Behind the Scenes: Inside Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace serves as the British Royal Family's London residence and the Queen's administrative headquarters, which, of course, makes it a must-visit spot when traveling to London.
Many gather in front of the palace to witness the ceremonial changing of the guards, and tours are available on occasion to give visitors a glance at State rooms. But those only make up a small portion of the 775 rooms within Buckingham Palace, 52 of them dedicated to the Royal Family and their guests.
Want to get a better understanding of exactly how the Royal Family lives? Follow along on our tour.
East Fascade, Facing the Mall
Buckingham Palace was originally Buckingham House, constructed in 1703. King George III bought the house in 1761 for his wife, Charlotte.
The home received an expansion by extending the length of the home in 1826. By 1847, the East Facade was added with the two connecting wings to enclose what's called the Quadrangle and become the palace we see today.
Centre Balcony Room
The view we most often see of Buckingham is that facing the East Facade, as the Royal Family appears on special occasions on the balcony off of the Centre Room.
Centre Room
Behind the Royal Family awaits the Centre Room, also known as the Chinese Lunch Room because the room is filled with Chinese regency furnishings.
Much of the pieces came from the Royal Pavilion in Brighton, and while this room and the adjoining Yellow Drawing Room undergo a renovation, 150 pieces will be returned to Brighton.
Yellow Drawing Room
Receiving its vibrant color for the arrival of Emperor Napoleon III and his wife Eugenie in 1855, the Yellow Drawing Room was adorned in yellow silk.
It was installed as an entertaining space for Queen Victoria and features its own balcony.
Yellow Dining Room
The wallpaper from this portion of the Yellow Dining Room is a whopping 200 years old and originally from the Royal Pavilion (a seaside palace in Brighton, England).
It took a month to painstakingly remove to be preserved during the renovation of the room in 2020.
Ambassadors' Court
Connecting the original palace with the East Facade, Ambassadors' Court is where dignitaries and ambassadors arrive to enter Buckingham Palace.
Grand Entrance
The Grand Entrance is found within the Quadangle of the inner courtyard.
It is here the Queen exits and enters the palace and guests arrive for special events leading into the Grand Hall.
West Wing
The State Apartments and rooms included on the official tour of Buckingham Palace can be found in the West Wing, which overlooks the gardens of the palace.
Much of the Ground Floor rooms here are used as offices, including the Keeper of the Privy Purse, the manager of the Royal Family's finances.
Grand Hall (Marble Hall)
Entering the West Wing from the Ground Floor takes you to the Grand Hall, also called the Marble Hall for its marble columns.
The Grand Staircase
To arrive at one of the Queen's events, you'd climb the Grand Staircase to the First Floor.
Bow Room
However, if you didn't ascend the staircase, you'd find yourself in the Bow Room. This room serves as an entranceway to the gardens and many of Her Majesty's summertime garden parties.
It is also used to host lunches for visiting Heads of State.
Ballroom
Within these walls are where magical events happen.
The ballroom is not only the place where the Queen hosts her Diplomatic Reception and State banquets, but this is where future King of England Prince William and Catherine Middleton held their wedding reception.
At one end of the ballroom is a throne for the Queen and Prince Phillip. At the other end is an organ that was originally used at the Royal Pavilion's Music Room, commissioned by George IV.
What Royal Receptions Look Like
The Ballroom measures 120-feet long, 59-feet wide and 44-feet high. When used for banquets, a horseshoe table shape is arranged. Place settings include six drinking glasses per guest, and more than 2,000 pieces of silverware are used for a dinner of just 170 guests.
A booklet featuring the menu, the guest list and seating plan, and the music that will be played during the event is placed atop the china. The colors of the nation visiting are featured in a ribbon that decorates the booklet.
State Dining Room
Although not as large as the Ballroom, the State Dining Room of Buckingham Palace can seat up to 170 guests when the Queen hosts her State Dinners.
Music Room
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert loved music and loved to play the piano and sing together, so they created this stunning Music Room.
During Queen Elizabeth II's reign, it's been used for more than music, though. This is where she had her son and daughter, Prince Andrew and Princess Anne, christened, as well as her grandson, Prince William.
Throne Room
When the occasion calls for the Queen to fulfill her monarch duties, she takes a seat on her throne and welcomes the court.
When not in use for courtly gatherings, the room is used as a smaller dance room when the ballroom is deemed too large.
Picture Perfect
Family portraits are often taken in the Throne Room because the risers for the throne help organize family members for photoshoots.
Plus, that velvet curtain screams royal backdrop.
Green Drawing Room
The green color of this drawing room can be attributed to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert who loved to collect watercolors and Sevres porcelain found in this room.
This is an antechamber to the Throne Room and the ceremonial route taken by the Queen and her guards.
1844 Room
Named for Tsar Nicolas I, who visited in 1844, this room is often used to receive guests for State duties. His portrait once adorned the walls of the room but has since been removed.
The Queen has a buzzer she can push to announce she is ready to accept a guest, and many meetings include photographers to capture the moments.
White Drawing Room
When the Queen receives guests in a more intimate fashion, this room is often the setting.
Not only is the White Drawing Room a favorite of the Queen, but it also contains a hidden doorway to her private apartments.
Hidden Doors and Passageways
The White Drawing Room's doorway is hidden behind a very large gilded chest and mirror.
There are rumors of underground tunnels linking the palace to Whitehall and the Houses of Parliament.
Regency Room
Anyone who has watched the Queen address her people at Christmas has seen the Regency Room.
With its green and gold color scheme, it pairs well with holiday decor for her intimate annual broadcasts.
Blue Drawing Room
The blue wallpaper of this room used for hosting State officials has been on the walls as-is since 1949.
Until the recent renovations began in 2019, the post-war redecoration was the last for the palace, and some have complained it has been stuck in time. The Blue Drawing Room, however, will be staying blue.
Belgian Suite
The suite offered to Heads of State, including President Obama, when they visit and stay at the palace is a series of rooms that includes a bedroom and a sitting room. There are many additional rooms located around it so security and staff can stay close.
Before abdicating the throne in 1936, King Edward VIII called the Belgian Suite home. It is located on the Ground Floor beside the Minister's Staircase.
Belgian Suite Bedroom
When the Queen's father, King George VI, became king, the Belgian Suite became the home to her family when she married Prince Phillip in 1947.
She even delivered her son Edward in the bedroom. In fact, all three of Queen Elizabeth's sons were born at Buckingham Palace. Princess Anne was born at Clarence House during the palace renovations.
Picture Gallery
Connecting the rooms of the First Floor of the West Wing, this is not your average corridor.
The Picture Gallery is a small museum showcasing some of the works owned by the Royal Family.
And More Royal Family Art
Several dignitaries have passed through the Picture Gallery during State Banquets, like during the one pictured here in June 2019 for the U.S. President's three-day visit.
A second art gallery can be found in the space that was once a chapel for Queen Victoria. It was destroyed during World War II, but to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002, it reopened as the Queen's Gallery. Much of the work within Buckingham Palace is being relocated so that more people get a chance to view the artwork.
East Wing Corridor
The main corridor of the East Wing just received a makeover in 2019.
The palace tweeted the photo on the right: 3,000 works of art and decor found in this corridor have been removed, including its 100 mirrors, 40 chandeliers, 30 clocks and 200 paintings as it goes through its current refresh.
Private Residence
This map illustrates the First Floor of the North Wing, which contains the private residences of the Queen and her family.
On the Ground Floor, beneath the residences, are the offices of the staff who attend to the Queen, Prince Phillip and other members of the Royal Family.
Audience Chamber
When the Queen is willing to meet with you one on one, such as she does with the Prime Minister, she will receive you in the Audience Chamber of her private residence.
Queen's Sitting Room
This painting of the Queen's Sitting Room is a glimpse at what the current Sovereign may enjoy today. This watercolor was painted in 1848 and features portraits of Queen Victoria's family.
It is said the Queen only uses a few rooms in the house regularly: her bedroom, her sitting room, her dressing room and the Audience Chamber.
A Private Moment
Before she became queen, Elizbeth was a young girl living in the palace. This was then-Princess Elizabeth's private office.
Although she has desk space in the Regency Room, her main office is in the residential portion of the palace. Former staff say she keeps lots of clutter on her desk and does not like anyone attempting to clean it up.
Queen's Bedroom
Part of the official tour of the palace, this bedroom is not the current bedroom of Queen Elizabeth II but may give a hint.
King's Bedroom
Also a part of the tour and not actually the bedroom occupied by Prince Philip, the King's Bedroom does show that the royal couple had separate rooms and still maintain separate quarters to this day.
Royal Closet
The Queen has a private dressing room, which can be seen in this photo taken in 1873. It was originally part of the Audience Room.
All in the Family
Two of the Queen's children, Princess Anne and Prince Edward, have offices at Buckingham Palace for their royal duties. Prince Andrew and Prince Edward also have private apartments within the palace.
Prince Charles conducts business from the Clarence House.
Swimming Pool
Tucked off of the Residential wing is an indoor swimming pool with views of the gardens.
Staff members are allowed to enjoy the pool during off-hours.
The West Facade
The West Facade leads to the 40-acre garden.
Because the Queen is a keen gardener herself, the staff leave her a posy of flowers on her desk every Monday, so she can see what is in bloom that week.
Buckingham Palace Gardens
The palace garden is listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens and is said to have a mulberry tree that dates back to James I of England in the late 1500s.
The garden is open to the public in August and September and features 2.5 miles of walking paths.
Garden Parties
Every June, the Queen invites a select not-so-few to attend her annual Garden Party.
Behind the Scenes
Of the 775 rooms at the palace, 188 bedrooms are dedicated to staff.
There are 78 bathrooms and 92 offices inside, too — this is the administrative headquarters of the Royal Family, after all. Eight-hundred staff work within the palace walls.
Security
The Queen's Guard is famous for its bright red coats and furry black hats, but they are not the only ones keeping an eye on Her Majesty.
The grounds of Buckingham Palace are adorned with cameras, motion detectors and security from all angles. Underground tunnels can help get the Queen out of the building, should she need to escape.
Horse Guard
The Queen is also protected by the Horse Guard. Located between the palace and Whitehall, the building houses the cavalry, the Queen's carriages and cars.
Part of the building is open to the public as a museum. The Changing of the Guards' horse parade is even more exciting to witness than the Changing of the Guards.
The Kitchen
The royal kitchen may have to cook for up to 3,000 people in one day if a diplomatic reception is taking place. Past chefs have spilled that the Queen's favorite is venison, and her least favorite is garlic, which is banned.
Interestingly enough, menus for receptions are also written in French.