Buckingham Palace is synonymous with the kings and queens of England. However, it wasn't built by or for them. John Sheffield, the first Duke of Buckingham, built Buckingham House on the site in 1703. King George III purchased it in 1761. When Queen Victoria took over the throne in 1837, she named Buckingham Palace her official residence.
10 interesting facts about Buckingham Palace in London
Buckingham Palace is one of London’s most recognisable landmarks, but there’s more to the royal residence than its grand State Rooms and famous balcony. From its origins as a townhouse for a duke to wartime bombings and royal traditions, the Palace has a fascinating history. Here are 10 interesting Buckingham Palace facts that reveal some of the lesser-known stories behind this iconic London landmark.
10 fascinating facts about the palace
It was originally built for a duke
It was infamously breached by a teenager
Buckingham Palace is the country's equivalent of the White House, yet the security team couldn't keep out a teenager named Edward Jones. Nicknamed "the boy Jones," he broke into the building three times between 1838 and 1841. Jones stole food from the palace's kitchen and Queen Victoria's underwear from her chamber and sat on the royal throne. His success also invited copycats, with Michael Fagan breaking into the palace in 1982.
The terrors of World War II reached Buckingham Palace
World War II caused massive devastation across Europe, including museums, government buildings, heritage structures, and thousands of civilian houses and apartments. Despite its importance to England's heritage and history, Buckingham Palace was also bombarded in the war. The British government advised King George VI and his family to vacate the building, but they chose to remain in the palace, even as German bombers aimed nine direct hits at it.
It's a village in itself
Buckingham Palace stretches over 39 acres, with gardens surrounding the grand palace. The royals can find everything they need inside the building. From a post office to a movie theatre, police station, and clinic, Buckingham Palace is like a village or tiny town in itself. Inside, you'll find over 775 rooms, including 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices, 19 state rooms, and 78 bathrooms.
The Palace hosted the first Girl Guide Company meeting
Buckingham Palace plays host to royal and government meetings and overseas dignitaries. But in June 1937, the palace played host to something different: a Girl Guides meeting, the UK equivalent of Girl Scouts. Princess Elizabeth and her younger sister Margaret organised the first meeting of the 1st Buckingham Palace Guide Company, held in a garden summerhouse with 20 Guides and 14 Brownies, mostly daughters of royal household staff and courtiers.
It is made up of ancient fossils
The palace's walls are built from oolitic limestone, a sedimentary rock also used in the construction of the Empire State Building and the Pentagon. A 2018 study published in Scientific Reports concluded that oolitic limestone forms around the mineralised remains of microscopic organisms. This means the fossils in Buckingham Palace's structure are over 200 million years old.
Woodrow Wilson was the first US President to visit
In December 1918, President Wilson became the first sitting US President to visit Buckingham Palace. He was on his way to a peace conference in Paris but decided to stop by with First Lady Edith Wilson. King George V hosted him at the palace, cementing strong ties between the nations. Several American heads of state have visited since, including President Jimmy Carter in 1977, who famously kissed the Queen Mother goodbye — a moment tabloids reported as a kiss on the lips, though Carter maintained it was a light peck on the cheek.
Queen Elizabeth II loved hosting parties at the Palace
Queen Elizabeth II modernised the monarchy and took an active interest in government and political decisions. Alongside this, her Buckingham Palace Garden Parties are equally memorable. Three are held every summer at the palace, with a fourth held separately at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Scotland. Guests get through roughly 20,000 sandwiches and 20,000 slices of cake at each party, washed down with the palace's own tea blend.
The flag can tell if The King is in the palace
Visitors can tell whether The King is inside Buckingham Palace by looking at the flag flying above it. Two flags are used: the Royal Standard and the Union Jack. If the Royal Standard is flying, it means The King is in the palace. If the Union Jack is flying, it means he isn't.
The red uniform for the guards was chosen strategically
According to some royal historians, red was one of the cheapest and most readily available dyes when the guards' uniforms were first made, making it an economical choice. The red uniforms have since become a deeply ingrained tradition of the British Royal Guard, symbolising power, prestige, and national identity. Some also argue the red uniforms project an imposing, authoritative presence near the palace.
Frequently asked questions about Buckingham Palace facts
Buckingham Palace began as Buckingham House, built for John Sheffield, the 1st Duke of Buckingham, in the early 18th century. Architect John Nash later transformed the house into the Palace you see today under King George IV.
Buckingham Palace is more than 300 years old. The original Buckingham House was completed in 1703, while the building was substantially expanded and transformed into a palace in the 19th century.
The building was originally known as Buckingham House and was built as a private residence for the Duke of Buckingham. King George III purchased it in 1761 for Queen Charlotte, and it later became the official London residence of Queen Victoria.
The Picture Gallery currently displays 120 paintings following a major re-display in 2026. The new arrangement almost doubled the number of paintings on view, from 63 to 120.
The Picture Gallery displays works by renowned artists including Rembrandt, Vermeer, Rubens, Van Dyck, Caravaggio, Canaletto, and Zoffany. The selection can change as works from the Royal Collection are lent to exhibitions elsewhere.
Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms, including 19 State Rooms, 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices, and 78 bathrooms. The Palace is also a working royal residence and administrative headquarters.
Yes. Buckingham Palace was bombed nine times during World War II. King George VI remained at the Palace for most of the war, and he and Queen Elizabeth continued visiting areas of London affected by bombing.
Yes. Edward Jones, known as “the boy Jones,” broke into Buckingham Palace three times between 1838 and 1841. His repeated intrusions became a major security embarrassment during Queen Victoria’s reign.
Yes. Princess Elizabeth became a Guide in 1937, aged 11. She, Princess Margaret, and 14 cousins and friends formed the 1st Buckingham Palace Guides, using a summerhouse in the Palace garden as their base.
The Royal Standard is flown when the Sovereign is in residence at Buckingham Palace. When the King is not in residence, the Union Flag is flown instead.
Much of Buckingham Palace is built from oolitic limestone, a sedimentary rock formed during the Jurassic period. Research has found that the ooids in this limestone formed through mineralisation involving ancient microbes around 200 million years ago.
President Woodrow Wilson was the first sitting US president to visit Buckingham Palace. He visited Britain in 1918 with First Lady Edith Wilson during his journey to Europe.
Yes. Visitors to the State Rooms can see artworks and decorative objects from the Royal Collection, including masterpieces displayed in the Picture Gallery. The selection changes over time, so individual works may not always be on view.
