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· Buckingham Palace is the London residence and principal workplace
of the monarchy of the United Kingdom. Located in the city of Westminster, the palace is often at the center of state occasions and royal hospitality. It has been a focus for the British people at times of national rejoicing.
· 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 1703 on a site, which ha
been in private ownership for at least 150 years. It was subsequently acquired
by King George III in 1761 as a private residence for Queen Charlotte
and was known as the Queen’s House.
· During the 19th century it was enlarged, principally by
architects John Nash and Edward Blore
who formed three wings around a central courtyard. Buckingham Palace finally
became the official Royal Palace 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 well – known balcony on which the Royal family
traditionally congregates to greet crowds outside. However, the palace chapel
was destroyed by a German bomb during World War II. The Queen’s gallery was
built on the site and opened to the public in 1962 to exhibit works of art from
the Royal Collection. 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 tear for most of August and September, as part of the
Palace’s Summer Opening.
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In the Middle Ages the site of the future palace formed part of
the Manor of Ebury. The marshy ground was watered by the
Tyburn River which still flows below the courtyard and south wing of the
palace. Where the river was
fordable the village of Eye Cross grew.
Ownership of the site changed hands many times. Owners included Edward the
Confessor and his Queen Consort Edith
of Wessex in late Saxon times, and after the Norman
Conquest William the Conqueror. William gave the site t o Geoffrey de Mandeville,
who bequeathed it to the monks of Westminster Abbey.
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In 1531, Henry VIII acquired the hospital of St James and in 1536
he took the Manor of Ebury from
Westminster Abbey. These transfers brought the site of Buckingham palace into
royal hands for the first time since William the Conqueror had given it away
almost 500 years
earlier.
· Buckingham Palace finally became the principal royal residence in
14837, on the accession of Victoria, who was the first to reside there as her
predecessor William IV had died before its completion. While the sate rooms
were a riot gilt color, the necessities of the new palace were somewhat
luxurious. Following the Queen’s marriage in 1840 her husband Prince Albert concerned himself
with a reorganization or the household
offices and staff, and with the design faults
of the palace.
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By 1847 the couple had found the palace too small for court life
and their growing family and consequently the new wing designed by Edward Blore
was built by Thomas Cubitt enclosing the central quadrangle. The large East
front facing the mall is today the public face of Buckingham palace and contains
the balcony from which the royal family
acknowledges the crowds on
momentous occasions.
· Before prince Albert’ death, the palace was frequently the scene
of musical entertainments and the greatest contemporary musicians entertained
at Buckingham Palace.
· Widowed in 1861 the grief – stricken Queen withdrew from public
life and left Buckingham Palace to live at Windsor Castle, Balmoral Castle and
Osborne House.
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At the rear of the palace is the large and park –
like garden, which together with its lake is the largest private garden in
London. Here Queen
hosts her annual garden parties each summer, and also holds large functions to
celebrate royal milestones.
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