Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of Britain's royalty since 1837.  It evolved from a town house that was owned from the beginning of the eighteenth century by the Dukes of Buckingham.

George III bought Buckingham House in 1761 for his wife Queen Charlotte to use as a comfortable family home close to St. James's Palace.  It became known as the Queen's House, and 14 of George's 15 children were born there.  In 1762 work began on remodeling the house to the king's requirements, to designs by Sir William Chambers. 

George IV, on his accession, decided to reconstruct the town house in 1820.  As the work progressed, the king changed his mind, and with the assistance of his architect, John Nash, he set about transforming the house into a palace.  Nash retained the main block but doubled the size by adding a new suite of rooms on the garden side (front) facing west.  This portion of the palace remains virtually unchanged since Nash's time.

The north and south wings behind the famous front section, were demolished and rebuilt on a larger scale.  Marble Arch, now in Hyde Park, was the centerpiece of the enlarged courtyard between the wings.  By 1829 the costs had escalated and Nash's extravagance cost him his job.  Upon the death of George IV in 1830, his younger brother William IV took on Edward Blore to finish the work.  But Willian disliked the place and never moved in.   

Queen Victoria was the first to take up residence in Buckingham Palace in 1837.  Her marriage to Albert in 1840 showed up the Palace's shortcomings.  There were no nurseries and too few bedrooms for visitors.  The only solution was to move the Marble Arch and build a forth wing, thereby turning the Palace into a quadrangle.

The graveled forecourt and the wrought iron fence and gates were added in 1911.  The stone on the palace was now showing signs of deterioration.  In 1913 the decision was made to reface the front facade with Portland Stone. 

Today, the full palace has more than 600 rooms, including 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms.  It is more than a home for the Royals.  It is the official administrative headquarters of the monarchy and contains the offices of their staff.  But most folks are unaware that the palace is that large.  The only portion they see from the street is the familiar original wing, with the famous balcony, where the Royal family gathers on celebratory and solemn occasions to be seen by their subjects.  The forecourt below is where the ceremony of the changing of the guard takes place.