Buckingham Palace was built in 1702 by the Duke of Buckingham as his London home. The house was then later sold to George III in 1761 by the Duke’s son.
In 1774 it was renamed “Queen’s House” as Queen Charlotte resided there.
The Palace has seen many renovations and alterations, the first of which was in 1820 when John Nash was commissioned by George IV.
Queen Victoria, who was the first monarch to take up residence in Buckingham Palace, in 1837, made extensive changes including the East front which contains the well-known balcony on which the royal family traditionally congregates to greet crowds outside.
Is The Queen At Home?
When the Royal Standard, is flying, from the flagpole, over the Palace you know Her Majesty The Queen is at home.
You will also see four Foot Guards on sentry duty at the front of the Palace when the Queen is in residence, and only two when she is away.
When the Union Flag flies above Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle or Sandringham House it signals that the Queen is not in residence.
Opening times
| Opening time | Last admission | Closing time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 July – 31 August 2018 | 09:30 | 17:15 | 19:00 |
| 1 September – 30 September 2018 | 09:30 | 16:15 | 18:00 |
The Palace is also open on select dates for Exclusive Tours during winter and spring.
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