{"id":634377,"date":"2025-12-15T17:46:29","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T17:46:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/634377\/"},"modified":"2025-12-15T17:46:29","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T17:46:29","slug":"royal-experts-reveal-secrets-of-britains-top-palace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/634377\/","title":{"rendered":"Royal experts reveal secrets of Britain&#8217;s top palace"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">This photograph was taken during the Queen&#8217;s Diamond Jubilee in 1897.<\/p>\n<p>   <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;Hulton Archive\/Getty Images&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Hulton Archive\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">Another result of Queen Victoria\u2019s desire to enlarge the palace was that Marble Arch had to be moved. It stood as a formal gateway to Buckingham Palace for 17\u00a0years but was overshadowed by Blore\u2019s Buckingham Palace design.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">In 1850, Marble Arch was dismantled and moved beside Hyde Park\u2019s Cumberland Gate. The plan was to make the arch a grand point of entry to the royal park, in time for the Great Exhibition of 1851.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">The stone-by-stone removal and reconstruction was overseen by architect Thomas Cubitt, who completed the entire process in just three months. Here it is in\u00a01904.<\/p>\n<p>   <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;Scaffolding Great Britain\/Wikimedia Commons [Public Domain]&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Scaffolding Great Britain\/Wikimedia Commons [Public Domain]<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">Due to\u00a0ongoing problems with the palace&#8217;s discoloured masonry, the decision was taken to reface the fa\u00e7ade in 1913.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">Sir Aston Webb,\u00a0who had previously worked on London&#8217;s\u00a0Victoria and Albert Museum, used Portland stone and was inspired by Giacomo Leoni&#8217;s Lyme Park in Cheshire for the palace\u2019s new look.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">In his obituary in The Times, it said he &#8220;replaced the\u00a0&#8216;dingy meanness&#8217; of the previous frontage with exceptional speed and aplomb.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>   <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;Victoria Jones\/Getty Images&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Victoria Jones\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">You might be surprised to learn that the sovereign\u00a0doesn&#8217;t own the palace. Buckingham Palace\u00a0is part of the Crown Estate\u00a0and\u00a0belongs to the reigning monarch in right of the Crown for the duration of their reign.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">While the late Queen Elizabeth II lived in the private quarters of Buckingham Palace for much of her 70-year reign, she\u00a0always thought of it more as her office than her home.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">Nonetheless, the palace has been the epicentre of many of the most prestigious royal events of our time&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>   <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;CENTRAL PRESS\/AFP\/Getty Images&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>CENTRAL PRESS\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">The late Queen Elizabeth II moved into Buckingham Palace as a child on 12 May 1937, when her father was crowned King George VI\u00a0following King Edward VIII\u2019s abdication in\u00a0December 1936.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">As her nanny, Marion Crawford, observed, life in the palace brought down &#8220;a glass curtain between you and the outer world,&#8221;\u00a0and the Princess spent hours gazing out of the window, wondering about the lives of the &#8220;real people&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;Print Collector\/Getty Images&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Print Collector\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">When the Second World War broke out in 1939, Elizabeth and her sister, Princess Margaret, were evacuated to Windsor Castle while\u00a0her parents remained\u00a0at the palace to show solidarity with their subjects.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">The palace was bombed on seven occasions during the war. The King and Queen are seen here inspecting the damage following a German bombing raid on 11\u00a0September 1940, which destroyed the chapel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">At the time, the Queen said: &#8220;I&#8217;m glad we have been bombed. Now I can look the East End in the face.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>   <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;Keystone Press\/Alamy Stock Photo&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Keystone Press\/Alamy Stock Photo<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">During the war, Buckingham Palace was used as a communications centre. The\u00a0Court Post Office, which was established in 1897, was utilised during this turbulent period\u00a0to aid wartime correspondence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">In this photo from 1941, you can see post office workers working at typewriters while\u00a0the counter clerk deals with an enquiry.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">Fast forward to modern times and it\u2019s\u00a0been revealed that Buckingham Palace also has its own cash machine and doctor\u2019s office, according to Channel 5 series Secrets of the Royal Palaces.<\/p>\n<p>   <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;PNA Rota\/Getty Images&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>PNA Rota\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">The palace\u00a0supported war veterans and soldiers with charity events like the one pictured here.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">This photo, taken on 17\u00a0December 1942, is of a Christmas party hosted by\u00a0the Not Forgotten Association at Buckingham Palace. It included\u00a0large tables set for a sumptuous dinner and plenty of\u00a0Christmas cheer during a difficult time.<\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;Trinity Mirror\/Mirrorpix\/Alamy Stock Photo&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Trinity Mirror\/Mirrorpix\/Alamy Stock Photo<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">The palace was again the backdrop of public festivities when the Second World War in\u00a0Europe came to an end\u00a0on 8\u00a0May 1945.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">Huge crowds converged on Buckingham Palace for the VE Day celebrations and to see the King, Queen, and Winston Churchill wave\u00a0from the royal\u00a0balcony.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">That night, Princess Elizabeth, dressed in her army uniform, slipped unobserved into the crowds with her sister\u00a0to enjoy the festivities. &#8220;I think it was one of the most memorable nights of my life,&#8221; she later recalled.<\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;Superstock\/Alamy Stock Photo&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Superstock\/Alamy Stock Photo<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">After the war, Buckingham Palace returned to a peaceful family home once more. The grand but inviting\u00a0interior\u00a0is seen in this intimate photograph of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth\u00a0in their private apartments, taken to mark their 25th wedding anniversary in 1948.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">Marble pillars may flank the ornate fireplace, but furniture upholstered in cosy textiles and rugs creates a warm environment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">On their wedding day back in 1923, the couple had to return numerous times when they made their appearance on the palace balcony, such was the enthusiasm of the crowds. When the King complained, his wife is said to have replied: \u201cOne day they might not want us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>   <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;Bettmann\/Getty Images&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Bettmann\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">On 9 July 1947, 21-year-old Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten announced\u00a0their engagement at a photocall in the White Drawing Room of Buckingham Palace. The happy couple is pictured here\u00a0alongside\u00a0Queen Elizabeth,\u00a0King George VI, and Princess Margaret.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">Prince Philip had proposed the previous year, but the couple had agreed to wait another year before making the announcement.<\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;Keystone\/Hulton Archive\/Getty Images&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Keystone\/Hulton Archive\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">Wearing a Norman Hartnell gown in duchesse satin, Elizabeth and Philip married at Westminster Abbey on\u00a020\u00a0November\u00a01947, before a wedding breakfast and official photographs at the palace.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">The newlyweds are seen here waving to the crowds from the iconic balcony,\u00a0but you won\u2019t find any shots of them kissing, since it was not royal tradition to do so back then.<\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;Pictorial Press Ltd\/Alamy Stock Photo&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Pictorial Press Ltd\/Alamy Stock Photo<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">Queen Elizabeth II was crowned monarch on\u00a02\u00a0June 1953, following the passing of her father.\u00a0However, she\u00a0was reluctant to move back into Buckingham Palace\u00a0after\u00a0enjoying a relatively normal family life at Clarence House in London&#8217;s Westminster and in Malta, where the Prince was stationed with the Navy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">She is pictured here alongside\u00a0Prince Philip and their two children, Prince Charles and Princess Anne,\u00a0on the balcony at Buckingham Palace after the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey.<\/p>\n<p>   <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;Keystone\/Getty Images&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Keystone\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">On 25\u00a0December 1957, Queen Elizabeth II delivered\u00a0her first Christmas Day television speech to the nation from her private rooms, seen here.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">Up until her permanent move to Windsor Castle, the late Queen resided\u00a0in the palace&#8217;s nine-room private apartment during the week.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">However, according\u00a0to royal author Penny Junor&#8217;s book The Firm, she wanted to remain in nearby Clarence House. She was persuaded to move into Buckingham Palace by former British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill.<\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;PA Images\/Alamy Stock Photo&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>PA Images\/Alamy Stock Photo<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">The palace has seen numerous visits from important people, including US President John F Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, who are seen here ahead of a dinner given by\u00a0Queen Elizabeth II in their honour at the palace in June 1961.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">There were\u00a014 US presidents during the late Queen&#8217;s reign, and with the exception of President Johnson, she\u00a0met each one.<\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;Keystone Press\/Alamy Stock Photo&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Keystone Press\/Alamy Stock Photo<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">As well as a venue for hosting dignitaries, the\u00a0palace was a family home.\u00a0With so many rooms and endless corridors, Buckingham Palace must have felt like a glorious\u00a0playground to Prince\u00a0Charles and his sister, Princess Anne,\u00a0during their childhood.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">This charming image of the brother and sister in the Picture Gallery\u00a0was taken to mark the prince\u2019s eighth birthday on 14 November 1956.<\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;Fox Photos\/Hulton Archive\/Getty Images&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Fox Photos\/Hulton Archive\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">Apart from Princess Anne, who was born at Clarence House, all of Queen Elizabeth II\u2019s children were born at Buckingham Palace:\u00a0King Charles in the nursery and Princes Andrew and Edward in the Belgian Suite.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">The family is\u00a0seen here in one of the private living rooms at the palace in 1972, on the occasion of the Queen and Prince Philip\u2019s silver wedding anniversary. From left to right: Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Edward,\u00a0and Prince Charles.<\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;Central Press\/Hulton Archive\/Getty Images&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Central Press\/Hulton Archive\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">King Charles III\u00a0spent a great deal of his early childhood at Buckingham Palace. He stayed there when he was on leave from serving in the armed forces between 1971 and 1977.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">A few years later, Charles&#8217; bride-to-be, Lady Diana Spencer,\u00a0lived at the palace while preparations were underway for\u00a0one of the biggest royal weddings in history.<\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;PA Images\/Alamy Stock Photo&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>PA Images\/Alamy Stock Photo<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">Prince Charles, as he was known back then,\u00a0and the late Princess Diana started a new royal tradition when they kissed on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on 29\u00a0July\u00a01981.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">According to\u00a0The Daily Mirror, the Prince forgot to kiss his bride after saying his vows at St Paul&#8217;s Cathedral, so he decided to make up for it on the balcony afterward.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">The fairytale wedding was watched by a global audience of around 750 million people, while more than half a million people lined the streets of London to catch sight of the princess in her glorious gown.<\/p>\n<p>   <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;Leon Neal\/AFP\/Getty Images&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Leon Neal\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">Continuing in his father\u2019s footsteps, Prince William kissed his new wife Catherine on their wedding day on the iconic balcony on 29\u00a0April 2011.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">Despite having never lived at Buckingham Palace, it has been a constant throughout the Prince&#8217;s life, from his regular appearances on the balcony as a child\u00a0to its starring role in his wedding.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">As well as a formal lunch for 600 guests at the palace hosted by his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, the wedding celebrations included a\u00a0dinner for 300, hosted by his father, the then Prince Charles.<\/p>\n<p>   <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;R. Brigden\/Express\/Hulton Archive\/Getty Images&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>R. Brigden\/Express\/Hulton Archive\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">However, not everyone who has set foot in the palace over the years was invited.\u00a0Not long after Charles and Diana\u2019s wedding, the worst security breach in Buckingham Palace history took place on 9 July 1982, when unemployed decorator Michael Fagan shimmied up a drainpipe and gained access to the bedroom of Queen Elizabeth II, undetected by cameras or staff.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">Buckingham Palace wasn\u2019t open to the public at\u00a0this time, which is possibly what drove public curiosity to see inside, but it wasn\u2019t long before that would all change\u2026<\/p>\n<p>   <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;\u00a9Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025\/Royal Collection Trust&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>\u00a9Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025\/Royal Collection Trust<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">The palace was opened to the public in 1993 and quickly became one of London\u2019s most popular tourist destinations. There are 775 rooms in total, which include 19 state rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices, and 78 bathrooms, along with\u00a0architect John Nash\u2019s Grand Staircase, seen here.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">There are a staggering 760 windows and 1,514 doors at Buckingham Palace, along with the aforementioned\u00a0post office, cinema, and, ATM machine, installed by royal bank of choice, Coutts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">Let\u2019s explore some of the most iconic rooms and surprising features&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>   <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;Peter Smith\/\u00a9Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025\/Royal Collection Trust&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Peter Smith\/\u00a9Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025\/Royal Collection Trust<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">The state rooms are open to visitors from July to September every year and highlights include\u00a0the Throne Room, seen here, which was designed by John Nash.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">Central to the room is a pair of throne chairs known as the Chairs of Estate, which were used for the Queen\u2019s coronation ceremony in 1953. In\u00a0keeping with his views on sustainability, they were reused for the coronation of King Charles in 2023.<\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;Derry Moore\/\u00a9Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025\/Royal Collection Trust&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Derry Moore\/\u00a9Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025\/Royal Collection Trust<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">King George IV, who extended the palace in the 19th century at significant expense, was big on bling. The White Drawing Room, seen here, is perhaps the grandest of all the state rooms, with lavish gilded furniture that could put Trump Tower to shame.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">When not open to the public, it serves as a royal reception room for the King and members of the royal family to gather before official occasions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">It has a secret door\u00a0disguised as a mirror and\u00a0cabinet, which the late Queen Elizabeth II used to enter the room from her private apartments.<\/p>\n<p>   <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;\u00a9Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025\/Royal Collection Trust&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>\u00a9Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025\/Royal Collection Trust<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">The Picture Gallery displays some of the greatest paintings in the Royal Collection, including works by Titian, Rembrandt, Rubens, and Van Dyck.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">One of the main state rooms, the gallery normally forms the backdrop to state visits and receptions.\u00a0US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were hosted there in 2019.<\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;\u00a9Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025\/Royal Collection Trust&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>\u00a9Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025\/Royal Collection Trust<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">Open to the public and used as a reception room by the royal family, the Green Drawing Room owes its name to the green and gold silk wall coverings that were installed in 1834 at the behest of Queen Adelaide, who was moved by the plight of the impoverished silk workers in Ireland who produced them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">Originally, the flooring, ornaments, and curtains were a similar shade of green, but a ruby red rug has since been laid to break up the block colour.<\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;PA Images\/Alamy Stock Photo&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>PA Images\/Alamy Stock Photo<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">While there is a piano in the Music Room, it&#8217;s typically used as a space where guests can be presented to the King before dinner.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">It&#8217;s also a popular spot for royal christenings, including those of the late Queen Elizabeth II\u2019s three eldest children, who were all baptised here with water brought from the River Jordan.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">Originally known as the Bow Drawing Room, the Music Room at Buckingham Palace was completed in 1831 and has not been altered since.<\/p>\n<p>   <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;Peter Smith\/\u00a9Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025\/Royal Collection Trust&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Peter Smith\/\u00a9Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025\/Royal Collection Trust<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">The Yellow Drawing Room opened to the public for the first time in July 2024, five years into a huge renovation project that&#8217;s\u00a0expected to be completed in 2027. It was the first time the previously private East Wing of the palace was made accessible to visitors in guided groups.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">In 1855, the stunning room was redecorated and hung in rich yellow silk for the state visit of Emperor Napoleon III and Empress Eug\u00e9nie. This was later replaced by Chinese wallpaper discovered by Queen Mary after the First World War.<\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;Peter Smith\/\u00a9Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025\/Royal Collection Trust&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Peter Smith\/\u00a9Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025\/Royal Collection Trust<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">Perhaps even more fascinating for visitors is the Centre Room,\u00a0through which the royal family accesses the famous balcony where they wave to the public.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">It\u2019s a unique opportunity to see the view from the royals&#8217;\u00a0perspective, though visitors are not allowed to step onto the balcony itself. It\u2019s the first time this room has been opened to the public.<\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;Frederick Wood-Punchy\/Alamy Stock Photo&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Frederick Wood-Punchy\/Alamy Stock Photo<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">As you would expect, the gardens are as spectacular as the interiors of the palace.\u00a0Described as &#8216;a walled oasis in the middle of London&#8217;, it is the largest private garden in the capital, boasting 325 wild-plant species, 30 species of breeding birds, and over 1,000 trees, including 98 plane trees and 85 different species of oak.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">The grounds\u00a0have\u00a0a lake at their centre, created in the 19th century and originally fed by the overflow from the Serpentine lake in Hyde Park. Visitors can tour the gardens and even picnic on the sweeping lawns.<\/p>\n<p>   <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;Max Mumby\/Indigo\/Getty Images&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Max Mumby\/Indigo\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">The grounds of Buckingham Palace are so large that helicopters can land in them. The first instance of this was just before\u00a0Queen Elizabeth II&#8217;s\u00a0coronation in 1953. The helicopter landed\u00a0not on an official helipad, but in a helicopter landing area, which continued to be used for many years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">In 2000, the royal family built an official helipad to protect the lawns. A\u00a0concrete helipad was considered unsightly, so the royal helipad was created from a layer of matting underneath grass.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">Pictured here is Marine One, the United States Marine Corps Helicopter, carrying US President Donald Trump and Melania Trump ahead of their\u00a0ceremonial welcome\u00a0in June 2019.<\/p>\n<p>   <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;Image Plotter\/Alamy Stock Photo&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Image Plotter\/Alamy Stock Photo<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">In other modes of royal transport,\u00a0King Charles and Queen Camilla travelled back to Buckingham Palace after their coronation\u00a0in the Gold State Coach in 2023.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">The historic coaches and carriages used by the royal family are kept at the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace,\u00a0which celebrated its 200th anniversary in May 2025.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">As well as playing a crucial role in every royal wedding and coronation since it was built, the Royal Mews once housed a school for the children of palace staff during the reign of Queen Victoria and hosted a tea party for wounded soldiers during the First World War.<\/p>\n<p>   <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;Chris Jackson\/Getty Images&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Chris Jackson\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">In June 2022, crowds gathered at the palace gates to cheer the late Queen Elizabeth II during her Platinum Jubilee celebrations, as she appeared on the balcony alongside the then Duchess of Cornwall and\u00a0Prince Charles, now King Charles and Queen Camilla, along with Prince George, Prince William, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, and the Duchess of Cambridge, who is now known as the Princess of Wales.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">The celebrations lasted from 2 to 5 June\u00a02022, marking the 70th anniversary of the Queen&#8217;s reign. The Platinum Party also took place at the palace,\u00a0which featured performances by Alicia Keys, Elton John, Rod Stewart, and Diana Ross, and culminated in an epic light show featuring\u00a0400 drones.<\/p>\n<p>   <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;Gareth Copley\/Getty Images&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Gareth Copley\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">When\u00a0Queen Elizabeth II\u00a0passed away just a few months later on\u00a08 September 2022, tributes poured in from across the globe.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">While the late monarch had made Windsor Castle her permanent official residence during the pandemic, Buckingham Palace remained\u00a0the focus of public attention following her death. Multitudes of mourners descended on the iconic landmark in the days leading up to her state funeral to pay their respects.<\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;PA Images\/Alamy Stock Photo&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>PA Images\/Alamy Stock Photo<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">Following King Charles III&#8217;s\u00a0ascension to the throne, the monarch made\u00a0Clarence House his home while extensive renovations are carried out\u00a0at Buckingham Palace. The ambitious project is expected to last until at least 2027 and the cost is said to be a staggering \u00a3369 million ($506m).<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">The building&#8217;s infrastructure is in urgent need of a complete overhaul to prevent long-term damage to the building and its contents. The palace&#8217;s electrical cabling, plumbing, and heating have not been updated since the 1950s.<\/p>\n<p>   <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;PA Images\/Alamy Stock Photo&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>PA Images\/Alamy Stock Photo<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">The East Wing was the first section of the palace to undergo renovation, which meant removing and conserving everything inside its\u00a0rooms. That&#8217;s 200 paintings, 40 chandeliers, 1,100 items of ceramics and glass, 100 mirrors, 30 clocks, 200 books, 300 items of fine furniture, 560 items of everyday furniture, and 40 historic textiles.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">In this image, a member of Royal Collection Trust staff tends to the Kylin Clock in the Yellow Drawing Room before the room was\u00a0opened to the public in 2024.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">There are over 1,600\u00a0clocks in the Royal Collection\u00a0and horological conservators are required to adjust the timepieces across the monarch\u2019s official residences throughout the year.<\/p>\n<p>   <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;Tim Graham Picture Library\/Getty Images&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Tim Graham Picture Library\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">Beyond the renovations, the\u00a0King is said to have\u00a0ambitious plans to make\u00a0Buckingham Palace\u00a0more &#8216;inclusive&#8217;\u00a0to a modern nation. The King and Queen are reportedly keen to open up more parts of the palace\u00a0to the public, hosting more receptions and\u00a0events in its hallowed halls.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">An idea was even floated to host popular BBC TV show\u00a0Strictly Come Dancing\u00a0in the palace&#8217;s\u00a0ballroom, though it appears to have been scrapped.<\/p>\n<p>   <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;Roy Lawe\/Alamy Stock Photo&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Roy Lawe\/Alamy Stock Photo<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">As the central London estate becomes more accessible to the public, security will be on the minds of those who manage\u00a0Buckingham Palace.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">In 2023, reports revealed\u00a0that confidential documents revealing the palace&#8217;s\u00a0inner workings\u00a0had been released online. Unredacted files and photographs detailing the building&#8217;s layout and security features were among the materials uploaded to Westminster City Council&#8217;s planning portal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">The documents even\u00a0included possible locations of the King and Queen\u2019s private quarters.<\/p>\n<p>   <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;English Heritage\/Heritage Images\/Getty Images&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>English Heritage\/Heritage Images\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">The\u00a0leak also revealed the location of the royal family&#8217;s swimming pool, which is considered one of the palace&#8217;s closest-guarded secrets.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">According to reports, the pool was installed in 1938 in one of architect John Nash\u2019s conservatories on the north side of the palace, after King George VI ascended the throne. It was added\u00a0so that the late Queen Elizabeth II and her sister could learn to swim.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">King Charles is said to have enjoyed sailing his model boats in the pool with school friends, while Princess Diana relished\u00a0a morning swim here as well as splashing about with Prince\u00a0William and Harry when they were little.<\/p>\n<p>   <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" alt=\"&lt;p&gt;Max Mumby\/Indigo\/Getty Images&lt;\/p&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"619\" width=\"960\" class=\"yf-1gfnohs loader\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Max Mumby\/Indigo\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">With\u00a0extensive renovations underway and the King\u2019s promising plans to share more of the\u00a0estate with\u00a0the public, we can rest assured that Buckingham Palace will remain an iconic royal landmark for decades to come.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-7hmkaz\">However, there will no doubt be some changes to the royal home in the near future. King Charles has made it clear that he wants the palace\u00a0and all the crown estates to\u00a0remain cost-effective and fit for purpose for many years to come.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"This photograph was taken during the Queen&#8217;s Diamond Jubilee in 1897. Hulton Archive\/Getty Images Another result of Queen&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":634378,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7708],"tags":[2633,42644,195889,1760,195890,195888,1763,5105,65254,7710,519,448],"class_list":{"0":"post-634377","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-royals","8":"tag-buckingham-palace","9":"tag-clarence-house","10":"tag-duke-of-buckingham","11":"tag-king-charles","12":"tag-king-george","13":"tag-philip-mountbatten","14":"tag-queen-elizabeth-ii","15":"tag-royal","16":"tag-royal-collection","17":"tag-royal-families","18":"tag-royal-family","19":"tag-royals"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115724837390343431","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/634377","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=634377"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/634377\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/634378"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=634377"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=634377"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=634377"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}