Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace in London is not only the Queen's official residence, but also the administrative headquarters of the British monarchy. Buckingham Palace is situated in St. James Park in the Westminster borough of London. Victoria Station is located near the south side of the Palace. Green Park is located just north of Buckingham, and Hyde Park Corner is on its west side.

The history of Buckingham Palace dates back to the time of Queen Victoria, who ascended the throne in 1837. Since then, the Palace has continued to serve as the royal residence in London. In 1703, the Duke of Buckingham had the Buckingham House built, and the house was purchased by George III (1738 - 1820) in 1761. Years later, in 1825, the House was reconstructed and expanded under George IV's orders with the help of John Nash.

Inside Buckingham Palace, there are a total of 775 rooms, including state rooms (19), guest rooms (52), offices (92), staff rooms (188), and bathrooms (78). The Palace is home to a huge collection of art. London Buckingham Palace, also known as London Palace, is used for various royal occasions such as state visits and investitures. The State Dining room is an important state room. The other state rooms include the ballroom, music room, and the Bow Room.

London Victoria Hotel is one of the famous hotels near Buckingham Palace. Other hotels near Buckingham Palace include, Forty One, Jolly St. Ermin's and Mayfair. Rubens at the Palace Hotel is the Buckingham Palace hotel in the truest sense of the word, as it sits just opposite of the Palace. On London city tours, travelers can check into any of these Victoria hotels, for comfortable and convenient access to sight-seeing in London and the Buckingham Palace.

The Buckingham Palace tour is a must for all visitors to London. The tour allows visitors to explore the architectural beauty and check out the ornate Palace interior.

Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee 2012

The first weekend in June marks the start of celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II's 60th year on the throne, the Diamond Jubilee. Many of the events during this four-day celebration take place at Buckingham Palace, including a concert with performance by British artists Elton John, Paul McCartney, Annie Lennox, and more. A royal family appearance on Buckingham Palace's famous balcony will round out the events for Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee.

The Royal Wedding 2011

The much-awaited royal alliance between Kate Middleton and Prince William took place at the Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011. One of the biggest events in the history of England, people traveled from all over the world to witness the historic event, as Kate Middleton became Catherine, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge, and a member of the Royal Family of Britain. About 1,900 guests were invited to attend the ceremony, including 50 heads of state from foreign locations.

The fans of the royal party had started camping at the Westminster Abbey and around Buckingham Palace days before the event in hopes of catching a glimpse of the royal couple. The day's celebrations ended with a reception at Buckingham Palace for the couple's family and friends.

Last Updated on: June 5, 2012