As the home of one of the world's last remaining monarchs, Buckingham Palace has strong symbolic interest and is one of the city's top attractions. Built in 1703 for the duke of Buckingham, the palace became the sovereign's official residence in 1837, when Queen Victoria decided to live here (when the queen is at home, the Royal Standard is flown from the flagstaff on the building's roof.
In the summer of 1993, for the first time since it became the official royal residence, Buckingham Palace opened its doors to common tourists (August through September, when the royal family is away on vacation). There are 18 rooms on view, including the Throne Room, the State Dining Room, three drawing rooms, and the Music Room. Tickets to see these State Apartments are on sale from 9am at the ticket office on Constitution Hill, on the south side of Green Park. Hours long waits should be anticipated. Visitors willing to pay more than twice the admission price can avoid the lines by buying a palace tour through the American tour operator Edwards & Edwards, 50 Main St., 3rd floor, White Plains, NY 10606 . Physically disabled visitors can get a jump on the line by reserving tickets directly from the palace.
The Changing of the Guard, outside Buckingham Palace's front gates, takes place daily just before 11:30am from mid-April through July and on alternate days the rest of the year. (It's canceled during bad weather and for major state events.) The Queen's Foot Guards, with their scarlet coats and bearskin hats, march with lots of shouting and foot stomping in a half-hour ceremony that replaces the sentries who stand guard in front of the palace.
|
