Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace. The place was identified with the royal institution of Britain. The most famous palace in our modern world of ours. Of course, you need to see it if you’re in London. It’s where you come to pay your respects to the city itself. The palace is located at the western edge of the Birdcage Walk. It was the official London residence of the Queen as it is now of the King.

Right in front of the Palace, the 25 meters high Victoria Memorial dominates the space before the entrance. The memorial was designed in 1901 and was unveiled in 1911 as the centerpiece of a general face-lift of the Palace’s facade. The golden statue of  Winged Victory with a victor’s palm in one hand & her feet on a globe has two figures beneath it, the one representing Constancy facing north. The other is Courage facing in the opposite direction.

Below them, two eagles with spread-out wings, one facing west and the other east represent the British Empire. On the base, the enthroned statue of Queen Victoria faces east, towards the city, with the words “Victoria, Regina Imperatrix” (Victoria, Queen, and Emperor) engraved below her. On the opposite side, a statue of Motherhood representing the Queen’s great love for her people faces Buckingham. The statue of Justice facing north-westwards & Truth facing south-eastwards complete the ensemble.

The ships’ prows on the lower part of the monument & the sea-related reliefs on the surrounding wall are a reference to Britain’s nautical power. Four massive bronze statues representing Peace & Progress (to the east) & Industry & Agriculture (on the west) each with a lion on its side complete the puzzle.

Although the Palace is not open for visitors throughout the year (it still serves as the King’s private residence) there is a possibility of a visit to 19 out of about 600 total rooms of the palace, starting from the end of July until end of September when the Queen is usually absent. During their visit, the guests can see 19 magnificent State Rooms which provide the setting for ceremonial occasions and official entertaining. The rooms are furnished with some of the greatest treasures of the Royal Collection.

The visit also includes the spectacular Palace Ballroom, the Royal Gardens & an entry to the Royal Welcome, a unique insight into the magic of an official visit to the Palace, which includes the food prepared in the Royal kitchen, or the linens & the porcelain used in official royal occasions. If you aren’t among the lucky ones that chose a  date that fits the visiting period for your trip, you still have the chance to visit the Queen’s Gallery and the Royal Mews which are open all year round for the public.

The Queen’s Gallery is a space dedicated to changing exhibitions of items from the Royal Collection, which includes paintings, drawings & watercolors, furniture, ceramics, clocks, silver, sculpture, textiles, jewelry, books & manuscripts, prints & maps, arms & armor. More about the Queen’s Gallery

The Royal Mews house the State vehicles used by the Royal Family for coronations, State Visits, royal weddings, the State Opening of Parliament, and official engagements. It is also the home of the royal horses that take part in The Queen’s official and ceremonial duties & the Gold State Coach used during the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002. More about the Royal Mews. More about the palace.