Buckingham Palace is one of the most famous residences of all time, but how much do we really know about this English royal palace? We know that Queen Elizabeth II lives there. and that her children and grandchildren grew up in all four wings of the palace. But the beautiful fortress in the center of London hides much more. Here are 10+ facts about Buckingham Palace that you probably didn't know.
You probably know that you can Buckingham Palace you can also see from the inside, maybe you have already succeeded. But there is quite a lot about this historical monument some facts we bet you don't know yet. And no, this time we won't talk about the fact that the changing of the guard is still relevant or that the royal family greets the crowd from the balcony at major events. So what exactly is going on behind those huge doors?
Her Majesty is not the only resident of the palace.
We all know that the Queen of England resides in the palace. But did you know she doesn't live there alone? Of course, her husband Prince Philip lives with her and all her Welsh Shepherds and Dorgies (a breed that the Queen herself is responsible for - a mix of a Dachshund and a Welsh Shepherd). But even more people live in the palace. It has 775 rooms, including 19 state rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, and 188 private bedrooms. The palace also has 93 scribes and 78 bathrooms. 188 rooms are available for staff (approximately 800 people).
The queen is in the palace!
The Royal Family has two flags - one used when the Queen is in the palace and one used when she is not. So if the Queen is home, you will see the Royal Standard, but if she is not, the Union Jack will fly.
We can thank Queen Victoria for the Buckingham flag.
The original occupant of the palace, which was 'only' a three-storey house at the time, was John Sheffield, Duke of Buckingham. Later, the house was bought by King George III in 1761, and it was a gift for his wife. We can thank Queen Victoria for the palace as we know it today. She was the first queen to adopt the palace as her home in 1873, and in 1845 she added a fourth wing.
The secret tunnel
For quite some time it was rumored that there were secret tunnels under the palace, and thanks to the Queen Mother, we now know that this is true. According to Travel + Leisure, the Queen Mother revealed in 2006 that she went into the tunnel herself and met a squatter who had been living in the tunnel for years.
Hours employ full time people.
Among the various staff members who live and work at Buckingham Palace is a watchmaker...and more than one. Two clockmakers (sometimes three) repair and wind all the clocks owned by the monarchy (around 1000 clocks). It is a full-time job that must be completed on time.
Music room
The Music Room is one of the more famous rooms in Buckingham Palace. It hosted the christenings of Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince William.
Royal Notices
Bigger and more important news stories in Great Britain are not traditionally published first in newspapers or on social media. Therefore, if someone dies or a new member of the royal family is born, it is first announced in front of the royal palace. If it is a case of death, then the notice is 'stuck' on the fence of the palace, and if it is a birth, it is put on a stand by the door.
Light
The palace has 760 windows, and all windows are cleaned every 6 weeks. There are more than 40 thousand light bulbs in the palace itself. But who changes all that?
The Royal Garden
The Queen's garden is huge. It measures 4 times the size of Wembley Stadium. It is also home to 25 different varieties of roses and is the largest private garden in London. There is also a Royal William rose in the garden, which the Queen named after Prince William.
Money is never a problem.
We all have to walk to the nearest ATM or the nearest bank at some point. And why should you leave your home to do so? The royal family has an ATM right inside the palace.
All the Queen's horses
When you visit Buckingham Palace, you also have the chance to walk through the royal stables, which are home to both the Windsor Gray and the Clevaland Bay (horses that pull the royal carriage). When visiting, it is worth remembering the interesting fact that the Queen had her first riding lesson in 1930.
Heliport
The beautiful and truly grand royal garden also has its own helipad. The garden, which otherwise covers a good 16 hectares, also has a lake and a tennis court.
Downtown Abbey Kitchen
If you've ever watched the series Downtown Abbey, then you already know what it's like to work in the kitchen of Buckingham Palace. According to Darren McGrady, who worked for the royal family for 15 years (until 1993), the series very accurately illustrates the work in the kitchen. He also revealed that the royal family sometimes helps out in the kitchen. Prince Philip grills in the summer and the Queen does the dishes.
A bizarre monument to King Charles I of England
There are quite a few ways to honor the memory of a king who has died. But the memory of Charles I of England is somewhat different. He was executed at 2:00 p.m., which is why exactly at this hour the entrance to Buckingham Palace and St James Palace (this was the royal official residence between 1531 and 1837) is covered by a 'black pail'.
