Buckingham Palace Timeline

(1703 - Present)

Buckingham Palace is the official residence and administrative headquarters of the British monarch in London. Originally built in 1703 as a townhouse for the Duke of Buckingham, it was acquired by King George III in 1761 and expanded into a palace by architect John Nash. It became the principal royal residence under Queen Victoria in 1837 and remains a symbol of the British monarchy today. More Less

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Early History and Ownership

Henry VIII acquires the Hospital of St James and Manor of Ebury

1531 - 1536

In 1531, Henry VIII acquired the Hospital of St James, which became St James's Palace, from Eton College, and in 1536 he took the Manor of Ebury from Westminster Abbey. This land, at the north-west corner of today's palace site, remained in royal hands and was later leased to various owners.

Image source: Buckingham Palace

First house erected on the site by William Blake

1624

Possibly the first house erected within the site of today's Buckingham Palace was that of William Blake, built around 1624. The land had been in private ownership for at least 150 years.

George Goring extends Blake's house into Goring House

1633

George Goring, 1st Earl of Norwich, extended Blake's house from 1633, which came to be known as Goring House. He also developed much of today's garden, then known as Goring Great Garden.

Goring's interest fails to pass the Great Seal

1640

Unbeknown to Goring, in 1640 his interest in the property failed to pass the Great Seal before Charles I fled London, which it needed to do for legal execution, creating later complications over ownership.

Clement Walker condemns activities at the Mulberry Garden

1649

In Anarchia Anglicana (1649), Clement Walker referred to "new-erected sodoms and spintries at the Mulberry Garden at St. James's", reflecting the notoriety of the gardens near the palace site during this period.

Mary Davies inherits the freehold

1670

Various owners leased the land from royal landlords, and the freehold was subject to frenzied speculation during the 17th century. Eventually, in the late 17th century, the freehold was inherited from property tycoon Hugh Audley by the great heiress Mary Davies.

Goring House burns down; Arlington House is constructed

1674 - 1675

When the improvident Goring defaulted on his rents, Henry Bennet, 1st Earl of Arlington purchased the lease of Goring House and was occupying it when it burned down in 1674. He then constructed Arlington House on the site — now the location of the southern wing of today's palace.

John Sheffield acquires the lease

1698

In 1698, John Sheffield, later Duke of Buckingham and Normanby, acquired the lease of the property that would form the core of today's Buckingham Palace.

Construction and Architecture

Buckingham House is built for the Duke of Buckingham

1703

Buckingham House was built in 1703 for John Sheffield, Duke of Buckingham and Normanby, to the design of William Winde. This large townhouse forms the building at the core of today's palace.

Remodelling of the structure begins

1762

Remodelling of Buckingham House began in 1762 after its acquisition by George III, transforming it into a suitable residence for the royal family.

Furnishings acquired after the French Revolution

1789

Some furnishings were transferred from Carlton House and others had been bought in France after the French Revolution of 1789, enriching the interiors of the growing royal residence.

George IV continues the renovation

1820

After his accession to the throne in 1820, George IV continued the renovation of the house, initially intending to create a small, comfortable home.

George IV decides to convert the house into a palace with Nash

1826

In 1826, while work was in progress, George IV decided to modify the house into a palace with the help of his architect John Nash, who enlarged it with three wings around a central courtyard alongside Edward Blore.

Image source: John Nash (architect)

Nash removed as architect amid soaring costs

1829

The cost of the renovations grew dramatically, and by 1829 the extravagance of Nash's designs resulted in his removal as the architect.

William IV hires Edward Blore to finish the work

1830

On the death of George IV in 1830, his younger brother William IV hired Edward Blore to finish the work on the palace. In 1834, after the Palace of Westminster was destroyed by fire, William offered to convert Buckingham Palace into a new Houses of Parliament, but his offer was declined.

Image source: Edward Blore

Prince Albert reorganises household and fixes design faults

1840

Following Queen Victoria's marriage in 1840, Prince Albert concerned himself with a reorganisation of the household offices and staff, and with addressing the design faults of the palace. By the end of 1840, all the problems had been rectified.

New wing encloses the central quadrangle

1847 - 1850

By 1847, Victoria and Albert found the palace too small for court life and their growing family. A new wing designed by Edward Blore was built by Thomas Cubitt between 1847 and 1850, enclosing the central quadrangle. It was paid for by the sale of Brighton Pavilion in 1850, whose fittings were once again plundered for the new east wing.

Image source: Thomas Cubitt

New wing encloses the central quadrangle

Ballroom built for state banquets

1854

State banquets take place in the Ballroom, built in 1854. At 120 feet long, 60 feet wide and 45 feet high, it is the largest room in the palace, featuring a throne dais beneath a giant domed velvet canopy, or shamiana, used at the Delhi Durbar of 1911.

Lacquer doors brought from Brighton

1873

In 1873, lacquer doors were brought from the Brighton Pavilion for use in the Chinese-style saloon of the palace, which would later be enhanced by Queen Mary.

Edward VII begins redecorating the palace

1901

In 1901, the new king, Edward VII, began redecorating the palace, bringing a fresh aesthetic to the interiors after decades of Victorian neglect.

Aston Webb redesigns the East Front and completes The Mall

1911

Aston Webb redesigned Blore's 1850 East Front in 1913 to resemble in part Giacomo Leoni's Lyme Park in Cheshire. As part of a grand memorial to Queen Victoria, he also designed The Mall, the ceremonial approach route to the palace, completed in 1911, along with gilded railings and gates completed by the Bromsgrove Guild in 1911.

Image source: Aston Webb

Queen Mary creates the Chinese Drawing Room theme

1927

Queen Mary enhanced the Chinese-style saloon, working with designer Charles Allom to create a more "binding" Chinese theme in the late 1920s. She also installed many new fixtures and fittings, such as marble Empire style chimneypieces by Benjamin Vulliamy in the ground floor Bow Room.

Northwest pavilion converted into a swimming pool

1938

In 1938, the northwest pavilion, originally designed by Nash as a conservatory, was converted into a swimming pool.

Palace designated a Grade I listed building

1970

Buckingham Palace was designated a Grade I listed building in 1970, recognising its exceptional architectural and historic importance.

Royal Residence

George III purchases Buckingham House for Queen Charlotte

1761

The house was sold by Buckingham's illegitimate son, Charles Sheffield, in 1761 to George III for £21,000 as a private residence for Queen Charlotte, becoming known as The Queen's House.

Gold State Coach first used for State Opening of Parliament

1762

The Rococo styled gilt coach, designed by William Chambers in 1760 with painted panels by Giovanni Battista Cipriani, was first used for the State Opening of Parliament by George III in 1762 and has been used for every coronation since William IV.

Image source: Gold State Coach

Act of Parliament settles the property on Queen Charlotte

1775

In 1775, an Act of Parliament settled the property on Queen Charlotte, in exchange for her rights to nearby Old Somerset House. Fourteen of her fifteen children were born there. Sheffield's leasehold on the mulberry garden site, whose freehold was still owned by the royal family, was due to expire in 1774.

Name "Buckingham Palace" comes into use

1791

While St James's Palace remained the official and ceremonial royal residence, the name "Buckingham Palace" was used from at least 1791, marking a shift in popular usage.

Queen Victoria makes Buckingham Palace the principal royal residence

Jun 1837

Buckingham Palace became the London residence and principal royal residence of the British monarch on the accession of Queen Victoria in June 1837. She was the first monarch to reside there.

Queen Victoria withdraws from public life after Albert's death

1861

Widowed in 1861, the grief-stricken Queen withdrew from public life and left Buckingham Palace to live at Windsor Castle, Balmoral Castle and Osborne House.

Edward VIII briefly occupies the private apartments

1936

In 1936, the suite briefly became the private apartments of the palace when Edward VIII occupied them during his short reign.

King Charles III conducts official duties while residing at Clarence House

2022

On the accession of King Charles III in 2022, Buckingham Palace's unbroken run of occupation by monarchs since Queen Victoria ended, as Charles continues to reside at nearby Clarence House while conducting official duties at the palace.

Image source: Charles III

Duke of York vacates his London residence and office

2023

The palace had been the London residence and office of the Duke of York, as well as a weekday home of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, until 2023 when the Duke ceased to occupy it.

Image source: Prince Andrew, Duke of York

Modern Era and Public Access

The boy Jones intrudes into the palace

1838 - 1841

The boy Jones was an intruder who gained entry to the palace on three occasions between 1838 and 1841, causing considerable embarrassment and highlighting security weaknesses.

Image source: The boy Jones

Note pinned to fence offering the palace to let or sell

1864

In 1864, a note was found pinned to the palace fence saying: "These commanding premises to be let or sold, in consequence of the late occupant's declining business." Public opinion eventually persuaded the Queen to return to London, though she preferred to live elsewhere whenever possible.

Command performances introduce jazz to the palace

1919 - 1932

George V arranged a series of command performances featuring jazz musicians such as the Original Dixieland Jazz Band (1919; the first jazz performance for a head of state), Sidney Bechet and Louis Armstrong (1932), earning the palace a 2009 nomination for a (Kind of) Blue Plaque by the Brecon Jazz Festival.

Queen Elizabeth II abolishes débutante presentations

1958

In 1958, Queen Elizabeth II abolished the presentation parties for débutantes, replacing them with Garden Parties held at the palace for up to 8,000 invitees in the Garden.

King's Gallery opens to the public

1962

Built on the site of the chapel destroyed during the war, the purpose-built gallery opened in 1962 to exhibit works of art from the Royal Collection, displaying a changing selection of items.

Image source: King's Gallery

Attempt to exempt the palace from the Race Relations Act

1968

In 1968, Charles Tryon, 2nd Baron Tryon, acting as treasurer to Queen Elizabeth II, sought to exempt Buckingham Palace from full application of the Race Relations Act 1968.

Image source: Race Relations Act 1968

Michael Fagan breaks into the Queen's bedroom

Jul 9, 1982

Michael Fagan broke into the palace twice in 1982 and entered Queen Elizabeth II's bedroom on the second occasion on 9 July. At least 12 people have managed unauthorised entry since 1914. In a 2012 interview with The Independent, Fagan said the Queen ran out of the room and no conversation took place.

Image source: Michael Fagan

State rooms open to the public; funds aid Windsor Castle rebuilding

1993

The palace's state rooms have been open to the public during summer and on selected dates throughout the year since 1993. Admission fees were originally put towards the rebuilding of Windsor Castle after the 1992 fire devastated many of its staterooms.

Trespassing becomes a specific criminal offence

2007

It was only in 2007 that trespassing on the palace grounds became a specific criminal offence, strengthening legal protections against intruders.

State Dining Room closed over dangerous ceiling

2015 - 2016

In 2015, the State Dining Room was closed for a year and a half because its ceiling had become potentially dangerous.

£369 million renovation plan approved

Nov 2016

A 10-year schedule of maintenance work, including new plumbing, wiring, boilers and radiators, and the installation of solar panels on the roof, estimated to cost £369 million, was approved by the prime minister in November 2016. In 2017, the House of Commons backed funding for the project by 464 votes to 56.

Record visitor numbers in year to March 2025

2025 - Mar 31, 2025

In the year to 31 March 2025, 683,000 people visited the palace, and 174,000 visited the gallery, demonstrating the enduring appeal of the landmark to visitors from around the world.

World Wars

Palace escapes unscathed during First World War

1914 - 1918

During the First World War, which lasted from 1914 until 1918, the palace escaped unscathed despite the wider devastation of the conflict.

Palace bombed nine times during the Second World War

1939 - 1945

During the Second World War, which broke out in 1939, the palace was bombed nine times. A German bomb destroyed the palace chapel in 1940, the most serious and publicised incident.

RAF pilot Ray Holmes rams German bomber on Battle of Britain Day

Sep 15, 1940

On 15 September 1940, known as Battle of Britain Day, RAF pilot Ray Holmes of No. 504 Squadron attacked a German bomber heading for the palace. Holmes became a King's Messenger after the war and died at the age of 90 in 2005.

VE Day celebrations centre on the palace

May 8, 1945

On VE Day – 8 May 1945 – the palace was the centre of British celebrations as huge crowds gathered to celebrate the end of the war in Europe, with the royal family appearing on the balcony.

Image source: Victory in Europe Day

Key Facts

Buckingham Palace was originally built in 1703 as Buckingham House for John Sheffield, Duke of Buckingham.
King George III purchased the property in 1761 as a private residence for Queen Charlotte, and it became known as the Queen's House.
Queen Victoria was the first monarch to make Buckingham Palace the official royal residence, starting in 1837.
The palace features 775 rooms, including 19 State Rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, and 188 staff bedrooms.
The famous balcony of Buckingham Palace has been the site of royal celebrations and public appearances since Queen Victoria's first appearance there in 1851.

Source

This Buckingham Palace timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

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