God save the queen!
Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her 69th anniversary since she first ascended the throne – and moved to the dreaded Buckingham Palace.
Yes, she was almost expected to live in the same primary residence seven decades.
When she was growing up, she lived in the rural countryside of England in the Royal Lodge at 145 Piccadilly. When she married Prince Philip in 1947, she remained in the Clarence House until her father’s death, according to British newspaper reports.
However, fans of Netflix’s award-winning hit series “The Crown” will remember when Queen Elizabeth II (Emmy winner Claire Foy) was reluctant to move into Buckingham Palace after accepting the title of Britain’s reigning king after her father’s death. Instead, she was completely content with the then Duke of Edinburgh in the Clarence House with her new husband, (Matt Smith of the “Dr. Who” fame).
Well, we all know how that story played out.
Buckingham Palace originally started as a large townhouse built in 1703 for the Duke of Buckingham. King George III acquired the house in 1761 as a private residence for his wife, Queen Charlotte. Later, in the 19th century, architects John Nash and Edward Blore enlarged the structure by building three wings around the central courtyard.
In 1837, what was once known as the Queen’s House became known as Buckingham Palace – the official residence in London of the British king.
The residence has a total of 775 rooms, including 19 cabins, 52 bedrooms, 188 bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms.
Queen Elizabeth II (94) takes over the reins on 6 February 1952.
Here is an inside look at where Her Majesty has been the reigning king for the past seven decades.
The White Drawing Room is considered one of the more intimate cabins used regularly for audiences and small gatherings. The queen enters the room via a hidden door disguised as a mirror and cabinet before welcoming her guests, such as foreign ambassadors. The space is also frequently used for formal family photos and Christmas broadcasts.
The Throne Room at Buckingham Palace is presented like no other space in the building and has a vibrant history of hosting events. This room is reserved for special balls and dances.
The Green Drawing Room of the palace and the adjoining huts serve as places for drinks provided to guests, usually before dinner is served.
The Nash Gallery, also known as the Queen’s Gallery, cost $ 27.5 million (£ 20 million). The Queen’s Gallery is considered one of the most important extensions to Buckingham Palace in 150 years. It offers varied exhibitions from the royal collection, featuring old master paintings, rare furniture, decorative art and images from the large photography collection.
The Blue Drawing Room was initially used for entertaining. Today it is used for receptions.
The stables have been part of Buckingham Palace since the 1760s and are part of the collection of horse stables. Queen Elizabeth is known for great admiration for horses and admires the equestrian sport.
In 2011, Queen Elizabeth invited then-President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama to attend a state banquet.
