Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace is the London home and primary residence of the
British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a
setting for state occasions and royal hospitality. It has been a focus
for the British people at times of national rejoicing and crisis.
Originally known as Buckingham House, the building which forms
the core of today's palace was a large townhouse built for the Duke of
Buckingham in 1705 on a site which had been in private ownership for
at least 150 years. It was subsequently acquired by George III in 1761
as a private residence for Queen Charlotte, and known as "The Queen's
House". During the 19th century it was enlarged, principally by
architects John Nash and Edward Blore, forming three wings around a
central courtyard. Buckingham Palace finally became the official royal
palace of the British monarch on the accession of Queen Victoria in
1837. The last major structural additions were made in the late 19th
and early 20th centuries, including the East front which contains the
well-known balcony on which the Royal Family traditionally congregate
to greet crowds outside. However, the palace chapel was destroyed by a
German bomb in World War II; the Queen's Gallery was built on the site
and opened to the public in 1962 to exhibit works of art from the
Royal Collection.
Photo 629, May 2011