Places & Landmarks
Buckingham Palace
The royal palace in central London that serves as the monarch’s principal workplace and a ceremonial centre of the British monarchy.
Photo by Neil Martin on UnsplashBuckingham Palace is the best‑known royal palace in the United Kingdom, located at the top of The Mall in London.
Since 1837 it has served as the official London residence of the UK’s sovereigns and functions today as the administrative headquarters (principal workplace) and ceremonial centre of the monarchy.
Quick facts
- Buckingham Palace has been the official London residence of the UK’s sovereigns since 1837 and today functions as the monarch’s administrative headquarters (principal workplace).
- The palace contains 775 rooms, including 19 State Rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms.
- Buckingham Palace is a working building used for state events, receptions, investitures and ceremonial occasions (it is also the backdrop for the Changing the Guard and the royal Balcony appearances such as Trooping the Colour).
- The building is undergoing a long 'Reservicing Programme' (a multi‑year renovation to modernise building services); the Royal Household announced that on completion the King and Queen will not make Buckingham Palace a personal residence and it will remain the ceremonial centre and primary workplace of the Royal Household.
- The site began as Buckingham House; the location was originally a mulberry garden planted by King James I and Buckingham House was transformed into the palace that Queen Victoria first occupied in 1837.
A surprising fact
The site where Buckingham Palace now stands was originally planted with mulberry trees by King James I in an unsuccessful attempt to rear silkworms — the wrong mulberry species was chosen and silk production never took off.
