Buckingham palace

[tom_romanov]

I was watching on TV some of their private rooms in BP(I think it was the Duke of York's bedroom for example)...Apart from state rooms,it looks nothing special or rather modest...from what I have seen!

in BP they still use the same pans as those used during Queen Victoria's reign and also they dont have duvets- just sheets and blankets

[Luc]

Does anyone have a photo of the table of the Great Commanders I've never seen one....

[TampaBay]

Has anyone been to Buck House lately?

When I was there in 2000, it was discustingly filthy!

TampaBay

[TampaBay]

Why do so many monarchs and their consorts, everybody from Queen Victoria and Prince Albert to Queen Alexandra to King George V to Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh seem to dislike the palace so much.  It really seems nice, I would enjoy living there.   

-Duke of NJ

I think I am correct in stating thet Prince Charles HATES the place.

TampaBay

[CHRISinUSA]

BP is well suited for official functions, but hardly as a residence.  Just look at the floor plans posted by Architect in the Royal Interiors thread to see why.  First, the noise of the busy streets outside must make it difficult finding any peace and quiet.  And privacy is out the question:  there are 450 people who work in the palace, and 50,000 people are entertained there annually. 

Large and elegant as it is, living at BP must seem like forever staying in a hotel.

[Soane]

I know this may seem random but does anyone have any idea how big or long the grand staircase is at Buckingham Palace is it biggest staircase in England?

The Grand Staircase at Buckingham Palace is by no means the largest in England. It was first built (as was much of the original building) for the Duke of Buckingham c.1702 by William Talman or William Winde (the identity of the architect is still disputed). Originally, the stairs ran around the outside of the space until Sir William Chambers, architect of George III, built an 'imperial plan' staircase (a central flight leading to a landing flanked by two flights ascending in the opposite direction). This plan still survives today, although the stairs were altered for George IV with the installation of a vastly expensive gilt bronze balustrade modelled by Samuel Parker in 1827. In addition to this, another flight of stairs, following the direction of the central flight, was added for Queen Victoria to give access to Pennethorne's new Ballroom.
I have no idea as to the staircase's exact length, but it is neither the longest, tallest or widest staircase in the country. The magnificent staircase at Easton Neston by Nicholas Hawksmoor (c.1695-1702) is the longest cantilevered staircase in England and one of the largest overall.

[Soane]

I was watching on TV some of their private rooms in BP(I think it was the Duke of York's bedroom for example)...Apart from state rooms,it looks nothing special or rather modest...from what I have seen!

My uncle once stayed at Buckingham Palace in 2002 and although he certainly wasn't given one of the better rooms he said it was extremely comfortable and very elegantly laid out. Each of the principal guest suites is furnished with a variety of pieces from the Royal Collection and even the lesser guest rooms feature some fantastic examples of porcelain and ormolu of the highest quality.
Also, in answer to all of those people who said that BP is filthy, I have visited it several time over the last few years and found it to be spotless.

[Nikola]

I know this may seem random but does anyone have any idea how big or long the grand staircase is at Buckingham Palace is it biggest staircase in England?

The Grand Staircase at Buckingham Palace is by no means the largest in England. It was first built (as was much of the original building) for the Duke of Buckingham c.1702 by William Talman or William Winde (the identity of the architect is still disputed). Originally, the stairs ran around the outside of the space until Sir William Chambers, architect of George III, built an 'imperial plan' staircase (a central flight leading to a landing flanked by two flights ascending in the opposite direction). This plan still survives today, although the stairs were altered for George IV with the installation of a vastly expensive gilt bronze balustrade modelled by Samuel Parker in 1827. In addition to this, another flight of stairs, following the direction of the central flight, was added for Queen Victoria to give access to Pennethorne's new Ballroom.
I have no idea as to the staircase's exact length, but it is neither the longest, tallest or widest staircase in the country. The magnificent staircase at Easton Neston by Nicholas Hawksmoor (c.1695-1702) is the longest cantilevered staircase in England and one of the largest overall.

Very impressive informations Soane.
Thanks very much
You are a very welcome

[StefanOlson]

The Grand Staircase at Buckingham Palace is by no means the largest in England. It was first built (as was much of the original building) for the Duke of Buckingham c.1702 by William Talman or William Winde (the identity of the architect is still disputed). Originally, the stairs ran around the outside of the space until Sir William Chambers, architect of George III, built an 'imperial plan' staircase (a central flight leading to a landing flanked by two flights ascending in the opposite direction). This plan still survives today, although the stairs were altered for George IV with the installation of a vastly expensive gilt bronze balustrade modelled by Samuel Parker in 1827. In addition to this, another flight of stairs, following the direction of the central flight, was added for Queen Victoria to give access to Pennethorne's new Ballroom.
I have no idea as to the staircase's exact length, but it is neither the longest, tallest or widest staircase in the country. The magnificent staircase at Easton Neston by Nicholas Hawksmoor (c.1695-1702) is the longest cantilevered staircase in England and one of the largest overall.

Actually, the flight of stairs, continuing up, was added by Nash.  They originally gave access to the chapel, which George IV had intended to be the armoury, if I recall correctly. 

…Stefan
Olson Software Ltd, www.palacevirtualtours.com.
Makers of virtual tours of Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Versailles

[Soane]

[/quote]

Actually, the flight of stairs, continuing up, was added by Nash.  They originally gave access to the chapel, which George IV had intended to be the armoury, if I recall correctly. 

…Stefan
Olson Software Ltd, www.palacevirtualtours.com.
Makers of virtual tours of Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Versailles
[/quote]

Interesting. I have always wondered about issues of access to the South wing of Buckingham Palace from the Grand Staircase/State Apartments. Surely the present Ministers Staircase would have provided this point of access, to the chapel or intended armoury though, unless it wasn't built at this point?

[StefanOlson]

Interesting. I have always wondered about issues of access to the South wing of Buckingham Palace from the Grand Staircase/State Apartments. Surely the present Ministers Staircase would have provided this point of access, to the chapel or intended armoury though, unless it wasn't built at this point?

The minister's staircase wasn't part of Nash's original design.  It was added by Blore in 1838-1839.  The minister's staircase is at the north end so either way it didn’t make access any easier to the south wing because the only way to access the south wing was through the chapel via the east gallery.  It wasn’t until later that the household corridor was added.

…Stefan
Olson Software Ltd, www.palacevirtualtours.com.
Makers of virtual tours of Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Versailles

[Condecontessa]

Hi, PBS showed a show called Monarchy At Work last night, Wednesday 8-10 central time. They will show a continuation of it next week I believe. But check PBS.Org for more info. They really showed Buckingham Palace especially the kitchens. Sorry for the lateness.

P.S. I don't mean to advertise for PBS or anything like that. I'm just not positive about the time schedule for this particular show. Thanks.

[CHRISinUSA]

I've been watching that series on PBS here in the US over the past couple weeks - last night was a two-hour broadcast covering the Queen's state visit to the Balkans, the State Opening of Parliament, and an Investiture.  What I found interesting was the "preparation" scenes where members of the household staff were scurrying around getting ready for this or that.  That let's the viewer get a much better perspective of the palace than mere photos. 

My biggest impression was the sheer scale of the rooms!  One scene showed some courtier (I don't recall whom) walking the full length of the garden front - starting in the Royal Closet and continuing through the White Drawing Room, the Music Room, the Blue Drawing Room and into the State Dining Room - where the open doors to the West Gallery showed a continued vista on into the Ballroom.  That truly gave a sense of the enormity of the space.

Another showed the Queen and Duke with a visiting president and first lady (Ghana I believe) before a State Banquet.  It started with the funny scene in which the lift ddin't work and the first lady (who has trouble with stairs) had to be brought up on the luggage lift.  Then it showed them all walking from the top of the Minister's Staircase into the little lobby at the north end of the Portrait Gallery.  Having only previosuly noticed that lobby on floor plans as an inconsequential space, I was amazed at how large it truly was.  All the palace housemaids were assembled there to meet the president, and there had to be 20 -25 people comfortably standing in that Lobby at one time. 

[toddy]

I am curious about the Ministers staircase , it seems natural that there be a staircase there ..to me at least. but what was that space originally for???  and does anyone have a floor plan of the original Buckingham house  and the original palace before it was built on to ?

[Condecontessa]

Oh they've been showing it for weeks already? I missed a lot. It's such a nice show. I love seeing and hearing the queen. She's so lovely even at her later age. I like it when she said "I gander I have to give this to you" (I think she said "gander") when giving a medal or an order to this one person.