Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is the official London residence and principal workplace 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". 

The original early 19th-century interior designs, many of which still survive, included widespread use of brightly coloured scagliola and blue and pink lapis, on the advice of Sir 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 Buckingham Palace 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, as part of the Palace's Summer Opening.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org

Some facts about Buckingham Palace:

• The palace was not officially set a dress code, but no single person who visited with faded jeans, too. Most people who were invited to Buckingham Palace in the afternoon will be wearing a work uniform or a suit. While at night, depending on the level of formality, the visitors men will wear black tie or white. If the men wore white tie, then the women would wear a tiara.
• A ritual that must be done every day even on Christmas day was cleaning gravel courtyard of this palace. Gravel is cleaned and trimmed with machine equipment every morning. Later in the afternoon, two inspections will be held again, just in case so as not to look rubbish popping up. So you should not be surprised if you see the yard that always looks smooth.
• Places where Buckingham Palace was once a garden stand mulberry tree planted by King James I, a lover of books king who ruled during the years 1603 to 1625. King James also raising silkworms in the palace. However, James chose the mulberry bush is wrong so that his efforts in vain.
• Although his name is Buckingham Palace, this place used to be just a 'foundation' for the aristocracy. The name of this place are given in the 18th century by Tory politicians: John Sheffield, Earl of Mulgrave and the third Marquess of Normanby, who is the Duke of Buckingham in 1703. The royalty is also building a place called House Buckingham for itself as a gathering place of luxury in London.
• Virtuoso architect John Nash and then change the Buckingham House into Buckingham Palace in the 1820s. Monarchy first to use the creation of Nash as the official home was Queen Victoria who moved here in 1837. Ancestors of Victoria, William IV, consider this as a dump - as the British say, and instead settled on a more general place of Clarence House on The Mall.
• Buckingham Palace is actually more radical designs than what you imagine. Some rooms are themed Chinese culture. Some of the furnishings and decor borrowed from oriental style courageous Prince Regent Brighton Pavilion. But then was sold by Queen Victoria to finance the construction of Buckingham Palace.
• The monarchy was the only one who was born and died at Buckingham Palace was Edward VII, the smoker who is also the creator of peace, who lived from 1841 until 1910. If you say Edwards needs to go out of his cage more often, he will find it hard to find a place that is so central and attract attention. If you live in the palace, you'll also be able to feel the heartbeat of the city of London.
• Have you ever wondered why the palace was not bombed in World War 2? Actually, the bombing occurred with very severe. The palace was hit 9 times. Several times, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth avoid being killed. You'll think again why they did not move from place attracted little attention, is not it?
• During the bombing, at least someone's life becomes the victim, that is PC Steve Robertson, a policeman who was on duty at the palace. PC Steve Robertson hit the rest of the debris that flew on March 8, 1941 when the northern part of the palace was destroyed. There is a flat metal in the garden to commemorate him.
• If your phone battery runs out and you do not know the local time at Buckingham Palace, just relax. This historic place has more than 350 pieces wacth. 2 people of wacth's expert at it will turn back every week for these hours are all well maintained.

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eoth7IOdGz8&hd=1

Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckingham_Palace

http://www.allvoices.com

Posted in: United Kingdom