Buckingham Palace facts for kids
Buckingham Palace is a famous royal home in London, England. It is the main office and home for the King or Queen of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often the center of big national events and royal parties. It has been a special place for the British people during times of great happiness and sadness.
The building started as a large house called Buckingham House in 1703. It was built for the Duke of Buckingham. In 1761, King George III bought it as a private home for his wife, Queen Charlotte. It was then known as The Queen's House. During the 1800s, it was made much bigger by architects John Nash and Edward Blore. They added three wings around a central courtyard. Buckingham Palace became the official London home of the British monarch when Queen Victoria became queen in 1837.
The last big additions were made in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This included the East Front, which has the famous balcony. The royal family stands on this balcony to greet crowds. During the Second World War, a German bomb destroyed the palace's chapel. The King's Gallery was built there later and opened in 1962. It shows amazing art from the Royal Collection.
Many of the palace's original designs from the early 1800s are still there. These include bright colors and special stones like blue and pink lapis. King Edward VII later redecorated some parts in a fancy cream and gold style. Many smaller rooms have a Chinese style, with furniture from the Royal Pavilion in Brighton. The palace has 775 rooms, and its garden is the biggest private garden in London. The grand "state rooms," used for official events, are open to the public for parts of August and September, and some days in winter and spring.
Contents
History of Buckingham Palace
Early Days
Long ago, in the Middle Ages, the land where the palace now stands was part of a manor called Ebury. A river called the Tyburn flowed through the marshy land. It still flows under the palace today. Over time, many people owned this land. In 1536, Henry VIII brought the land back into royal hands. This was the first time it had been owned by the royal family in almost 500 years. Later, James VI and I sold some of the land but kept a part where he planted a mulberry garden. He hoped to produce silk there.
First Houses on the Site (1624–1761)
One of the first houses built here was by William Blake around 1624. The next owner, George Goring, made the house bigger and created much of today's garden. Later, Henry Bennet bought the house, but it burned down in 1674. He then built Arlington House on the same spot. In 1698, John Sheffield bought the land. He built Buckingham House in 1703. It was a large, three-story building with two smaller wings. In 1761, Sheffield's son sold it to George III for £21,000.
From Queen's House to Palace (1761–1837)
When the royal family bought it, the building was meant to be a private getaway for Queen Charlotte. It was called The Queen's House. Changes to the building started in 1762. In 1775, a law made the property officially Queen Charlotte's. Many of her 15 children were born there. Even though St James's Palace was the official royal home, people started calling it "Buckingham Palace" by 1791.
After becoming king in 1820, George IV wanted to make it a comfortable home. But in 1826, he decided to turn it into a grand palace. He worked with architect John Nash. The outside of the palace was designed with a French style that George IV liked. The cost of the work grew very high. By 1829, Nash was removed as the architect because of the huge expenses. When George IV died in 1830, his brother William IV hired Edward Blore to finish the work. William IV never lived in the palace. After the Palace of Westminster burned down in 1834, he even offered Buckingham Palace to be the new Houses of Parliament, but his offer was not accepted.
Queen Victoria (1837–1901)
Buckingham Palace became the main royal home in 1837 when Queen Victoria became queen. She was the first monarch to live there. At first, the palace had some problems. The chimneys smoked, making the palace cold, and the air inside was not good. The staff were also said to be lazy. After Queen Victoria married Prince Albert in 1840, he helped fix these issues. By the end of 1840, all the problems were solved.
By 1847, the palace felt too small for the royal family and their growing children. A new wing, designed by Edward Blore, was built. This wing enclosed the central courtyard. The large East Front, which faces The Mall, is now the "public face" of Buckingham Palace. It has the balcony where the royal family appears on important occasions. A new ballroom and more state rooms were also built during this time. Before Prince Albert died, the palace was often filled with music. Famous musicians like Felix Mendelssohn played there. Queen Victoria also held many fancy costume balls.
After Prince Albert died in 1861, Queen Victoria was very sad. She moved out of Buckingham Palace and lived in other castles. For many years, the palace was rarely used. Eventually, people encouraged the Queen to return to London. Even then, she preferred to live elsewhere when she could.
Early 20th Century (1901–1945)
In 1901, the new king, Edward VII, started redecorating the palace. He and his wife, Queen Alexandra, were very fashionable. Buckingham Palace became a grand place for parties again. The Ballroom, Grand Entrance, and other main rooms were redecorated in a cream and gold style that is still there today.
The last major building work happened during the reign of George V. In 1913, Aston Webb redesigned the East Front. This new front, made of Portland stone, was designed to be a backdrop for the Victoria Memorial. This large statue of Queen Victoria is outside the main gates. George V was more serious than his father. He focused more on official duties than on big parties. He even arranged for jazz musicians like Louis Armstrong to perform at the palace.
During the First World War (1914-1918), the palace was not damaged. Valuable items were moved to Windsor Castle, but the royal family stayed. The King even introduced food rationing at the palace.
George V's wife, Queen Mary, loved art. She helped restore and add to the Royal Collection of furniture and art. She also added new features, like marble fireplaces. In 1938, a glass conservatory was turned into a swimming pool.
Second World War
During the Second World War, which started in 1939, the palace was bombed nine times. The most serious bombing destroyed the palace chapel in 1940. This event was shown in cinemas to show that everyone, rich or poor, was suffering together. One bomb fell in the palace courtyard while George VI and Queen Elizabeth (the future Queen Mother) were inside. Many windows were broken, and the chapel was destroyed. The Queen famously said, "I'm glad we have been bombed. Now I can look the East End in the face." This showed that the royal family shared the hardships of their people.
On VE Day (Victory in Europe Day) on May 8, 1945, the palace was the center of celebrations in Britain. The King, the Queen, Princess Elizabeth (who would become queen), and Princess Margaret appeared on the balcony. Huge crowds cheered them in The Mall. The damaged palace was carefully repaired after the war.
Mid 20th Century to Today
Many of the palace's treasures are part of the Royal Collection. You can sometimes see them at the King's Gallery, which is near the Royal Mews. This gallery opened in 1962 on the site of the chapel that was bombed in World War II. It shows different items from the collection. The palace became a Grade I listed building in 1970, meaning it's very important historically. Its state rooms have been open to the public in August and September since 1993. The money from tickets first helped rebuild Windsor Castle after a fire in 1992.
The palace, like Windsor Castle, is owned by the King or Queen as part of their role. It is not their personal property. The British government is in charge of keeping the palace in good condition. In 2015, the State Dining Room had to close because its ceiling was unsafe. A 10-year plan to fix the palace, including new plumbing and wiring, was approved in 2016. It will cost about £369 million and is meant to make the building last for at least 50 more years.
Buckingham Palace is a symbol of the British monarchy, a huge art gallery, and a popular place for tourists. The famous front of the palace, designed by Webb, looks "like everybody's idea of a palace." It was the weekday home of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. It also houses offices for other members of the royal family and is the workplace for over 800 people. Charles III lives at Clarence House while the palace is being fixed, but he does official work at Buckingham Palace. Every year, about 50,000 guests are invited to garden parties, receptions, and banquets. Three garden parties are usually held in the summer. The front courtyard of Buckingham Palace is used for the Changing of the Guard, a popular ceremony for tourists.
Inside the Palace
The palace is about 108 meters (354 feet) wide, 120 meters (394 feet) deep, and 24 meters (79 feet) high. It has over 77,000 square meters (828,821 square feet) of floor space. There are 775 rooms, including 188 bedrooms for staff, 92 offices, 78 bathrooms, 52 main bedrooms, and 19 grand "state rooms." It also has a post office, a cinema, a swimming pool, a doctor's office, and a jeweler's workshop. The royal family lives in a small set of private rooms in the north wing.
Main Rooms
The most important rooms are on the first floor, behind the garden side of the palace. The Music Room is in the center of these grand rooms. Next to it are the Blue and White Drawing Rooms. In the middle of these rooms is the Picture Gallery, which is 55 yards (50 meters) long and has light from above. The gallery displays many famous paintings by artists like Rembrandt and Rubens. Other rooms connected to the Picture Gallery are the Throne Room and the Green Drawing Room. The Green Drawing Room is a large waiting room for the Throne Room. These very formal rooms are used only for ceremonies and official events, but they are open to the public every summer.
Semi-State Apartments
Below the main state rooms are the less formal semi-state apartments. These rooms are used for smaller gatherings, like lunch parties and private meetings. In the center of this floor is the Bow Room. Thousands of guests walk through this room each year to attend the King's garden parties. When foreign leaders visit Britain, they are usually hosted by the King at Buckingham Palace. They stay in a large set of rooms called the Belgian Suite. Some rooms are named after special visitors, like the 1844 Room, decorated for the visit of Nicholas I of Russia, and the 1855 Room, for Napoleon III of France. The 1844 Room is a sitting room often used for awarding honors.
East Wing
Between 1847 and 1850, when the new east wing was built, many items from the Brighton Pavilion were used. Because of this, many rooms in the new wing have an Asian feel. The red and blue Chinese Luncheon Room uses parts from the Brighton Banqueting and Music Rooms. It has a large fireplace designed in an Asian style. The beautiful clock, called the Kylin Clock, was made in China in the 1700s. The Yellow Drawing Room has wallpaper from 1817 and a fireplace with nodding figures and dragons.
In the center of this wing is the famous balcony, with the Centre Room behind its glass doors. This room has a Chinese style, improved by Queen Mary in the 1920s. The Great Gallery, also called the Principal Corridor, runs along the entire east side of the courtyard. It has mirrored doors and walls that reflect Chinese porcelain and furniture. The Chinese Luncheon Room and Yellow Drawing Room are at each end of this gallery, with the Centre Room in the middle.
Court Ceremonies
Investitures are ceremonies where people receive honors from the King or another senior royal. This includes being made a knight with a sword. These usually happen in the palace's Throne Room. A military band plays music as people receive their honors, watched by their families.
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State banquets are formal dinners held in the Ballroom, which was built in 1854. At 36.6 meters (120 feet) long, 18 meters (59 feet) wide, and 13.5 meters (44 feet) high, it is the largest room in the palace. At one end is a raised platform with a large, domed velvet canopy. State Banquets are held on the first evening of a visit by a foreign leader. For these dinners, up to 170 guests wear formal clothes and tiaras. The table is set with the Grand Service, a collection of silver-gilt plates made in 1811.
The biggest and most formal reception at Buckingham Palace happens every November. The King hosts members of the diplomatic corps (ambassadors from other countries). All the state rooms are used. The royal family walks through them, and the large, mirrored doors reflect the many chandeliers, making the rooms look even bigger and brighter.
Smaller ceremonies, like welcoming new ambassadors, happen in the "1844 Room." The King also holds small lunch parties and meetings of the Privy Council here. Larger lunch parties often take place in the curved Music Room or the State Dining Room. Since the palace chapel was bombed in World War II, royal christenings (baptisms) have sometimes taken place in the Music Room. Queen Elizabeth II's first three children were all christened there. For all formal events, the ceremonies are attended by the Yeomen of the Guard in their historic uniforms.
Garden and Surroundings
At the back of the palace is a large, park-like garden. With its lake, it is the biggest private garden in London. Queen Elizabeth II used to host her annual garden parties here each summer. She also held big events to celebrate royal milestones, like jubilees. The garden covers 17 hectares (42 acres) and includes a helicopter landing area, a lake, and a tennis court.
Next to the palace is the Royal Mews, also designed by Nash. This is where the royal carriages are kept, including the Gold State Coach. This fancy gold coach was designed in 1760 and has painted panels. It was first used by George III in 1762 and has been used by every monarch for their coronation since William IV. It was last used for the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The mews also houses the horses used for royal parades and many of the cars used by the royal family.
The Mall is a special road leading to the palace. It was designed by Aston Webb and finished in 1911 as part of a grand memorial to Queen Victoria. It stretches from Admiralty Arch, through St James's Park, to the Victoria Memorial, ending at the palace gates. This route is used by visiting leaders and the royal family for state occasions, like the annual Trooping the Colour parade.
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Security Incidents
There have been a few times when people have managed to get into the palace or its grounds without permission. One famous case was Michael Fagan, who broke into the palace twice in 1982. On his second visit, he even entered Queen Elizabeth II's bedroom. It was only in 2007 that trespassing on the palace grounds became a specific crime.
See also
- Flags at Buckingham Palace
- List of British royal residences
- King's Guard
