Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace was originally a grand house built for

the Duke of Buckingham and was transformed into a

palace in 1826 by George IV.

Buckingham Palace is in the City of Westminster and is

the London home and workplace of the British Royal Family. It has many guest rooms for the

Queen to receive guests from all over the world. There are also large state rooms for

entertaining guests and leaders of the world.

The palace is 108 m by 120 m and stands at 24 m tall. One of the main rooms is the Picture

Gallery and is 50 m long. It contains works by famous painters including Rembrandt, van

Dyck, and Rubens. Next to the Picture Gallery is the Throne Room and the Green Drawing

Room. The Music Room is also a main room in Buckingham Palace. Since the palace chapel

was bombed in WWII, royal christenings have taken place in the Music Room. It is where the

Queen's first three children were baptised.

The garden is where the Queen's Garden Parties are held. They are usually held in July and up

to 8,000 guests are invited.

The Queen doesn't always reside at Buckingham Palace. She has other homes at Windsor and

Balmoral, but when she is in residence the Royal Flag will fly from a flag pole on the top of

Buckingham Palace. This flag is called 'The Royal Standard'.

There are 92 offices of the Royal Household situated in Buckingham Palace. There are 800

members of staff that work in the palace. Their jobs range from housekeeping to clockmaking.

Name: Subject: KS2 Geography Date: Sheet: Buckingham Palace

Read the information sheet about Buckingham Palace on the previous page and then answer the questions.

a) Buckingham Palace was originally a grand house built for who? ______

b) Who transformed the house into a palace? ______

c) In which city is Buckingham Palace? ______

d) Underline the correct answer. In which year was the house transformed into a palace?

1. 1836 2. 1846 3. 1826 4. 1816

e) Name two famous painters whose works are in the Picture Gallery? ______

f) Where were the Queen's first three children baptised? ______

g) Apart from Buckingham Palace, where else does the Queen reside? ______

h) Which month do the Queen's garden parties usually take place? ______

i) When the Queen is in residence, what is the name of the flag that flies on top of Buckingham Palace? ______

j) How many members of staff are there in Buckingham Palace? ______