About Buckingham Palace - Information center

Reviews and news for “Buckingham Palace”

• Buckingham Palace has officially opened its doors to the public - here's how you can have a rare sneak peek inside the legendary London landmark this summer  Secret London
  
• Behind Buckingham’s grand facade: Why royals would rather live elsewhere  Ynetnews
  
• Buckingham Palace says Prince Harry will not stay at palace  BBC
  
• Prince Harry will not stay at Buckingham Palace, officials confirm  The Times
  
• Royal feud hits the headlines again: Palace missive revokes Harry's invitation  Heatworld
  

Buckingham Palace (UK: ) is a royal residence and the administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom in London, England. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and royal hospitality. It has been a focal point for the British people at times of national rejoicing and mourning.

Originally known as Buckingham House, the building at the core of today's palace was a large townhouse built for the Duke of Buckingham and Normanby in 1703 on a site that had been in private ownership for at least 150 years. It was acquired by George III in 1761 as a private residence for Queen Charlotte and became known as The Queen's House. In the early 19th century it was enlarged by the architects John Nash and Edward Blore, who constructed three wings around a central courtyard. Buckingham Palace became the London residence of the British monarch on the accession of Queen Victoria in June 1837. It was occupied by every subsequent monarch until the accession in 2022 of King Charles III, who continues to reside at nearby Clarence House while conducting official duties at the palace.

The last major structural additions were made in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including the East Front, which contains the balcony on which the royal family traditionally appears to greet crowds. A German bomb destroyed the palace chapel during the Second World War; the King's Gallery was built on the site and opened to the public in 1962 to exhibit works of art from the Royal Collection.

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 Charles Long. 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 palace has 775 rooms, and the garden is the largest private garden in London. The state rooms, used for official and state entertaining, are open to the public each year for most of the summer and on selected days in winter and spring.

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