Buckingham Palace
London
Buckingham Palace has been the official London residence of British monarchs since 1837. It is also the working headquarters of the monarchy, where state banquets and ceremonies take place.
From a duke's house to a king's palace
In the early 1700s Buckingham House stood here, the home of the Duke of Buckingham. In 1761 King George III bought it, and the house became known as the Queen's House.
King George IV had it turned into a palace by the architect John Nash. Queen Victoria was the first monarch to live here, from 1837.
What to look at from the railings
The main facade was redesigned in 1913 by Aston Webb, in pale stone. In the middle is the most famous balcony in the world, where the royals wave to the crowds.
In front of the palace rises the monument to Queen Victoria, almost 25 metres tall. It was made with 2300 tonnes of white marble and unveiled in 1911.
The Changing of the Guard
On some days the old guard hands over to the new one, in the forecourt in front of the palace. The new guard arrives from nearby barracks, with the band leading the way.
The band then forms a semicircle in the middle of the forecourt and plays. Meanwhile the new sentries take up their posts, one at a time.
