Buckingham Palace, Royal palace in City of Westminster, United Kingdom.
Description
Three principal wings form a rectangle around a central quadrangle, housing 775 rooms including State Rooms finished in gilded plasterwork and silk hangings. The east front facing The Mall displays Portland stone cladding applied during Edward VII's reign. Red and gold dominate the color scheme throughout the principal floor, where chandeliers hang from decorated ceilings. A Picture Gallery runs 155 feet (47 meters) through the building's center.
History
Sheffield architect William Winde designed the original townhouse completed in 1705 for John Sheffield, Duke of Buckingham. Following the 1761 purchase by George III, various architects including William Chambers modified the interiors throughout the 1760s. Nash's reconstruction created a U-shaped building with a marble triumphal arch entrance, later removed when Blore enclosed the courtyard. Aston Webb redesigned the principal facade in 1913 using 40,000 tons of Portland stone.
Culture
Garden parties hosted three times each summer welcome over 30,000 guests from various charitable organizations and public service sectors. The Music Room serves as the setting for christenings of royal children, while the Throne Room hosts official photographs after weddings. Regular diplomatic audiences occur in the 1844 Room, where the monarch receives foreign ambassadors presenting credentials.
Practical
Opening hours for State Room visits run from late July through early October, with advance booking required through the Royal Collection Trust website. Audio guides come in 11 languages at no extra charge. Arrive 15 minutes before your time slot at the Visitor Entrance on Buckingham Palace Road. The Changing of the Guard occurs at 11 AM on scheduled days, viewable from outside the railings without a ticket.
Did you know?
Master of the Household oversees a staff of 800 people who manage daily operations from catering to conservation work. The quadrangle contains a helicopter landing pad installed during the 1990s for rapid transport. Below the North Wing sits a series of vaulted cellars dating to the original 18th-century structure, now used for storage of rare wines from the royal collection.
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A highly symbolic place but one stays a bit behind the bars!
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