Behind this front gate emblazoned with the United Kingdom’s Royal coat of arms is Buckingham Palace. It was constructed in 1703 as the home for John Sheffield, the Duke of Buckingham. Over 100 years later, King George IV hired architect John Nash to convert Buckingham House into a palace. Victoria was the first monarch to make it her official residence after becoming queen in 1837. Buckingham Palace’s 775 rooms and 830,000 square feet of floor space accommodate Queen Elizabeth II, members of the Royal Family and Her Majesty’s administrative staff. A major tourist attraction is the changing of the guard. The 45-minute ceremony starts about 11:30 but does not occur every day.
