The Queen and Buckingham Palace are inextricably linked. And not only for Queen Elizabeth II, but presumably all subsequent monarchs will have their residence here in the heart of London. Anyone visiting London will not be able to get past the majestic castle in Westminster. And rightly so, for British and European history is written here. A palace as grand as its traditions. To get a first overview, here comes the Buckingham Palace profile.
Buckingham Palace Portrait
- with the appointment as Duke of Buckingham and Normanby by Queen Anne, John Sheffield established Buckingham House as a city in London in 1703.
- With the purchase of Georg III. Wilhelm Friedrich, the then city palace passed into royal hands as a private residence
- Within the next 75 years it was constantly rebuilt and extended under King George IV.
- The architects Edward Blore and John Nash were significantly involved.
- 1837 – with the accession of Queen Victoria to the throne, Buckingham Palace became the official residence
- in its present form, Buckingham Palace was extended during Queen Victoria’s lifetime
- the associated garden is the largest of its kind in the whole of London
- interior design is also a process created over decades
- George IV (1762 – 1830) tried to surpass the Napoleonic Empire style with his costly interior decoration
- Impressive marble paintings in intense blue and lapis lazuli were only completed later by King William IV
- Queen Victoria made Buckingham Palace the official principal residence of the British monarchy in 1837
- Her husband, Prince Albert reorganised many parts of the palace and repaired many of the building defects of the time.
- Prince Albert expanded the palace with the new additions to the family and had the east wing built
- here is the famous balcony where the royal family shows itself to the people on festive occasions
- with the death of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria moved to Windsor Castle. From then on, the palace was rarely used and neglected by her
- Only after popular pressure did Queen Victoria return to London, but avoided Buckingham Palace whenever possible
- Only with King Edward VII and his wife Alexandra of Denmark did new life begin in the palace again
- Buckingham Palace became the centre of the British Empire and the focal point of the London monarchy
- Another remodelling took place in 1913
- the eastern main façade was redesigned, based on a model by Giacomo Leonie Lyme Park
- From now on, royal occasions took place more frequently again
- Queen Mary was largely responsible for the royal collection of works of art and furniture
- She also redesigned the magnificent arched room with a length of 21 metres
- during the Second World War Buckingham Palace was barely damaged
- valuable pieces of art were brought to Windsor Castle
- by bombing seven times the German Luftwaffe wanted to weaken Great Britain
- Today, Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms on a total area of 77,000 m²
- 19 state rooms, 52 bedrooms for the royal family and guests
- the palace’s employees live in 188 bedrooms, 78 bathrooms and 92 offices.
- The costs for repair work and ongoing maintenance are paid by the Sovereign Grant.
- The Royal Collection at Buckingham Palace is one of the most important art collections in the world.
- Buckingham Palace is valued at between £1 billion and £5.5 billion.
Buckingham Palace has a length of 108 metres, a side length of 120 metres and a height of 24 metres. Plus indoor swimming pool, horse stables, tennis court and some outbuildings as well as the park with an area of 17 hectares, on which a helipad, a summer house and a pond are integrated.
Visitors can see the state apartments and the royal collection. The most interesting thing, however, is certainly to get a glimpse behind the scenes at Buckingham Palace. The famous changing of the Foot Guard is also an impressive moment that you can experience live.
Quick answers to Royal London: Buckingham Palace Profile
Who owns Buckingham Palace?
The British state, and therefore the people, own Buckingham Palace. For this reason, it may not be sold. For the royal family, the palace is therefore only the official residence.
How many rooms are there in Buckingham Palace?
Buckingham Palace has a total of 775 rooms on a total area of 77,000 m².
Can you see the interior of Buckingham Palace?
Yes, the State Apartments and the Royal Collection can be visited. It is part of the duty of the British monarchy to open part of the apartments and state rooms to the public.
When is the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace?
The changing of the guard begins at 11 am and lasts 30 minutes. Between April and July it takes place daily, but from August to March only every other day; Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. To get a good look, you should be there an hour before!
