Buckingham Palace has been the residence of the British Royal Family in London since 1837. Today, it is the residence of Queen Elizabeth II.
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History
Buckingham Palace since 1837 has been the official residence of the English royal family. Originally, it was a small mansion and not a palace. Its history dates back to the beginning of the 18th century, when King George III bought a house for his wife, Queen Charlotte in 1761, in order to enjoy a more familiar and endearing home than that of the nearby palace of St James, from where, then, many of the monarchical tasks were carried out. In 1826, his son the king, George IV, commissioned his architect, John Nash, to remodel the house and turn it into a palace. Eleven years later, just three weeks after her accession to the throne, Queen Victoria leaves Windsor and settles in the new palace.
Victoria was the first monarch to live in the Palace, so the statue that today stands in front of the building is installed in her honor.
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Currently in the palace resides Queen Elizabeth II with her husband Prince Philip of Edinburgh, and there both receive dignitaries and official guests.
The palace remains closed to the public until 1993, when Queen Elizabeth II decides to open it to raise money to repair Windsor Castle, which was badly damaged in a fire.
Characteristics
Buckingham Palace stands between the heavy traffic of central London and the park complex made up of St. James and Green Park. The large iron gates at the entrance lead into St James Park, one of the most pleasant in London, where you can walk among the lakes with views of the Palace.
The Palace can only be visited in summer, when the Queen rests in her Balmoral residence. Therefore, it is only open between August and October. Only 3,500 people can enter per day.