Unfortunately King George died before he could move In and 1837 Queen Victoria became the first monarch to take up residence, along with her adored husband Prince Albert.
Queen Victoria Moves into Buckingham Palace
The newly married couple, keen to have a large family, were disappointed that there were no nurseries and also not enough bedrooms for visitors. Their answer to the problem was to build a fourth wing. However, an obstacle literally stood in the way – the huge Marble Arch which was originally situated outside Buckingham Palace but is said to have been too narrow for the royal coach to pass through.This was removed to nearby Hyde Park Corner. The happy couple were able to extend the building and ended up having nine children.
Inside Buckingham Palace
The Palace has around 600 rooms but most are not available to the public. Those that are open are well worth a visit. There are nineteen magnificent State Rooms which are used extensively by The Queen and Members of the Royal Family to receive and entertain their guests on State, ceremonial and official occasions. During August and September when The Queen makes her annual visit to Scotland, the rooms are open to visitors. They are decorated with some of the greatest art treasures from the Royal Collection, including paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens and Canaletto and sculpture by Canova.
The Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace
This gallery in Buckingham Palace was built in 1962. It is a permanent space dedicated to changing exhibitions of items from the Royal Collection, the wide-ranging collection of art and treasures held in trust by the Queen for the Nation. It was constructed from the bomb-damaged ruins of a former private chapel. The Gallery has recently been redeveloped. It was reopened by the Queen on 21 May 2002 and is now open to the public on a daily basis.
Buckingham Palace Gardens
Situated at the rear of the Palace is a beautiful secret garden, the largest private garden in London. The grounds include a lake stretching 43 acres. Described as a 'walled oasis in the middle of London', the garden is home to thirty different species of bird and more than 350 different wild flowers, some extremely rare. Tours are available on selected days. Visitors end their tour with a walk along the south side of the garden, with splendid views of the west front of the Palace and the lake.
Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace
The Changing of the Guard takes place in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace at 11.30 every day in summer, every other day in winter, and lasts about 45 minutes. The new guard marches from Wellington Barracks, accompanied by a regimental band and there’s a little ceremony in which the old guard hands over to the new.
Although it is a colourful and interesting ceremony, the main purpose of the guards is to protect the Queen and the Palace. When the Queen is in residence there are four sentries at the front of the building; when she is away there are two.
Nearest Underground Station - Green Park or Victoria.
Cathy Smith - I have Miss McGinn to thank for my becoming a writer. I was in her class for only two years from age nine to eleven. In what we called ...
