles predominantly employed during the Victorian era. "Neo-Renaissance" is an all encompassing style designation that covers many aspects of those 19th century architectural revival styles which were neither Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901 was from 20 June 1837 the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

Buckingham Palace is the official London residence^[1] of the British monarch. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. TalkCommonewalth realm.--> The monarchy ^[2] The palace is a setting for state occasions and royal entertaining, and a major tourist attraction. A palace is a grand residence especially the home of a Head of state or some other high-ranking Public figure. It has been a rallying point for the British people at times of national rejoicing and crisis.

Originally known as Buckingham House, the building forming the core of today's palace was a large townhouse built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703 and acquired by George III in 1761^[3] as a private residence, known as "The Queen's House". Historically in the United Kingdom, Ireland and in many other countries a townhouse (or a "house in town" was a residence of a peer or member of the John Sheffield 1st Duke of Buckingham and Normanby, KG, PC ( 7 April 1648 &ndash 24 February 1721) English statesman George III (George William Frederick 4 June 1738 George III's long reign was marked by a series of military conflicts involving his kingdom much of the rest of Europe and places House generally refers to a Shelter or Building that is a Dwelling or place for Habitation by Human beings. It was enlarged over the next 75 years, principally by architects John Nash and Edward Blore, forming three wings around a central courtyard. An architect is a licensed individual who leads a design team in the Planning and Design of buildings and participates in oversight of Building Construction John Nash ( 18 January 1752 – 13 May 1835) was an English Architect responsible for much of the layout of Regency Edward Blore (1787 - 1879 was a 19th century British Architect and Antiquary. Buckingham Palace finally became the official royal palace of the British monarch on the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837. Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901 was from 20 June 1837 the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland The last major structural additions were made in the late 19th and early 20th century, including the present-day public face of Buckingham Palace. The building is occasionally still referred to as "Buck House".

The original early 19th-century interior designs, many of which still survive, included widespread use of brightly coloured scagliola and blue and pink lapis, on the advice of Sir Charles Long. Scagliola (from the Italian scaglia, meaning "chips" is a technique for producing Stucco columns Sculptures and other King Edward VII oversaw a partial redecoration in a Belle epoque 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 following the death of King George IV. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Chinoiserie, a French term signifying "Chinese-esque" refers to a recurring theme in European artistic styles since the seventeenth century which reflecting The Royal Pavilion is a former royal residence located in Brighton, England. Brighton ( is a town on the south coast of England and with its neighbour Hove, forms the city of Brighton and Hove. Carlton House was a Mansion in London, best known as the town residence of the Prince Regent for several decades The Buckingham Palace Garden is the largest private garden in London, originally landscaped by Capability Brown, but redesigned by William Townsend Aiton of Kew Gardens and John Nash. Buckingham Palace Garden or to give it its full title "The Garden at Buckingham Palace" is the garden situated at the rear of Buckingham Palace. For his son see William Townsend Aiton William Aiton ( 1731 - February 2, 1793) was a Scottish The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, usually referred to simply as Kew Gardens, are extensive Gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and The artificial lake was completed in 1828 and is supplied with water from the Serpentine, a lake in Hyde Park. The Serpentine (also known as the Serpentine River) is a 28 acre (11 ha recreational lake in Hyde Park London, England, created in 1730 Hyde Park is one of the largest Parks in central London, England and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner

The state rooms form the nucleus of the working Palace and are used regularly by Queen Elizabeth II and members of the royal family for official and state entertaining. For the ship see RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Context States headed by Elizabeth II Buckingham Palace is one of the world's most familiar buildings and more than 50,000 people visit the palace each year as guests to banquets, lunches, dinners, receptions and the royal garden parties.

History

Buckingham House, c. 1710, was designed by William Winde for the first Duke of Buckingham and Normanby. Captain William Winde (c 1645-1722 was an English gentleman Architect, whose Royalist military career resulting in fortifications and topographical surveys and This façade evolved into today's Grand Entrance on the west (inner) side of the quadrangle, with the Green Drawing Room above.

The site

In the Middle Ages, Buckingham Palace's site formed part of the Manor of Ebury (also called Eia). The marshy ground was watered by the river Tyburn, which still flows below the courtyard and south wing of the palace. The Tyburn is a Stream in London, which runs underground from South Hampstead through St Where the river was fordable - Cow Ford - a village, Eye Cross, grew up. Ownership of the site changed hands many times; owners included Edward the Confessor and his queen consort Edith of Wessex in late Saxon times, and, after the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror. King Edward the Confessor (c 1003 &ndash 5 January 1066 son of Ethelred the Unready, was the penultimate Anglo-Saxon King of England and the last A queen consort is the title given to the wife of a reigning king. Edith of Wessex, (c 1029 &ndash December 19 1075) married King Edward the Confessor of England in 1045 William I of England ( 1027 His reign which brought Norman culture to England had an enormous impact on the subsequent course of England in the Middle Ages William gave the site to Geoffrey de Mandeville, who bequeathed it to the monks of Westminster Abbey. Geoffrey de Mandeville (d c 1100 Constable of the Tower of London. The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, which is almost always referred to by its original name of Westminster Abbey, is a large mainly Gothic church ^[4]

In 1531 Henry VIII acquired the Hospital of St James (later St. James's Palace) from Eton College, and in 1536 he took the Manor of Ebury from Westminster Abbey. Henry VIII (28 June 1491 &ndash 28 January 1547 was King of England and Lord of Ireland, later King of Ireland and claimant to the Kingdom of St James's Palace is one of London's oldest Palaces It is situated on Pall Mall in London, just north of St Eton College, or just Eton, is a world-famous British Independent school for boys founded in 1440 by King Henry VI. These transfers brought the site of Buckingham Palace back into royal hands for the first time since William the Conqueror had given it away almost 500 years earlier.

Various owners leased it from royal landlords and the freehold was the subject of frenzied speculation in the 17th century. Fee simple is an estate in land in Common law. It is the most common way Real estate is owned in common law countries and is ordinarily the most By then, the old village of Eye Cross had long since fallen into decay, and the area was mostly wasteland. ^[5] Needing money, James I sold off part of the Crown freehold but retained part of the site on which he established a four-acre mulberry garden for the production of silk. James VI and I (19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625 was King of Scotland as James VI, and King of England and King of Ireland as James (This is at the northwest corner of today's palace. ) Clement Walker in Anarchia Anglicana (1649) refers to "new-erected sodoms and spintries at the Mulberry Garden at S. James's"; this suggests it may have been a place of debauchery. Eventually, in the late 17th century, the freehold was inherited from the property tycoon Sir Hugh Audley by the great heiress Mary Davies. ^[6]

First houses on the site

Possibly the first house erected within the site was that of a Sir William Blake, around 1624. ^[7] The next owner was Lord Goring, who from 1633 extended Blake's house and developed much of today's garden, then known as Goring Great Garden. George Goring 1st Earl of Norwich ( 28 April, 1585 &ndash 6 January, 1663) was an English soldier He did not, however, manage to obtain freehold interest in the mulberry garden. Unbeknown to Goring, in 1640 the document "failed to pass the Great Seal before King Charles I fled London, which it needed to do for legal execution". The Great Seal of the Realm or Great Seal of the United Kingdom (prior to the Union the Great Seal of England, then Great Seal of Great Britain Charles I, (19 November 1600 &ndash 30 January 1649 was King of England, Scotland and Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution. Capital punishment, the death penalty or execution, is the Killing of a person by judicial process as Punishment. ^[8] (It was this critical omission that helped the British royal family regain the freehold under King George III. George III (George William Frederick 4 June 1738 George III's long reign was marked by a series of military conflicts involving his kingdom much of the rest of Europe and places )

The improvident Goring defaulted on his rents; Henry Bennet, 1st Earl of Arlington obtained the mansion and was occupying it, now known as Goring House, when it burned down in 1674. Henry Bennet 1st Earl of Arlington KG (1618 &ndash July 28, 1685) was an English statesman Arlington House rose on the site — the southern wing of today's palace — the next year, and its freehold was bought in 1702.

The house which forms the architectural core of the present palace was built for the first Duke of Buckingham and Normanby in 1703 to the design of William Winde. John Sheffield 1st Duke of Buckingham and Normanby, KG, PC ( 7 April 1648 &ndash 24 February 1721) English statesman Captain William Winde (c 1645-1722 was an English gentleman Architect, whose Royalist military career resulting in fortifications and topographical surveys and The style chosen was of a large, three-floored central block with two smaller flanking service wings.

Buckingham House was eventually sold by Buckingham's descendant, Sir Charles Sheffield, in 1761^[3] to George III for £21,000. George III (George William Frederick 4 June 1738 George III's long reign was marked by a series of military conflicts involving his kingdom much of the rest of Europe and places The pound, a unit of currency originated in England as the value of a pound mass of Silver. ^[9] (Like his grandfather, George II, George III refused to sell the mulberry garden interest, so that Sheffield had been unable to purchase the full freehold of the site. ) The house was originally intended as a private retreat for the royal family, and in particular for Queen Charlotte, and was known as The Queen's House. Queen Charlotte, (née Duchess Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz; 19 May 1744 – 17 November 1818) was the St. James's Palace remained the official and ceremonial royal residence; indeed, the tradition continues to the present time of foreign ambassadors being formally accredited to "the Court of St. James's", even though it is at Buckingham Palace that they present their credentials and staff to the Queen upon their appointment. St James's Palace is one of London's oldest Palaces It is situated on Pall Mall in London, just north of St An ambassador is the highest ranking Diplomat who represents their country The Court of St James's is the name of the Royal court of the United Kingdom.

The Garden, the Royal Mews and the Mall

A garden party at Buckingham Palace in 1868.

For more details on this topic, see Buckingham Palace Garden. Buckingham Palace Garden or to give it its full title "The Garden at Buckingham Palace" is the garden situated at the rear of Buckingham Palace.

At the back of the palace, large and park-like, is Buckingham Palace Garden. The Garden Front of the palace, by Nash, is of pale golden Bath stone. Bath is a city in Somerset in the south west of England It is situated west of London and south-east of Bristol. The garden, which includes a lake, is the largest private garden in London.

Here the Queen hosts her annual garden parties each summer, but since June 2002, she has invited the public into the Garden on numerous occasions. See Buckingham Palace Garden for accounts for the historical spectaculars which marked the Queen's Golden Jubilee (2002) and her 80th birthday (2006). Buckingham Palace Garden or to give it its full title "The Garden at Buckingham Palace" is the garden situated at the rear of Buckingham Palace.

The west facade of Buckingham Palace seen from the Palace Gardens. Buckingham Palace Garden or to give it its full title "The Garden at Buckingham Palace" is the garden situated at the rear of Buckingham Palace.

Adjacent to the palace is the Royal Mews, also designed by Nash, where the royal carriages, including the Gold State Coach, are housed. The Royal Mews is the Mews ( Stables and in recent times also the garage) of the British Royal Family in London. The Gold State Coach is an enclosed four horse-drawn carriage used by the British Royal Family. This rococo gilt coach, designed by Sir William Chambers in 1760, has painted panels by G. B. Cipriani. Rococo is a style of 18th century French art and Interior design. Gold (ˈɡoʊld is a Chemical element with the symbol Au (from its Latin name aurum) and Atomic number 79 Sir William Chambers ( 27 October 1723 &ndash 17 February 1796) was a Scottish Architect, born in Gothenburg Giovanni Battista Cipriani (1727&ndash1785 Italian painter and Engraver, Pistoiese by descent was born in Florence. It was first used for the State Opening of Parliament by George III in 1762 and is used by the monarch only for coronations or jubilee celebrations. A coronation is a ceremony marking the investiture of a Monarch with regal power specifically involving the placement of a crown upon his or her head and the ^[10] Also housed in the Mews are the carriage horses used in royal ceremonial processions.

The Mall, a ceremonial approach route to the palace, was designed by Sir Aston Webb and completed in 1911 as part of a grand memorial to Queen Victoria. The Mall (ˈmæl in London is the road running from Buckingham Palace at its western end to Admiralty Arch and on to Trafalgar Square Sir Aston Webb, RA, FRIBA, ( May 22 1849 - August 21 1930) was an English Architect, active in Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901 was from 20 June 1837 the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland It extends from Admiralty Arch, up around the Victoria Memorial to the palace forecourt. Admiralty Arch is a large office building in London which incorporates an archway providing road and Pedestrian access between The Mall, which extends to The Victoria Memorial is a sculpture in London, placed at the centre of Queen's Gardens in front of Buckingham Palace. In Architecture a forecourt is an open area in front of a structure's entrance This route is used by the cavalcades and motorcades of all visiting heads of state, and by the Royal Family on state occasions such as the annual State Opening of Parliament as well as Trooping the Colour each year. In the United Kingdom, the State Opening of Parliament is an annual event held usually in October or November that marks the commencement of a session of the Parliament Trooping the Colour is a military ceremony performed by Regiments of the Commonwealth and the British Army.

Home of the monarch

The palace c. 1837, depicting the Marble Arch, which served as the ceremonial entrance to the Palace precincts. Marble Arch is a white Carrara Marble monument near Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park, at the western end of Oxford Street in A precinct is a space enclosed by the walls or other boundaries of a particular place or building or by an arbitrary and imaginary line drawn around it It was moved to make way for the east wing, built in 1847, which enclosed the quadrangle.

Buckingham Palace finally became the principal Royal residence in 1837 on the accession of Queen Victoria. Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901 was from 20 June 1837 the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland While the state rooms were a riot of gilt and colour, the necessities of the new palace were somewhat less luxurious. A state room in a large European Mansion is usually one of a suite of very grand rooms which were designed to impress For one thing, it was reported the chimneys smoked so much that the fires had to be allowed to die down, and consequently the court shivered in icy magnificence. ^[11] Ventilation was so bad that the interior smelled, and when a decision was taken to install gas lamps there was a serious worry about the build-up of gas on the lower floors. It was also said that the staff were lax and lazy and the palace was dirty. ^[11] Following the Queen's marriage in 1840, her husband, Prince Albert, concerned himself with a reorganization of the household offices and staff, and with the design faults of the palace. The royal household in all the early medieval monarchies of Western Europe formed the basis for the general government of the country The problems were all rectified by the close of 1840. However, the builders were to return within the decade.

By 1847, the couple had found the palace too small for Court life and their growing family^[12] and consequently the new wing, designed by Edward Blore, was built by Thomas Cubitt^[13], enclosing the central quadrangle. Edward Blore (1787 - 1879 was a 19th century British Architect and Antiquary. Thomas Cubitt (born Buxton Norfolk 1788–1855 was the leading master builder in London in the second quarter of the 19th century and also carried out several projects The large East Front facing The Mall is today the 'public face' of Buckingham Palace and contains the balcony from which the Royal Family acknowledge the crowds on momentous occasions and annually following Trooping the Colour. The Mall (ˈmæl in London is the road running from Buckingham Palace at its western end to Admiralty Arch and on to Trafalgar Square A royal family is the extended family of a monarch. Generally the head of a royal family is a king or queen regnant Trooping the Colour is a military ceremony performed by Regiments of the Commonwealth and the British Army. The ballroom wing and a further suite of state rooms were also built in this period, designed by Nash's student Sir James Pennethorne. This article is about the architectural element known as a ballroom Sir James Pennethorne ( 4 June 1801 &ndash 1 September 1871) was a notable 19th century English Architect and planner

Before Prince Albert's demise, Queen Victoria was known to openly love music and dancing^[14] and the greatest contemporary musicians entertained at Buckingham Palace. Felix Mendelssohn is known to have played there on three occasions. Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, born and generally known as Felix Mendelssohn (February 3 1809 &ndash November 4 1847 was a German Composer Johann Strauss II and his orchestra played there when in England. Johann Strauss II (also known as Johann Strauss the Younger, Johann Strauss Jr An orchestra is an instrumental ensemble, usually fairly large with string brass woodwind sections and possibly a percussion section as well Strauss's 'Alice Polka' was first performed at the palace in 1849 in honour of the Queen's daughter, Princess Alice. The Princess Alice (Alice Maud Mary 25 April 1843 &ndash 14 December 1878) was a member of the British Royal Family, the third Under Victoria, Buckingham Palace was frequently the scene of lavish costume balls, in addition to the routine royal ceremonies, investitures and presentations.

When widowed in 1861, the grief-stricken Queen withdrew from public life and left Buckingham Palace to live at Windsor Castle, Balmoral Castle, and Osborne House. Windsor Castle, in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, is the largest inhabited Castle in the world and dating back to the time of Balmoral Castle is a large Estate house situated in the area of Aberdeenshire, Scotland known as Royal Deeside. Osborne House is a former royal residence in East Cowes, Isle of Wight, England. For many years the palace was seldom used, and even neglected. Eventually public opinion forced her to return to London, though even then she preferred to live elsewhere whenever possible. Court functions were still held at Windsor Castle rather than at the palace, presided over by the sombre Queen habitually dressed in mourning black while Buckingham Palace remained shuttered for most of the year. ^[15]

Interior

Piano nobile of Buckingham Palace. The piano nobile is the principal Floor of a large House, usually built in one of the styles of classical renaissance architecture. A: State Dining Room; B:Blue Drawing Room; C:Music Room; D:White Drawing Room; E:Royal Closet; F:Throne Room; G:Green drawing Room; H:Cross Gallery; J:Ball Room; K:East Gallery; L:Yellow Drawing Room; M:Centre/Balcony Room; N:Chinese Luncheon Room; O:Principal Corridor; P:Private Apartments; Q:Service Areas; W:The Grand staircase. On the ground floor: R:Ambassador's Entrance; T: Grand Entrance. 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.

The palace contains 77,000 square metres of floorspace (828,818 square feet). ^[16] The principal rooms of the palace are contained on the piano nobile behind the west-facing garden facade at the rear of the palace. The piano nobile is the principal Floor of a large House, usually built in one of the styles of classical renaissance architecture. The centre of this ornate suite of state rooms is the Music Room, its large bow the dominant feature of the facade. Flanking the Music Room are the Blue and the White Drawing rooms. At the centre of the suite, serving as a corridor to link the state rooms, is the Picture Gallery, which is top lit and 55 yards (50 m) long. The Gallery is hung with numerous works including some by Rembrandt, van Dyck, Rubens, and Vermeer, other rooms leading from the Picture Gallery are the Throne Room and the Green Drawing Room. Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (July 15 1606 &ndash October 4 1669 was a Dutch painter and etcher. Johannes or Jan Vermeer (baptized in Delft with the name Joannis on October 31 1632, and buried in the same city under the name Jan Throne Room redirects here for the album by CeCe Winans see Throne Room (album A throne room is the room often rather a hall in the official residence The Green Drawing room serves as a huge anteroom to the Throne Room, and is part of the ceremonial route to the throne from the Guard Room at the top of the Grand staircase. This article is about royal thrones for the order of Angels by the same name see Thrones. The Guard Room contains white marble statues of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, in Roman costume set in a tribune lined with tapestries. Tribune is an ambiguous often misused architectural term which can have several meanings These very formal rooms are used only for ceremonial and official entertaining, but are open to the public every summer.

Directly underneath the State Apartments is a suite of slightly less grand rooms known as the semi-state apartments. A state room in a large European Mansion is usually one of a suite of very grand rooms which were designed to impress Opening from the marble hall, these rooms are used for less-formal entertaining, such as luncheon parties and private audiences. Head of state is the generic term for the individual or collective office that serves as the chief public representative of a Monarchic or Republican Nation-state Some of the rooms are named and decorated for particular visitors, such as the 1844 Room, which was decorated in that year for the State visit of Emperor Nicholas I of Russia, and, the other side of the Bow Room, the 1855 Room. Tsar csar and tzar redirect here For other uses see Tsar (disambiguation. Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending At the centre of this suite is the Bow Room, through which thousands of guests pass annually to the Queen's Garden Parties in the Gardens beyond. A Garden party is a social gathering with food provided in the open in a Park or a Garden. The Queen uses privately a smaller suite of rooms in the North wing.

Between 1847 and 1850, when Blore was building the new east wing, the Brighton Pavilion was once again plundered of its fittings. The Royal Pavilion is a former royal residence located in Brighton, England. As a result many of the rooms in the new wing have a distinctly oriental atmosphere. The red and blue Chinese Luncheon Room is made up from parts of the Brighton banqueting and music rooms, but has a chimney piece, also from Brighton, in design more Indian than Chinese. The Yellow Drawing Room has 18th century wall paper, which was supplied in 1817 for the Brighton Saloon, and the chimney piece in this room is a European vision of what the Chinese equivalent would look like, complete with nodding mandarins in niches and fearsome winged dragons. A Mandarin was a Bureaucrat in Imperial China, and also in the monarchist days of Vietnam where the system of Imperial examinations and The niche in classical architecture is an Exedra or an Apse that has been reduced in size retaining the half-dome heading usual for an apse The Chinese Dragon or Oriental dragon is a mythical creature in East Asian culture with a Chinese origin

Prince Albert's music room, one of the smaller less formal rooms at the palace, in 1887.

At the centre of this wing is the famous balcony, with the Centre Room behind its glass doors. This is a Chinese-style saloon enhanced by Queen Mary who working with the designer Sir Charles Allom created a more "binding"^[17] Chinese theme in the late 1920s, although the lacquer doors were brought from Brighton in 1873. Sir Charles Carrick Allom (1865 — 1947 was an eminent British architect and decorator knighted for his work on Buckingham Palace. In a general sense lacquer is a clear or coloured Varnish, that dries by solvent evaporation and often a curing process as well that produces a hard durable finish in any Running the length of the piano nobile of the east wing is the great gallery, modestly known as the Principal Corridor which runs the length of the eastern side of the quadrangle^[18] It has mirrored doors, and mirrored cross walls reflecting porcelain pagodas and other oriental furniture from Brighton. Porcelain is a Ceramic material made by heating raw materials generally including Clay in the form of Kaolin, in a Kiln to temperatures The Chinese Luncheon Room and Yellow Drawing Room are situated at each end of this gallery, with the Centre Room obviously placed in the centre.

Visiting heads of state today, when staying at the palace, occupy a suite of rooms known as the Belgian suite, which is on the ground floor of the North-facing garden front. Head of state is the generic term for the individual or collective office that serves as the chief public representative of a Monarchic or Republican Nation-state The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those These rooms, with corridors enhanced by saucer domes, were first decorated for Prince Albert's uncle Léopold I, first King of the Belgians. A dome is a common structural element of Architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a Sphere. Leopold I ( Leopold George Christian Frederick (in German Leopold Georg Christian Friedrich) Prince of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, later Edward VIII lived in these rooms during his short reign.

Court ceremonies

The State Ballroom is the largest room at Buckingham Palace. It was added by Queen Victoria and is used for ceremonies such as investitures and state banquets. This picture dates from 1856. The polychrome colour scheme has been replaced by mainly white decoration with gold details and red upholstery.

During the current reign court ceremony has undergone a radical change, and entry to the palace is no longer the prerogative of just the upper class. A ceremony is an activity infused with Ritual significance performed on a special occasion ^[19]

There has been a progressive relaxation of the dress code governing formal court uniform and dress. See also Court dress Court dress On formal royal occasions in monarchies the dress worn by those present has in the past been prescribed In previous reigns, men not wearing military uniform wore knee breeches of an 18th-century design. Military uniforms comprises standardised Dress worn by members of the Armed forces of various nations Breeches (pronounced) are an item of male Clothing covering the body from the Waist down with separate coverings for each Leg, usually stopping just below Women's evening dress included obligatory trains and tiaras and/or feathers in their hair. A tiara (from Persian تاره tara adopted in Latin as 'tiara' is a form of crown. After World War I, when Queen Mary wished to follow fashion by raising her skirts a few inches from the ground, she requested a Lady-in-Waiting to shorten her own skirt first to gauge the King's reaction. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Fashion refers to styles of dress (but can also include cuisine literature art architecture and general comportment that are popular in a culture at any given time A lady-in-waiting (also called waiting maid) is a female personal assistant at a Noble court, attending to a queen, a Princess or other King George V was horrified and Queen Mary's hemline remained unfashionably low. Subsequently, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth allowed daytime skirts to rise.

Today there is no official dress code. ^[20] Most men invited to Buckingham Palace in the daytime choose to wear service uniform or morning coats, and in the evening, depending on the formality of the occasion, black tie or white tie. A uniform is a set of standard Clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity Black tie is a dress code for semi-formal evening events and is worn to many types of social functions White tie ( evening dress, full evening dress in the UK is the most formal evening Dress code. If the occasion is 'white tie' then women, if they possess one, wear a tiara.

One of the first major changes was in 1958 when the Queen abolished the presentation parties for debutantes. A debutante ( deb or presentation ball (from the French débutante, "female beginner" is a young lady from an aristocratic or ^[21] These court presentations of aristocratic girls to the monarch took place in the throne room. Aristocracy is a form of Government, where rule is established through an internal struggle over who has the most status and influence over society and internal relations Throne Room redirects here for the album by CeCe Winans see Throne Room (album A throne room is the room often rather a hall in the official residence Debutantes wore full court dress, with three tall ostrich feathers in their hair. They entered, curtsied, performed a choreographed backwards walk and a further curtsey, while manoeuvring a dress train of prescribed length. The ceremony corresponded to the "court drawing rooms" of earlier reigns, and Queen Elizabeth II replaced the presentations with large and frequent palace garden parties for an invited cross-section of British society. A drawing room is a room in a house where visitors may be entertained The late Princess Margaret is reputed to have remarked of the debutante presentations: "We had to put a stop to it, every tart in London was getting in". ^[22] Today, the Throne Room is used for the reception of formal addresses such as those given to the Queen on her Jubilees. It is here on the throne dais that royal wedding portraits and family photographs are taken. For the Ronin Warriors character see Dais (Ronin Warriors. Desert Senna ( Senna covesii) is locally known as "dais"

Investitures, which include the conferring of knighthoods by dubbing with a sword, and other awards take place in the palace's Victorian Ballroom, built in 1854. Investiture, from the Latin (preposition in and verb vestire, 'dress' from vestis 'robe' is a rather general term for the formal installation of an Knight is the English term for a social position originating in the Middle Ages. At 123 ft (37 m) by 60 ft (37 m by 20 m), this is the largest room in the palace. It has replaced the throne room in importance and use. During investitures the Queen stands on the throne dais beneath a giant, domed velvet canopy, known as a shamiana or a baldachin, used at the coronation Durbar in Delhi in 1911. A baldachin, or baldaquin (Italian baldacchino or baldachino) is a canopy of state over an Altar or The Delhi Durbar, meaning " Court of Delhi " was a mass assembly at Delhi India to commemorate the Coronation of a King Delhi (दिल्ली ਦਿੱਲੀ دلی d̪ɪlːiː sometimes referred to as Dilli) is the second largest metropolis of India, with a population A military band plays in the musicians' gallery, as the recipients of awards approach the Queen and receive their honours, watched by their families and friends. Honor or Honour (see spelling differences) (the latter directly from the Latin word honos honoris) is the evaluation of a person's

This 1870 drawing shows guests ascending the Grand Staircase.

State banquets also take place in the Ballroom. A banquet is a large public meal or feast complete with main courses and desserts These formal dinners take place on the first evening of a state visit by a visiting Head of State. On these occasions, often over 150 guests in formal "white tie and decorations" including tiaras for women, dine off gold plate. The largest and most formal reception at Buckingham Palace takes place every November, when the Queen entertains members of the foreign diplomatic corps resident in London. On this occasion all the state rooms are in use, as the Royal Family proceed through them ^[23] beginning their procession through the great north doors of the Picture Gallery. As Nash had envisaged, all the large, double-mirrored doors stand open, reflecting the numerous crystal chandeliers and sconces, causing a deliberate optical illusion of space and light.

Smaller ceremonies such as the reception of new ambassadors take place in the '1844 Room'. Here too the Queen holds small lunch parties, and often meetings of the Privy Council. Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council is a body of advisors to the British Sovereign. Larger lunch parties often take place in the curved and domed Music Room, or the State Dining Room. On all formal occasions the ceremonies are attended by the Yeomen of the Guard in their historic uniforms, and other officers of the court such as the Lord Chamberlain. For the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta see The Yeomen of the Guard The Queen's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard The Lord Chamberlain or Lord Chamberlain of the Household is one of the chief officers of the Royal Household in the United Kingdom, and is to be distinguished

Since the bombing of the palace chapel in World War II, royal christenings have sometimes taken place in the Music Room. The Queen's first three children were all baptised here^[24] in a special gold font. Prince William was christened in the Music Room; however, his brother, Prince Harry, was christened at St George's Chapel, Windsor.

The largest functions of the year are the Queen's Garden Parties for up to 8,000 invitees, taking tea and sandwiches in marquees erected in the Garden. Buckingham Palace Garden or to give it its full title "The Garden at Buckingham Palace" is the garden situated at the rear of Buckingham Palace. As a military band plays the National Anthem, the Queen emerges from the Bow Room and slowly walks through the assembled guests towards her private tea tent, greeting those previously selected for the honour. "God Save the Queen", or "God Save the King", is an anthem used in a number of Commonwealth realms It is the National Those guests who do not actually have the opportunity to meet the Queen at least have the consolation of being able to admire the Garden. Buckingham Palace Garden or to give it its full title "The Garden at Buckingham Palace" is the garden situated at the rear of Buckingham Palace.

Modern history

Buckingham Palace panorama, 1909

The east front of Buckingham Palace was completed in 1850. Seen here in 1910, it was remodelled to its present form in 1913

In 1901 the accession of Edward VII saw new life breathed into the palace. The new King and his wife Queen Alexandra had always been at the forefront of London high society, and their friends, known as "the Marlborough House Set", were considered to be the most eminent and fashionable of the age. Alexandra of Denmark (Alexandra Carolina Marie Charlotte Louise Julia 1 December 1844 – 20 November 1925 was Queen Consort to Edward VII of the United Kingdom This article is about Marlborough House Westminster. For the property in Brighton, please see Marlborough House Brighton Marlborough Buckingham Palace—the Ballroom, Grand Entrance, Marble Hall, Grand Staircase, vestibules and galleries redecorated in the Belle epoque cream and gold colour scheme they retain today—once again became the focal point of the British Empire and a setting for entertaining on a majestic scale. The British Empire was the largest empire in history and for over a century was the foremost global power. Many people feel King Edward's heavy redecoration of the palace does not complement Nash's original work. ^[25] However, it has been allowed to remain for one hundred years.

The last major building work took place during the reign of King George V when, in 1913, Sir Aston Webb redesigned Blore's 1850 East Front to resemble in part Giacomo Leoni's Lyme Park in Cheshire. Sir Aston Webb, RA, FRIBA, ( May 22 1849 - August 21 1930) was an English Architect, active in Giacomo Leoni (also known as James Leoni, 1686 &ndash 1746 was an Italian architect. Lyme Park is an estate and Park near Disley, in the county of Cheshire, England. Cheshire (or archaically the County of Chester) is a county in North West England. This new, refaced principal facade (of Portland stone) was designed to be the backdrop to the Victoria Memorial, a large memorial statue of Queen Victoria, placed outside the main gates. Portland stone is a Limestone from the Jurassic period quarried on the Isle of Portland, Dorset. The Victoria Memorial is a sculpture in London, placed at the centre of Queen's Gardens in front of Buckingham Palace. George V, who had succeeded Edward VII in 1910, had a more serious personality than his father; greater emphasis was now placed on official entertaining and royal duties than on lavish parties. George V's wife Queen Mary was a connoisseur of the arts, and took a keen interest in the royal collection of furniture and art, both restoring and adding to it. Mary of Teck (Victoria Mary Augusta Louise Olga Pauline Claudine Agnes 26 May 1867 – 24 March 1953 was the queen-empress consort of George V of the United Kingdom A connoisseur (Fr connaisseur, from connoistre, connaître meaning "to be acquainted with" or "to know sb/sth The Royal Collection is the art collection of the British Royal Family. Queen Mary also had many new fixtures and fittings installed, such as the pair of marble Empire-style chimneypieces by Benjamin Vulliamy, dating from 1810, which the Queen had installed in the ground floor Bow Room, the huge low room at the centre of the garden facade. The Empire Style, sometimes considered the second phase of Neoclassicism, is an early-19th-century Design movement in Architecture, Furniture Queen Mary was also responsible for the decoration of the Blue Drawing Room. This room, 69 feet (21 m) long, previously known as the South Drawing Room, has one of Nash's finest ceilings, coffered with huge gilt console brackets.

The Victoria Memorial was created by sculptor Sir Thomas Brock in 1911 and erected in front of the main gates at Buckingham Palace on a surround constructed by architect Sir Aston Webb. The Victoria Memorial is a sculpture in London, placed at the centre of Queen's Gardens in front of Buckingham Palace. Sir Thomas Brock KCB RA ( March 1, 1847 - August 22, 1922) was an English sculptor. Sir Aston Webb, RA, FRIBA, ( May 22 1849 - August 21 1930) was an English Architect, active in

A 1999 book published by the Royal Collection Department reported that the palace contained 19 state rooms, 52 principal bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices, and 78 bathrooms. The Royal Collection is the art collection of the British Royal Family. ^[26] While this may seem large, it is small when compared to the Russian imperial palaces in Saint Petersburg and at Tsarskoe Selo, the Papal Palace in Rome, the Royal Palace of Madrid, or indeed the former Palace of Whitehall, and tiny compared to the Forbidden City and Potala Palace. The Russian Empire ( Pre-reform Russian: Pоссійская Имперія Modern Russian: Российская Империя translit: Rossiyskaya Saint Petersburg ( tr: Sankt-Peterburg,) is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River Tsarskoye Selo (Ца́рское Село́ " Tsar 's Village" is a former Russian residence of the imperial family and visiting Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2 The Palace of Whitehall was the main residence of the English monarchs in London from 1530 until 1698 when all except Inigo Jones 's 1622 The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial Palace from the mid- Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. The Potala Palace () is located in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. The relative smallness of the palace may be best appreciated from within, looking out over the inner quadrangle. A minor extension was made in 1938, in which the north-west pavilion, designed by Nash, was converted into a swimming pool.

During World War I the palace, then the home of King George V and Queen Mary, escaped unscathed. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Its more valuable contents were evacuated to Windsor but the Royal family remained in situ. The largest change to court life at this time was that the Government persuaded the King to ostentatiously and publicly lock the wine cellars and refrain from alcohol for the duration of the war, to set a good example to the supposedly inebriated lower classes. The lower classes continued to imbibe and the King was left reputedly furious at his enforced abstinence. ^[27] The King's children were photographed at this time serving tea to wounded officers in the adjacent Royal Mews.

During World War II, the palace fared worse: it was bombed no less than seven times, and was a deliberate target, as it was thought by the Nazis that the destruction of Buckingham Palace would demoralise the nation. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Nazism, which was a short name for National Socialism (Nationalsozialismus refers primarily to the Ideology and practices of the National Socialist German The most serious and publicised bombing was the destruction of the palace chapel in 1940: coverage of this event was played in cinemas all over England to show the common suffering of rich and poor. One bomb fell in the palace quadrangle while King George VI and Queen Elizabeth were in residence, and many windows were blown in and the chapel destroyed. ^[28] War time coverage of such incidents was severely restricted, however, The King and Queen were filmed inspecting their bombed home, the smiling Queen, as always, immaculately dressed in a hat and matching coat seemingly unbothered by the damage around her. It was at this time the Queen famously declared: "I'm glad we have been bombed. Now I can look the East End in the face". The Royal family were seen as sharing their subjects' hardship, as The Sunday Graphic reported:

By the Editor: The King and Queen have endured the ordeal which has come to their subjects. For the second time a German bomber has tried to bring death and destruction to the home of Their Majesties……. . When this war is over the common danger which King George and Queen Elizabeth have shared with their people will be a cherished memory and an inspiration through the years". ^[29]

On September 15, 1940 an RAF pilot, Ray Holmes, rammed a German plane attempting to bomb the palace. Events 668 - Eastern Roman Emperor Constans II is assassinated in his bath at Syracuse Italy. Raymond Towers "Ray" Holmes ( 20 August 1914 – 27 June 2005) was a British fighter pilot who was ^[30] Holmes had run out of ammunition and made the quick choice to ram it. Both planes crashed and their pilots survived. This incident was captured on film. The plane's engine was later exhibited at the Imperial War Museum in London. Following the war the British pilot became a King's Messenger. The Corps of Queen's Messengers are couriers employed by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office. He died at the age of 90 in 2005.

On VE Day—May 8, 1945—the palace was the centre of British celebrations, with the King, Queen and the Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen, and Princess Margaret appearing on the balcony, with the palace's blacked-out windows behind them, to the cheers from a vast crowd in the Mall. Victory in Europe Day ( V-E Day or VE Day) was May 7 and May 8, 1945, the dates when the World War II Allies Events 589 - Reccared summons the Third Council of Toledo 1450 - Jack Cade's Rebellion: Kentishmen Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar The Mall (ˈmæl in London is the road running from Buckingham Palace at its western end to Admiralty Arch and on to Trafalgar Square

On two occasions a man, Michael Fagan, was able to break into the palace. Michael Fagan was an Intruder (31 years old at the time who broke into Buckingham Palace and entered Queen Elizabeth II 's bedchamber in the early hours

21st century: Royal use and public access

The Royal Family on the balcony

Today, Buckingham Palace is not only the weekday home of the Queen and Prince Philip but also the London residence of the Duke of York and the Earl and Countess of Wessex. For the ship see RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Context States headed by Elizabeth II The palace also houses the offices of the Royal Household and is the workplace of 450 people. The royal household in all the early medieval monarchies of Western Europe formed the basis for the general government of the country

Every year some 50,000 invited guests are entertained at garden parties, receptions, audiences, and banquets. The Garden Parties, usually three, are held in the summer, usually in July. A Garden party is a social gathering with food provided in the open in a Park or a Garden. The Forecourt of Buckingham Palace is used for Changing of the Guard, a major ceremony and tourist attraction (daily during the summer months; every other day during the winter). Changing of the Guards is also the name of a song by Bob Dylan

The palace is technically the monarch's property; both Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace and their art collections are held in trust for her successors and the nation. Windsor Castle, in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, is the largest inhabited Castle in the world and dating back to the time of The furnishings, paintings, fittings and other artifacts, some by Fabergé, from Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle are known collectively as the Royal Collection; owned by the nation, they can be viewed by the public. Peter Carl Fabergé original name Carl Gustavovich Fabergé ( May 30, 1846 &ndash September 24, 1920) was a Russian The Royal Collection is the art collection of the British Royal Family. The Queen's Gallery near the Royal Mews is open all year and displays a changing selection of items from the collection. The Queen's Gallery is a public Art gallery located at Buckingham Palace, home of the British monarch, in London. The Royal Mews is the Mews ( Stables and in recent times also the garage) of the British Royal Family in London. The rooms containing the Queen's Gallery are on the site of the former chapel, which was damaged by one of the seven bombs to fall on the palace during World War II. The palace's state rooms have been open to the public during August and September since 1993. A state room in a large European Mansion is usually one of a suite of very grand rooms which were designed to impress The money raised in entry fees was originally put towards the rebuilding of Windsor Castle following the 1992 fire which destroyed many of its state rooms. Windsor Castle, in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, is the largest inhabited Castle in the world and dating back to the time of

Thus, Buckingham Palace is a symbol and home of the British monarchy, an art gallery and tourist attraction. Behind the gilded railings and gates which were made by the Bromsgrove Guild^[15] and Webb's famous facade which has been described as looking "like everybody's idea of a palace" the large staff employed by the Royal Household work to keep Britain's constitutional monarchy functioning. The Bromsgrove Guild of Applied Arts (1898&ndash1966 was a company of Modern artists and designers associated with the Arts and Crafts Movement, founded by

Buckingham Palace features as a prominent back drop to London charity fund raising events like the London marathon and the British 10K each summer.

While the Queen is in residence, the Royal Standard flies over the palace. For other monarchs' standards see Royal Standard. The Royal Standard of the United Kingdom is the Flag used by On special royal events, a large ceremonial Royal Standard is flown, several times larger than the normal Standard. ^[31] At all other times, the Union Jack is flown. Flags at Buckingham Palace vary according to the movements of court and tradition The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the national flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

See also

• Buckingham Palace Garden
• Changing of the Guards
• Royal Mews
• Queen's Gallery
• Kensington Palace
• Palace of Placentia
• Savoy Palace
• Palace of Westminster – Royal residence from 1049 until 1530
• Palace of Whitehall – Royal residence from 1530 until 1698
• St. James's Palace – Royal residence from 1702 until 1837
• List of British Royal Residences
• History of the United Kingdom
• Flags at Buckingham Palace
• Downing Street
• House of Fabergé

Notes

References

• Blaikie, Thomas (2002). You look awfully like the Queen: Wit and Wisdom from the House of Windsor. London: Harper Collins. ISBN 0-00-714874-7.
• Harris, John; de Bellaigue, Geoffrey; & Miller, Oliver (1968). Buckingham Palace. London:Nelson. ISBN 0-17-141011-4
• Hedley, Olwen (1971) The Pictorial History of Buckingham Palace. Pitkin, ISBN 0-85372-086-X
• Nash, Roy (1980). Buckingham Palace: The Place and the People. London: Macdonald Futura. ISBN 0-354-04529-6
• Robinson, John Martin (1999). Buckingham Palace. Published by The Royal Collection, St. The Royal Collection is the art collection of the British Royal Family. James's Palace, London ISBN 1-902163-36-2.
• Williams, Neville (1971). Royal Homes. Lutterworth Press. ISBN 0-7188-0803-7.
• Woodham-Smith, Cecil (1973). Queen Victoria (vol 1) Hamish Hamilton Ltd.
• Wright, Patricia (1999; first published 1996). The Strange History of Buckingham Palace. Stroud, Gloucs. : Sutton Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-7509-1283-9

External links

• Buckingham Palace, official site
• Buckingham Palace, Map of Location of Buckingham Palace
• Account of Buckingham Palace, with prints of Arlington House and Buckingham House, from Edward Walford, Old and New London, Vol 4, Chap. VI (1878)
• Account of the acquisition of the Manor of Ebury, from F. H. W. Sheppard (ed. ), Survey of London, vol. 39, "The Grosvenor Estate in Mayfair", part 1 (1977)