Buckingham Palace

About Buckingham Palace

Official London residence and principal workplace of the British monarch

Buckingham Palace is the official residence and administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom in London, standing in the City of Westminster at the end of The Mall between St James's Park and Green Park. It is often the centre of state occasions and royal hospitality and a focal point for the British people at times of national rejoicing and mourning. Originally Buckingham House, a large townhouse built for the Duke of Buckingham and Normanby in 1703, it was acquired by George III in 1761 as a private residence for Queen Charlotte and became known as The Queen's House, before the architects John Nash and Edward Blore enlarged it in the early 19th century with three wings around a central courtyard. The palace became the London residence of the monarch on the accession of Queen Victoria in June 1837 and 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 additions came in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including the famous East Front with the balcony on which the royal family traditionally appears to greet crowds. A German bomb destroyed the palace chapel in the Second World War, and the King's Gallery was built on the site, opening in 1962 to exhibit works from the Royal Collection. Visitors gather daily at the palace gates and the Victoria Memorial to watch the Changing of the Guard, while 19 State Rooms open to the public in summer and the King's Gallery and the Royal Mews can be visited throughout the year.

Where:

London, United Kingdom