In Pictures & Videos: British Royal Residences

[Windsor]

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is, along with Buckingham Palace in London and Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, one of the principal official residences of the British monarch.

The castle is located in the Berkshire town of Windsor, in the Thames Valley to the west of London.

It was originally built by William the Conqueror to act as a line of defence for London and has since had many additions and improvements. Today the inhabited wing of the castle mostly dates to within the last two centuries, much of it built under George IV (r.1820-1830)

- An early 18th century birdseye view of Windsor Castle -

- Aerial View of Windsor Castle -

- St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle -

- Waterloo Chamber -

- Main Staircase at Windsor Castle -

- Weapons Room (Not Official Name) -

- St. George's Hall, Windsor Castle

- St. George's Hall (State Banquet) -

- Music Room -

- Green Drawing Room -

- The Crimson Room -

- Private Chapel -

- South Corridor, Windsor Castle -

[Windsor]

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the British monarch and the largest "working" Royal Palace remaining in the world.

The palace originally known as Buckingham House, a large townhouse built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703, was acquired by King George III in 1762 as a private residence. It was enlarged over the next 75 years, principally by architects John Nash and Edward Blore, forming three wings around a central courtyard. Buckingham Palace finally became the official royal palace of the British monarch on the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837.

- Aerial view of Buckingham Palace -

- Buckingham Palace, 1909 -

- Buckingham Palace, 1910 -

- The Ballroom -

- The White Drawing Room -

- The Queen's Gallery -

- Throne Room -

- Grand Staircase -

- Green Drawing Room -

- Formal Dining Room -

- The Music Room -

- Back doors of Buckingham Palace -

- The Royal Arms in The Front Gates -

- The Royal Swimming Pool -

Pictures from the The Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace

- 1 -

- 2 -

- King Charles I -

- King George IV's State Diadem -

- Her Majesty The Queen, 1989 by John Merton -

- Official Royal Collection Website -

[Windsor]

Clarence House

The house was built between 1825 and 1827 to a design by John Nash. It was commissioned by William IV who was known as the Duke of Clarence before he inherited the throne in 1830.

It is adjacent to St. James's Palace and shares the palace's garden. For nearly 50 years from 1953 to 2002 it was home to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, but is now the official residence of The Prince of Wales, his second wife, the Duchess of Cornwall and his sons, the princes William and Harry of Wales.

- Clarence House -

- The Garden Room -

- The Lancaster Room -

- The Main Hall -

- The Morning Room -

- The Horse Corridor -

Art in Clarence House:

- Graham Sutherland (1903-80) H.M Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, c. 1961-7 -

- Sir Noel Coward (1899-1973) Sortie de l'Eglise, Jamiaque, 1961 -

- Walter Richard Sickert, ARA (1860-1942) A Conversation Piece at Aintree, c. 1927-30 -

- Savely Sorine HRH The Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh, watercolour, 1948. -

- John Piper, OM, CH (1903-92) Eight views of Windsor Castle, The Round Tower from the roof of St. George's 1941-4. -

- John Piper The Quadrangle, Windsor Castle, looking East -

[Windsor]

St. James's Palace

St. James's Palace is one of London's oldest and most historic palaces. It is situated on The Mall in London, England, just north of St. James's Park

The palace was commissioned in 1530 by King Henry VIII

The Palace

Throne Room

St. James's Park

St. James's

Rose Satin Drawing Room

The Queen's Chapel

1

[Windsor]

The Palace of Holyroodhouse

The Palace of Holyroodhouse, more commonly known as Holyrood Palace, was originally founded as a monastery by David I of Scotland in 1128, has served as the principal residence of the Kings and Queens of Scotland since the 15th century. The Palace stands in Edinburgh at the bottom of the Royal Mile.

- Holyrood Abbey (1) -

- Holyrood Abbey (2) -

- Holyrood Palace fountain -

- The Royal Arms -

- The Queen's Gallery at Holyrood Palace

- The Palace (1) -

- The Palace (2) -

- Aerial view of the Palace (1) -

- Aerial view of the Palace (2) -

- The Hall -

- Royal Bedroom (Mary Queen of Scots) -

[Windsor]

Kensington Palace

Kensington Palace is a royal residence set in Kensington Gardens in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London. Today it houses various minor royals including the Duke of Gloucester and Prince Michael of Kent and Princess Michael of Kent.

The original building was constructed as Nottingham House for the Earl of Nottingham. It was acquired from him in 1689 by King William III who wanted a residence near London. The palace was improved and extended by Sir Christopher Wren.

The last reigning monarch to use Kensington Palace was King George II and, after his death in 1760, it was used for more minor royalty.

- Kensington Palace -

- A statue of Queen Victoria outside the Palace -

- Semi State Dining Room -

- Inside the Palace -

- Main Hall -

- The Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection

- Princess Diana Dress Collection -

- Victoria Room -

- The Kings Apartments -

- The Kings Gallery -

[Windsor]

Balmoral Castle

Built by Queen Victoria in the Scottish baronial style on the River Dee in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is built of granite and dominated by a square tower and circular turret.

The Balmoral estate consists of approximately 60,000 acres (243 km²) in size and includes several small villages, two of which are inhabited entirely by staff of the estate.

- The Ballroom -

- Over 3,000 Red Deer are counted a year -

- The Gardens -

- The Royal Conservatory -

- The Castle -

- The Estate -

- The Fauntain -

- Back Gardens -

- Scottish Royal Flag -

- The Queen's Royal Standard in Scotland -

[T125eagle]

windsor,
        do you have any pictues of Sandringham House?

[Windsor]

Sandringham House

The House

1

2

3

4

[Stix Chix]

it must take the Queen all day to do the dusting. ;)

[T125eagle]

thanks windsor. i got a reply to my letter to the Queen today and it came from sandringham house, so that's why i was wondering what it looked like.

[Beebs]

What did it say? :woo:

[T125eagle]

it said,
      dear Mr. ****,
                         The Queen wishes me to write and thank you for your letter, and for the message you so kindly sent her and her family for Christmas. Her Majesty was pleased to hear that you have many happy memories of your visit to England last year, and thanks you very much for your good wishes, and for the kindness in writing as you did.
                                      Jennifer E. Lennox   Lady in waiting

[WOW]

That's so awesome Teagls  :happy:

[Beebs]

Wow, that's great Eagles! Thanks for sharing! :hug:

[~Sophia~]

Norwich Castle

This royal palace, one of the most architecturally elaborate of the period, was a favorite country residence of Queen Elizabeth I.

[Jenee]

it said,
dear Mr. ****,
The Queen wishes me to write and thank you for your letter, and for the message you so kindly sent her and her family for Christmas. Her Majesty was pleased to hear that you have many happy memories of your visit to England last year, and thanks you very much for your good wishes, and for the kindness in writing as you did.
Jennifer E. Lennox Lady in waiting

Very cool-- so someone actually does read the letters! Good to know ;)

[Smartie**]

Have any ideas on where Prince William and Harry might reside when they get married?
I was thinking St. James Palace. :)

[lizzie2106]

Do you have pics of Gatcombe Park and Highgrove?

[Windsor]

As Gatcombe Park and Highgrove House are private residences, not many pictures are available.

Highgrove House

The House
Reception Room
Gardens

Gatcombe Park

The House
Painting of the House

[lizzie2106]

Thanks Windsor :hug:

[HM Queen Cheryl]

I prefer Balmoral to all the others.
:happy:

[PrincessKLS]

Just out of curiosity, where do you think the royals eat in each palace during a normal night? I assume they have dining rooms for more formal visits and banquets but they must have their own "kitchen" or "dining room".

[busyme]

Some of these links need to be updated over half of them don't work and are listed as page not found. ;)

[truly_thata]

 lovely castle :flowers: no wonder mom mids dying to married KM with William.... :rolleyes: