Buckingham Palace serves as the official London residence of the British monarch. It symbolizes the stability and history of the United Kingdom. Furthermore, millions of tourists visit the gates every year to watch the Changing of the Guard. Consequently, the building holds many secrets behind its famous balcony. Explore these fascinating details about the Royal headquarters.
Buckingham Palace
King James I originally planted a mulberry garden on the site in 1608. However, he accidentally chose the wrong type of mulberry bush. Therefore, his plan to produce silk failed completely because the silkworms starved.
Buckingham Palace contains 775 different rooms. Specifically, this massive number includes 188 staff bedrooms and 78 bathrooms. Thus, the cleaning staff faces a monumental task every single day.
A teenager named “The Boy Jones” broke in three times. Remarkably, he stole Queen Victoria’s underwear during one visit. He also sat on the throne and ate food from the royal kitchen.
The Royal Standard flag flies when the King is home. Conversely, the Union Jack flies when he is away. You can always tell if the monarch is present just by looking at the roof.
A full-time clockmaker winds over 350 clocks every week. He must ensure every timepiece chimes perfectly. Consequently, he works tirelessly to keep the palace running on schedule.
The building survived nine direct bomb hits during World War II. King George VI refused to leave London during the Blitz. Bravely, he stayed to show solidarity with the suffering public.
Michael Fagan famously broke into the Queen’s bedroom in 1982. He climbed a drainpipe to enter the palace. Then, he sat on her bed and asked for a cigarette before security arrived.
Buckingham Palace has its own private post office. Staff handle over 70,000 items of mail annually. Therefore, the Royal Family can send and receive letters without leaving the grounds.
It sits on top of a massive network of secret tunnels. Rumors claim these passages connect to the Houses of Parliament. However, officials rarely confirm the extent of this underground labyrinth.
The Royal Family has a private ATM in the basement. Coutts Bank installed the machine for their exclusive use. Thus, the King can withdraw cash whenever he needs it.
Queen Victoria was the first monarch to live there permanently. She moved into the palace in 1837. Previously, kings and queens preferred to live in St. James’s Palace down the road.
Guests consume 20,000 sandwiches at each garden party. The King hosts three of these massive events every summer. As a result, the kitchen staff prepares food for days in advance.
Edward VII is the only monarch who was both born and died there. He entered the world in 1841 and passed away in 1910. Surprisingly, no other king shares this unique distinction.
Buckingham Palace contains a fully equipped doctor’s surgery. Additionally, it houses a cinema and a swimming pool. Therefore, the residents have access to almost every amenity imaginable.
Finally, window cleaners must wash 760 windows every six weeks. They use special lifts to reach the high glass. Consequently, this dangerous job ensures the palace always sparkles for visitors.
