Buckingham Palace (UK: / ˈbʌkɪŋəm /) [1] is a royal residence in London, and the administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. [a][2] 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. During the 19th century it was enlarged by 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 1837. 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. King 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 August and September and on some days in winter and spring. In the Middle Ages, the site of the future palace formed part of the Manor of Ebury (also called Eia). The marshy ground was watered by the river Tyburn, which still flows below the courtyard and south wing of the palace. [3] Where the river was fordable (at Cow Ford), the village of Eye Cross grew.

The Victoria Memorial is a monument to Queen Victoria, located at the end of The Mall in London by the sculptor Sir Thomas Brock. Designed in 1901, it was unveiled on 16 May 1911, though it was not completed until 1924. It was the centrepiece of an ambitious urban planning scheme, which included the creation of the Queen’s Gardens to a design by Sir Aston Webb, and the refacing of Buckingham Palace (which stands behind the memorial) by the same architect. Like the earlier Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens, commemorating Victoria's consort, the Victoria Memorial has an elaborate scheme of iconographic sculpture. The central pylon of the memorial is of Pentelic marble, and individual statues are in Lasa marble and gilt bronze. [5] The memorial weighs 2,300 tonnes (about 2535 short tons) [1] and is 32 m (104 ft) in diameter. [6] In 1970 it was listed at Grade I. [4] King Edward VII suggested that a joint Parliamentary committee should be formed to develop plans for a Memorial to Queen Victoria following her death. The first meeting took place on 19 February 1901 at the Foreign Office, Whitehall. The first secretary of the committee was Arthur Bigge, 1st Baron Stamfordham. [7] Initially these meetings were behind closed doors, and the proceedings were not revealed to the public. [8] However the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Joseph Dimsdale, publicly announced that the committee had decided that the memorial should be "monumental". [9] Reginald Brett, 2nd Viscount Esher, the secretary of the committee, submitted the proposal to the King on 4 March 1901. [10][11] A number of sites were suggested, and the King visited both Westminster Abbey and the park near the Palace of Westminster. [11] Several ideas were rumoured at this time, including an open square in The Mall near to the school Duke of York Column, and a memorial located in Green Park. [12] On 26 March the decision was announced to locate the memorial outside Buckingham Palace and slightly shorten The Mall. It was estimated that the work would cost £250,000 and decided that there would be no grant given by the Government to the construction. [13]

Buckingham Palace is one of the most iconic buildings in the world. The East Wing of the Palace includes the front façade and features the famous central balcony. The Monarch and members of the Royal Family have made appearances on the balcony since 1851. The principal rooms of the East Wing are Chinese-themed and furnished with some of the finest works in the Royal Collection, many of which were moved from George IV’s Royal Pavilion in Brighton upon its sale in 1850. Who built the East Wing? When Queen Victoria moved into Buckingham Palace only a few days after the death of her uncle William IV, it had never been used as the principal residence of a monarch before. The Palace had been empty for seven years following the death of Victoria’s uncle, George IV. George had commissioned at great expense the conversion of Buckingham House into a Palace to the designs of architect John Nash. The king never occupied the Palace, and his successor, William IV, preferred to live at Clarence House in London during his short reign. The queen’s ministers advised her to stay at Kensington Palace, her childhood home, until Buckingham Palace could be brought up to a suitable standard, but Victoria wanted to move immediately and begin her new life. The architect Edward Blore was commissioned to draw up plans for alterations to Buckingham Palace, to increase the accommodation for Victoria’s growing family. Between 1847 and 1849, the East Wing was added at the front, enclosing what had previously been an open, horseshoe-shaped courtyard and introducing the famous central balcony. The beautiful Kylin Clock combines pieces of Asian porcelain with a French clock. A magnificent glass chandelier, shaped to resemble a lotus flower, features in the Centre Room, the room which leads onto the famous balcony. There are also many beautiful Chinese porcelain vases which were originally supplied to George IV in 1807. The Centre Room in 1855 (RCIN 919925). The Centre Room today. The Reservicing of Buckingham Palace is a ten-year programme of works to update the essential services to one of the UK's most iconic buildings. Miles of ageing cables, lead pipes, electrical wiring and boilers are being replaced as part of the Programme, many for the first time in over 60 years. The Reservicing Programme will also improve visitor facilities and accessibility, as well as create a more energy-efficient environment for staff, guests and visitors to the building. As part of the reservicing programme around 3,500 pieces were moved from the East Wing to allow for essential renovations to take place. The Yellow Drawing Room today after Reservicing. Royal Collection Trust/© His Majesty King Charles III 2024. Photographer: Peter Smith How can I visit the East Wing of Buckingham Palace? There are two ways to enjoy a visit to the East Wing of Buckingham Palace: January to May 2025 - East Wing Exclusive Guided Tours. These tours are a more in-depth look at the history of the East Wing and the works of art on display. They do not include a visit to the State Rooms of Buckingham Palace. July and August 2025 - The State Rooms and East Wing Highlights Tour allows you to combine a tour of the East Wing with a visit to the State Rooms. A journey through Queen Victoria’s famous addition to the Palace.

This Panorama was captured in August 2022 The East Wing Facade of Buckingham Palace in London is the principal front of the home to the british kings and queens. It is is a grand and impressive structure and a key feature of the palace’s architectural design – an iconic symbol of the British monarchy and a popular tourist attraction. The palace is also the backdrop to the famous Changing of the Guard ceremony which is held in the palace forecourt daily from april to july (every other day in other months). The Palace and its magnificent State Rooms can be visited during summer and selected dates during winter and spring. Originally known as Buckingham House, built in 1703, it has belonged to the monarchy since 1761. It was redesigned and enlarged during the 19th century by architects John Nash and Edward Blore, who at first constructed three wings around a central courtyard. The new Buckingham Palace became the London residence of the British monarch on the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837. The ceremonial entrance of the palace was called Marble Arch and moved to Hyde Park in 1847 were it is another famous landmark of London now. From 1847 to 1850 the new East Wing was built by Thomas Cubitt and designed by Edward Blore, enclosing the central quadrangle. In 1913 the whole facade was remodelled to its current appearance by Aston Webb. This new refaced principal façade was made of Portland stone and designed to be the backdrop to the Victoria Memorial. It partly resembles Giacomo Leoni’s Lyme Park in Cheshire. The East Wing Facade is a symmetrical, four-story structure, with a central entrance that leads to the palace’s state rooms. The facade is constructed of Portland stone and is characterized by its grandeur and elegance. The facade features a central pediment with a large coat of arms (tympanum), flanked by lion and unicorn, the latter adorned with a metal chain. Above the entrance you can see the balcony from which the royal family acknowledge the crowds on momentous occasions.

Sitting right outside Buckingham Palace is the colossal statue of Queen Victoria. This was commissioned and unveiled by her grandson, King George V, in 1911. Another Queen is commemorated along The Mall – Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. She is honoured with a statue that stands next to one of her husband, King George VI. Overlooking iconic Horse Guards Parade is a moving memorial to the Guardsmen killed in the First World War. The sculptures are made from guns that were captured during the conflict. In the shadow of Admiralty Arch, meanwhile, is the National Police Memorial, commemorating officers who have died in the line of duty. A book behind a glass window lists their names. To find out more about these memorials and many others in St. James’s Park, explore the links below. Commissioned by King Edward VII to commemorate Queen Victoria's death, and designed by Sir Aston Webb and completed in 1912, Admiralty Arch stands majestically at the North east end of The Mall. This Grade I listed curved stone building has three arches and links The Mall to Trafalgar Square, adjoining the Old Admiralty Building. A Latin inscription along the top reads: (In the tenth year of King Edward VII, to Queen Victoria, from most grateful citizens, 1910) Admiralty Arch plays an important role on ceremonial occasions, with processions such as royal weddings, funerals, coronations and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games passing through the central arch. The outer arches are used for vehicles and pedestrians. The Duke of York statue, designed by Sir Richard Westmacott in 1834, is located at the top of the Duke of York Steps, on the north side of The Mall. It features a bronze statue of the Duke of York on a 124ft column designed by Benjamin Wyatt. It was installed in memory of Frederick William (1763-1827), Commander in Chief of the British Army and second son of King George III. He is probably The Grand Old Duke of York of the nursery rhyme. The monument cost £21,000 and much of it was raised by soldiers who donated a day's pay. This is a memorial to the Royal Marines who died during the course of two military campaigns: the Boxer Rebellion and the Boer War. It consists of two bronze figures by sculptor Adrian Jones. They sit on a plinth of Portland stone. The base is decorated with bronze plaques by Sir Thomas Graham Jackson. They depict the battles and Roll of Honour of the two campaigns. The memorial was originally positioned in the Cambridge Enclosure in St. James’s Park and was unveiled by The King, The then Prince of Wales, Colonel in Chief of the Royal Marines, on April 25 th 1903. In 1941 the memorial was put into storage to make way for the building of the nearby Citadel. It was moved to its present position on The Mall in 1948. In 2000, it became the Royal Marines National Memorial and is the focus of the annual ‘Graspan Parade’ – named after the Battle of Graspan during the Boer War. The Queen Victoria Memorial is located in front of Buckingham Palace and comprises the Dominion Gates (Canada Gate, Australia Gate and South and West Africa Gates), the Memorial Gardens and a vast central monument commemorating the death of Queen Victoria in 1901. The monument is 25 metres high and uses 2,300 tonnes of white Carrara marble. As well as Victoria, there are statues representing courage, constancy, victory, charity, truth and motherhood. The central monument, created between 1906 and 1924, is by Sir Thomas Brock, but the whole design, including the Memorial Gardens, was conceived by Sir Aston Webb. The Memorial was formally unveiled by King George V in 1911. The gates, piers, balustrades and retaining walls of the Memorial Gardens are all protected landmarks. The Memorial Gardens were created in 1901 as part of Sir Aston Webb's overall design for a memorial to Queen Victoria after her death that year. The formal flowerbeds are laid out in a semi-circular design around the central memorial and are a familiar sight during the many of the famous processions and ceremonies that take place in this area. The planting schedule follows a traditional seasonal pattern that is repeated each year. Each planting takes approximately two weeks and involves up to ten staff. Replanting of the beds in summer requires approximately 22,500 plants, including geraniums, spider plants, salvias and weeping figs. Scarlet geraniums are used to match the tunics of The Queen's Guard at Buckingham Palace. In winter time the beds are filled with about 50,000 yellow wallflowers and red tulips.

Take a royal trip to Buckingham Palace, the official residence and home of Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth II Overview of Buckingham Palace, London. Buckingham Palace, palace and London residence of the British sovereign. It is situated within the borough of Westminster. The palace takes its name from the house built (c. 1705) for John Sheffield, duke of Buckingham. It was bought in 1762 by George III for his wife, Queen Charlotte, and became known as the queen’s house. By order of George IV, John Nash initiated the conversion of the house into a palace in the 1820s. Nash also reshaped the Buckingham Palace Gardens and designed the Marble Arch entryway, which was later removed (1851) to the northeast corner of Hyde Park. The Mall front, or Fore Court (east side), was expanded in 1847 by Edward Blore and redesigned in 1913 by Sir Aston Webb as a background for the Queen Victoria Memorial statue. Nash’s garden front (west side) remains virtually unchanged. Victoria was the first sovereign to live there (from 1837). Buckingham Palace The main gate at Buckingham Palace, London. Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace and the Queen Victoria Memorial statue, London. Within the palace the Queen’s Gallery exhibits works from the royal art collection, including Fabergé eggs and drawings by Leonardo da Vinci. The changing of the guard takes place regularly (generally every morning from May through July and every other morning during the rest of the year), but the royal standard is flown over the palace only when the sovereign is in residence. Traditionally closed to the public, the State Rooms of the palace were opened to tourists during August and September in the mid-1990s in order to finance repairs to Windsor Castle, which was damaged by fire in 1992.

In 1905 the Bromsgrove Guild of Applied Arts were received their most important commission to date. Designing the wrought iron gates to surround Buckingham Palace, the monarch’s London home since 1837. The Bromsgrove Guild was founded by Walter Gilbert in 1898. Based in the Worcestershire town of Bromsgrove they were strongly rooted in the Arts and Crafts movement; a desire to counteract the ‘damaging’ effects of industrial production and instead focus on domestic, often bespoke, design. They had become well-known for wrought iron pieces (other famous works include Liverpool’s Liver Birds c.1910) and the gates are covered in regal decoration. Below is a version of the Royal Coat of Arms, a Lion (symbolising England) and Unicorn (symbolising Scotland) presenting four quadrants. Diagonally opposite each other are three lions walking (in fancy heraldic terms; ‘passant gardent’) and they’ve been used to represent England ever since the reign of King Richard I (1189-1199). The harp is for Ireland and upstanding (‘rampart’) lion is for Scotland. These both first appeared on the Royal Coat of Arms in 1603, when James I of England (VI of Scotland) became King of both nations. But there’s also specific Kings mentioned on the gates, King George V who was monarch at the time of completion; The cipher; GR V stands for George Rex (King George) the fifth. And there’s a fancier version on the main central gates, the G and Roman numeral 5 in swirling calligraphy. But there’s also a more mythical suggest of George V; an inclusion of St George the Dragon, a patriotic aligning of the patron saint with the eponymous monarch. It’s not only about George V though, we can also see the cipher of his predecessor, King Edward VII (1901-1910), on the – presumably earlier – stone columns. Atop these columns are another regal couple of lion and unicorn.

The center of Queen’s Gardens in London, England is home to the Victoria Memorial. Built in Queen Victoria’s honor, the statue sits directly in front of Buckingham Palace and stands more than 82 feet tall. The monument gives tribute to the Queen who ruled from 1837 until 1901 when she died. The architect for the Victoria Memorial is the same man who designed the Buckingham Palace, Sir Aston Webb. He used over 2,000 tons of high quality white marble. The artist Sir Thomas Brock was in charge of the actual sculpting of the monument and it was dedicated by George V ten years after Queen Victoria’s death in 1911. The Victoria Memorial is made of more than just one sculpture of Victoria. Although she is the largest and most central figure, the sculpture also displays a bronze image of the Angel of Truth and the Angel of Justice. These bronze sculptures were added in 1924. In addition, looking toward Buckingham Palace is a sculpture of Charity. On top of the massive monument sits a figure which is said to show Constancy and Courage. There are also many sculptures that surround the Queen and the enclosing wall. All around the center there is a nautical theme complete with ships, mermaids and other marine life. Beautiful bronze statues of lions and symbols of peace descend the stairs and lead observers to the ground floor. The bronze lions were a gift from New Zealand to honor the Queen. The Victoria Memorial located in London is a massive historical homage to a queen that reigned for over 65 years. The thousands of tons of white marble were carefully sculpted and designed to capture the essence of Queen Victoria. Although completed after her death, the statues have remained an important symbol in England’s history. Photo by: Lord Harris Creative Commons ► More London Famous Landmarks View Larger Map The center of Queen's Gardens in London, England is home to the Victoria Memorial. Built in Queen Victoria's honor, the statue sits directly in front of Buckingham Palace and stands more than 82 feet tall. The monument gives tribute to the

Buckingham Palace is the London residence and administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. It was built in the early 18th century for John Sheffield, 1st Duke of Buckingham (1648-1721), expanded and remodeled during the 19th and 20th centuries on several occasions. In the Middle Ages, the site of the future palace formed part of the Manor of Ebury and the marshy ground was watered by the river Tyburn, which still flows below the courtyard and south wing of the palace. Aerial view of Buckingham Palace during the official celebrations of Elizabeth II's 90th birthday in 2016. The main facade, the East Front, was originally completed in 1850 and was remodeled in 1913. Ownership of the site changed hands many times and owners included Edward the Confessor (c.1003-1066) and his queen consort Edith of Wessex (c.1025-1075) in late Saxon times, and, after the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror (c.1028​-1087). William (c.1028​-1087) gave the site to Geoffrey de Mandeville (1092-1144), who bequeathed it to the monks of Westminster Abbey. In 1531, Henry VIII (1491-1547) acquired the Hospital of St James, which became St James's Palace, from Eton College, and in 1536 he took the Manor of Ebury from Westminster Abbey. Various owners leased it from royal landlords, and the freehold was the subject of frenzied speculation during the 17th century. By then, the old village of Eye Cross had long since fallen into decay, and the area was mostly wasteland. Possibly the first house erected within the site was that of a Sir William Blake (1608-1657), around 1624 and the next owner was George Goring (1608-1657), who from 1633 extended Blake's house, which came to be known as Goring House, and developed much of today's garden, then known as Goring Great Garden. When the improvident Goring (1608-1657) defaulted on his rents, Henry Bennet, 1st Earl of Arlington (1618-1685) was able to purchase the lease of Goring House and he was occupying it when it burned down in 1674, following which he constructed Arlington House on the site, the location of the southern wing of today's palace, the next year. In 1698, John Sheffield (1648-1721) acquired the lease and he later became the first Duke of Buckingham and Normanby.

The Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of royal hospitality and state occasions. Originally known as Buckingham House, the building at the core of today’s palace was a large townhouse built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703 on a site that had been in private ownership for at least 150 years. It was acquired by King George III in 1761 as a private residence for Queen Charlotte and became known as The Queen’s House. Queen Victoria founded the current tradition of royal residence at Buckingham Palace when she decided to make it her principal home in 1837. 1. What is on top of the statue in front of Buckingham Palace? 1.1. What is the sculpture outside Buckingham Palace 2. How much is the queens crown worth? 3. Is the queen’s crown real diamonds? 3.1. Is the queen’s crown real gold 4. Where will Queen Elizabeth be buried? 4.1. Who owns Buckingham Palace 5. What does the flag flying above Buckingham Palace mean? 5.1. What did Harry inherit from the Queen 6. Warp Up The statue in front of Buckingham Palace is of Queen Victoria. What is on top of the statue in front of Buckingham Palace? This is a piece of art called “The Triumph of Good over Evil” by sculptor Adolph Alexander Weinman. It was created in 1918, and is located in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The sculpture depicts three figures: Constancy, Courage, and Victory. Constancy is holding a compass with its needle pointing true north, symbolizing the constancy of truth. Courage is holding a club, symbolizing the strength needed to overcome evil. And finally, Victory is standing on a globe with a victor’s palm in one hand, symbolizing the ultimate triumph of good over evil. You might likeHow many bedrooms does buckingham palace have? The central pylon of the memorial is made of Pentelic marble, and the individual statues are made of Lasa marble and gilt bronze. The Victoria Memorial is a sculpture in front of Buckingham Palace, to the south side of Green Park, at the other end of The Mall from Trafalgar Square. The sculptor was Sir Thomas Brock. The Queen Victoria Memorial is a beautiful monument that stands outside Buckingham Palace at the entrance to the Mall. It was planned by King Edward VII as a tribute to his mother and her reign. The memorial is made up of a number of different parts, including a central statue of Queen Victoria, four large relief sculptures, and many other smaller statues and features. It is a truly fitting tribute to one of the most important figures in British history.