COLEGIUL NAȚIONAL ‘’IENĂCHIȚĂ VĂCĂRESCU’’ TÂRGOVIȘTE

Written Work to obtain the certificate of linguistic competence in English

~Buckingham Palace ~

Candidate: Coordinating Professor:

Ivan Cătălina-Georgiana Magdalena Ecaterina Tolea

Târgoviște 2020

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 CONTENTS

A. INTRODUCTION – p. 3

B. CONTENT:

1. Buckingham Palace today – p. 4

2. History of Buckingham Palace – p. 5-6
3. The balcony of Buckingham Palace – p. 7
4. Changing the Guard – p.8

C. CONCLUSION – p. 9

D. BIBLIOGRAPHY – p. 10

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A. Introduction
Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the British monarch. The palace is a
setting for state occasions and royal entertaining, and a major tourist attraction. It has been a
rallying point for the British people at times of national rejoicing and crisis.

Although in use for the many official events and receptions held by The Queen, the State Rooms
at Buckingham Palace are open to visitors every summer.

Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms. These include 19 State rooms, 52 Royal and guest
bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms. In measurements, the building is
108 metres long across the front, 120 metres deep (including the central quadrangle) and 24
metres high.

B. 1. Buckingham Palace today

More than 50,000 people visit the Palace each year as guests to State banquets, lunches, dinners,
receptions and Garden Parties. Her Majesty also holds weekly audiences with the Prime Minister
and receives newly appointed foreign Ambassadors at Buckingham Palace.

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Receptions are held at the Palace throughout the year to recognize the work of industry,
government, charities, sport, the Commonwealth and many more areas of life. For example, in
2013 The Queen hosted a reception to celebrate the Commonwealth, Youth and Education,
which was attended by 350 guests from academic institutions around the world and included a
performance by the Commonwealth Youth Orchestra and choir and more recently, in 2015, Her
Majesty hosted a reception for players, organizers and supporters of the Rugby World Cup.

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2. History of Buckingham Palace

George III bought Buckingham House in 1761 for his wife Queen Charlotte to use as a
comfortable family home close to St James's Palace, where many court functions were held.

George IV, on his accession in 1820, decided to reconstruct the house. As work progressed, and
as late as the end of 1826, The King had a change of heart. With the assistance of his architect,
John Nash, he set about transforming the house into a palace. Nash retained the main block but
doubled its size by adding a new suite of rooms on the garden side facing west. Faced with
mellow Bath stone, the external style reflected the French neo-classical influence favored by
George IV.

Queen Victoria was the first sovereign to take up residence in July 1837 and in June 1838 she
was the first British sovereign to leave from Buckingham Palace for a Coronation. Her marriage
to Prince Albert in 1840 soon showed up the Palace's shortcomings.

A serious problem for the newly married couple was the absence of any nurseries and too few
bedrooms for visitors.

Blore added an attic floor to the main block of the Palace and decorated it externally with marble
friezes originally intended for Nash's Marble Arch. The work was completed in 1847.

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The present forecourt of the Palace, where Changing the Guard takes place, was formed in 1911,
as part of the Victoria Memorial scheme.

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 The gates and railings were also
completed in 1911; the North-Centre
Gate is now the everyday entrance to the
Palace, whilst the Central Gate is used
for State occasions and the departure of
the guard after Changing the Guard. The
work was completed just before the
outbreak of the First World War in 1914.

3. The balcony of Buckingham Palace

The balcony of Buckingham Palace is one of the most famous in the world. The first recorded
Royal balcony appearance took place in 1851, when Queen Victoria stepped onto it during
celebrations for the opening of the Great Exhibition. Since then, Royal Balcony appearances
have marked many occasions from The Queen’s annual official birthday celebrations to watch
the RAF Flypast at the end of Trooping the Color, Royal Weddings, as well as special events of
national significance such as the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

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4. Changing the Guard

Changing the Guard, also known as Guard Mounting, takes place outside Buckingham
Palace from 10.45am and lasts around 45 minutes, with the actual handover taking place
at 11am.

The Buckingham Palace Old Guard forms up in the palace’s forecourt from 10.30am and is

joined by the St James’s Palace Old Guard at around 10.45am. The New Guard then arrives from
Wellington Barracks and takes over the responsibilities of the Old Guard in a formal ceremony
accompanied by music.
The guard that looks after Buckingham Palace is called “The Queen's Guard” and is made up of
soldiers on active duty from the Household Division’s Foot Guards. The guards are dressed in
traditional red tunics and bearskin hats.

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 C. Conclusion

Whilst Buckingham Palace is seen as the

administrative hub of the Monarchy, it is also
very much a family home, in addition to
holding The Queen's Gallery and the Royal
Mews.

The Queen gave birth to Prince Charles and

Prince Andrew at the Palace, and to this day
notice of royal births and deaths are still attached
to the front railings for members of the public to read.

The offices of those who support the day-to-day activities and duties of The Queen and The
Duke of Edinburgh and their immediate family, such as the Private Secretary’s Office and the
Privy Purse and Treasurer’s Office are located at Buckingham Palace.

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D. Bibliography:

o https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/event/8725947-changing-the-guard
o https://www.insider.com/what-party-at-buckingham-palace-is-like-photos-2018-11
o https://www.royal.uk/royal-residences-buckingham-palace
o https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/event/27250576-buckingham-palace-tour-
summer-opening
o https://www.rct.uk/visit/the-state-rooms-buckingham-palace/highlights-of-
buckingham-palace#/
o https://www.planetware.com/london/buckingham-palace-eng-l-bpa.htm

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