Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace is the residence of the British monarchs in London. Today, Elizabeth II lives and works there. The palace is bustling with life: receptions and events of national importance are held. The peace of the royal family is protected by guards – their bright red outfits can be seen from afar.
Video: Buckingham Palace
Contents- Highlights
- A miniature “town” in London
- The past of an elegant residence
- Visiting the palace
- The “heart” of the building: The Parade Rooms
- Treasures of British Monarchs
- The Majestic Dining Room
- Carriage to the Queen!
- Tea at the Royal Palace
- Choosing souvenirs
- Making your way to Buckingham Palace
Highlights
A miniature ‘town’ in London
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The past of an elegant residence
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Visiting the palace
There are a total of 19 Parade Rooms in Buckingham Palace: the White and Green Drawing Room, the Guard Room, the Throne Room, the Parade Dining Room and several more rooms. They are arranged sequentially in a single row, enfilades – it feels as if the rooms are strung on a string. Among them, the Green Drawing Room is considered to be the central one. The dresser, made of black wood and decorated with precious stones, looks important. Antique vases made by the hands of famous masters add solidity to the room. The walls of the Green Drawing Room are lined with silk and the ceiling is gilded. The Green Drawing Room once served as Queen Charlotte’s salon. Today, invited guests wait to be received here.
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Want a glimpse of the room where Buckingham Palace holds formal photo shoots? Check out the Throne Room. This room was once used for balls with royal participation. In the Throne Room are stately chairs with the initials of the royal family. From here you can access the art gallery.
.Treasures of British Monarchs
From the Parade Throne Room, guests make their way to the Picture Gallery. This part of the palace appeared in the 70s on the initiative of the Duke of Edinburgh. Previously there were the ruins of a private chapel, which was destroyed during the Second World War. The gallery is the major addition to Buckingham Palace in the last 150 years.
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The Picture Gallery is the largest room of the palace: it is 50 meters long and 8 meters wide. Its size is comparable to two tennis courts. A leisurely stroll through the room reveals paintings by Rubens, Rembrandt, and Van Dyck.
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The Royal Gallery holds a large collection of Leonardo da Vinci drawings and Fabergé eggs. The exhibition is regularly updated – alternately, visitors are presented with exhibitions formed from the collection of British monarchs. Bas-reliefs are placed on the fireplaces made of marble. In the statues one can recognize the features of famous artists.
.Majestic dining room
The grand dining room of Buckingham Palace looks impressive: an extravagant red color, a huge mahogany table, an image of George IV above the fireplace. The walls are decorated with portraits of the monarchs. The table is so long that it can seat 600 people.
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The white living room is decorated in delicate golden colors. Chic white chandelier, rich moldings, elegant sofas and armchairs – this is how it appears to visitors. The white-gold background is everywhere – in architectural details and furniture. A large collection of antique objects is not the only advantage of the living room. It also has a secret door leading to the Throne Room.
.Carriage for the Queen!
The Carriage Yard is also open to the public. Inside “live” cars and carriages, which are used for ceremonial and daily outings. In a separate hall is a huge Golden Carriage. It is used for coronations and special occasions. The transparent carriage for royal brides also attracts the eye.
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Souvenir selection
Excursions do not do without souvenirs – they are offered by the local store. Among the assortment are things from the “royal collection”. They are the same as the usual household items of Buckingham Palace: towels, kitchen utensils, various small things. You can buy candy, cookies, jewelry, pens and key chains, a napkin with the Queen’s monogram.
.The Road to Buckingham Palace
The way to the majestic building is simple: take the tube and get off at Piccadilli Circle, Victoria or St James’s Park stations. Continue through Green Park straight to Buckingham Palace.
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