Changes to Buckingham Palace throughout the reign of Elizabeth II

This month the United Kingdom celebrated Queen Elizabeth II's 70th anniversary on the throne , also known as the Platinum Jubilee . It is no surprise that during these seven decades, Buckingham Palace has undergone a series of changes. A symbol of the monarchy, the figure of Queen Elizabeth II is intertwined with that of the palace, as both are undoubtedly important images for the United Kingdom. The Architectural Digest portal analyzed the main changes that Elizabeth II's reign brought to the architecture and design of the Palace – which is undergoing yet another renovation, which began in 2018. The changes range from the structural part, as disclosed in the 2016 Buckingham Palace Reserves Program Summary Report, to the decoration. Check it out!

History of Buckingham Palace

With a generous 77,000 m² , Buckingham Palace was built in 1703 by the (first) Duke of Buckingham and only in 1837 did it become the home of a monarch – Queen Victoria. The royal house has more than 770 rooms , which are used for official events with the British royal family. It is true that the royal family owns other palaces, but the value of Buckingham Palace is inestimable. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, her late husband and Duke of Edinburgh, began living in the palace in 1953... since then, some changes have taken place.

Touch of color and modernity

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother) had a classic and elegant taste that was reflected in the palace's decor. The image above, from 1948, was taken in honor of the silver wedding anniversary of the current monarch's parents. It is possible notice the cooler, more neutral colors , different from how the same environment is today. George V then commissioned the architect Sir Ashton Webb who installed a primary façade entirely in Portland stone in 1913. The decoration was widely criticized and labeled as "too European" in appearance. On another occasion, the façade was made of Caen stone. , but collapsed in the coal-smoke climate of London.

What did Queen Elizabeth II do at the Palace?

One of the great milestones conceived by the current monarch was the creation of the Queen's Gallery , a true jewel that serves as a public exhibition, dedicated to the display of art and objects from the Royal Collection. The space was created in 1962, replacing a chapel from the 1840s. – originally built as a conservatory in 1831 – which had been bombed during the Second World War and remained in ruins.

Queen's Gallery

Visitors to the gallery include former US President George W. Bush. The Queen's Gallery was modernised and extended in the late 1990s by architects John Simpson & Partners . The architects completed the project just in time for the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002.

Old and dangerous structure

The structural part of the palace was also modified at the request of Elizabeth II. The Palace was in serious maintenance problems and at risk of flooding or even fire . According to the Buckingham Palace Reserves Programme Summary Report, the electrical wiring, the plumbing and even the heaters were outdated since 1950 (a little after the end of World War II).