Travel with YeinJee

My first tourist destination in London… Buckingham Palace.

Travelling in London was not my original plan though; I wanted to visit Oxford and Cotswolds, but woke up late due to jet-lag… it was near noon when I reached Victoria Station, so it was more logical to stay in London instead of visiting Oxford… I won’t have sufficient time to visit the university town anyway.

I didn’t know where I wanted to go, as I had no planning for London on that day; but one good thing about London is that the city is full of monuments and tourist spots; you are bound to see something interesting in any directions you walk.

So, I just walked from the station towards somewhere… and within minutes, I reached a familiar location, Buckingham Palace, the Queen’s official residence.

I was not sure if the ‘Changing of the Guards’ was held that day, as it was normally held on alternate days (check their schedule). I managed to catch the show when I was in London last time, in 2001, and it was a pretty interesting experience.

I was pretty sure though, that the queen was not at home that day. Here’s the tip… if the queen is in the palace, the Royal Standard flag will be used; otherwise the Union Jack will be flown.

Buckingham Palace - random facts and history

Buckingham Palace is also commonly known as the ‘Buck House’ or simply the ‘Palace’ by the British.

Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms. These include 19 State rooms, 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms. In measurements, the building is 108 metres long across the front, 120 metres deep (including the central quadrangle) and 24 metres high.

The first building in the area is believed to be built around 1624 by Sir William Blake; the house which forms the architectural core of the present palace was built for the first Duke of Buckingham and Normanby in 1703.

King George III bought Buckingham House in 1761 for his wife Queen Charlotte to use as a personal retreat to St James’s Palace, where many court functions were held. Buckingham House also became known as the Queen’s House.

Queen Victoria was the first sovereign to take up residence in July 1837, just three weeks after her accession, and in June 1838 she was the first British sovereign to leave from Buckingham Palace for a Coronation.

In 1913 the decision was taken to reface the facade. Sir Aston Webb, with a number of large public buildings to his credit, was commissioned to create a new design. The work was completed just before the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. [Reference]