St. James's Palace. Palaces of London St James's Palace
St James's Palace is located on Pall Mall on the north side of the park of the same name. There is a common belief that the British are reserved by nature, and St. James's Palace can be considered the architectural embodiment of this statement. The word “palace” itself does not fit in with its appearance.
St. James's Palace is the oldest in London and one of the royal residences, built of red brick as the second capital residence of Henry VIII. Previously, the medieval leper colony of St. stood on this site. Jacob (James in English - hence the name). The daughter of Henry VIII, Mary Tudor, died in this palace, and her entrails and heart rest in the palace chapel (architect Inigo Jones). Until 1698, English kings lived in Whitehall. This palace was located west of St. James's Park. In 1698 it burned down, the memory of it was preserved only in the name of the street. Since then, St. James's Palace has become the main seat of the royal court.
The courtiers complained about the cramped and dilapidated conditions of the premises, so they had to be constantly repaired and expanded. The monarchs themselves preferred the quieter and more comfortable Kensington Palace, and after the great fire of 1809, St. James's Palace was virtually abandoned by them. Upon her accession to the throne in 1837, Queen Victoria officially made Buckingham Palace her main residence, leaving St. James's Palace as the seat of the court of the Prince of Wales.
It seems completely incredible that this modest building with a flat roof, through the windows of which any passerby can look, is St. James's Palace. But it was here that for many centuries emperors, kings, sultans and presidents sent their ambassadors. It must be said that it is in his modesty that his charm lies. Small in size, homely, it exudes the calm and confidence of English royalty. The inner life of the palace and royal court, usually so carefully hidden from the public, is here open to all of London.
In general, over the centuries-old history of the English monarchy, the royal courts often changed their residences: under the Plantagenets, the court was located in the Palace of Westminster, under the Tudors and under the Stuarts - in Whitehall. St. James's Palace became a royal residence only under the Georges of the Hanoverian dynasty. This palace can be called the parental home of kings, since the number of princes and princesses born here is very large.
The “cradle” was started by Maria Henrietta, who fell in love with St. James and wanted to give birth to her children here. Charles II, James II, Mary II and Anna were born in this palace. There is a legend that Jacob Edward, the father of Bonnie Prince Charlie, was the queen's step-son - he was secretly brought to the palace in a metal hot water bottle to warm his bed.
St. James had another role - the residence of the royal favorites. Two of them were of dubious reputation. Madame de Beauclair is the mistress of James II and the stunningly beautiful Hortense Mancini, Duchess of Mazarin is the mistress of Charles II. A similar fate and common interests brought them closer together. Close friends became interested in spiritualism and made an agreement: the one who will die first will be the ghost of the remaining one. A few years after her death, the Duchess appeared to her friend at St. James's Palace, and a few hours later Madame de Beauclair died. This story was passed down from generation to generation and gave the palace a single, “regular” ghost.
Adjacent to the palace, St. James's Park is located on an area of 23 hectares and was formed on the site of the royal hunting grounds. King Henry VIII purchased it from Cardinal Wolsey. Many years passed before James I Stuart ordered the swamps to be drained and placed here a menagerie with strange animals - camels, crocodiles and an elephant.
Under Charles II, designer Andre Mollet restored the park in the style of the Versailles gardens. Charles II opened the park to everyone and was a frequent visitor himself. From the bridge spanning the lake you can admire two of the most magnificent views of London. From the north - St. James's Palace, from the west - Buckingham Palace, from the east - the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the domes and towers of the National Liberal Club. To the south is Clarence House, the former home of the Queen Mother. It is currently the home of Prince Charles. Members of the royal family often have picnics in the park. St. James's Park is famous for its collection of birds and a colony of pelicans - the first such bird was donated to the park by the Russian ambassador in 1664.
Well, very close to St. James's Palace is the current royal residence - Buckingham Palace.
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A rather simple and modest-looking building was built in the 16th century on the site of the former shelter of St. Jacob. Previously, these red brick walls were surrounded by a dense forest, which was turned into a park complex. Quite a lot of the original structure remains today. In particular, the Royal Chapel and the tower over the gate have been preserved since the 16th century. The general appearance of the palace embodies the common perception of the British as a reserved people.
However, this palace is interesting primarily not for its exterior or interior decoration, but for its history. This is the place where the most important events in the history of England took place. For more than 300 years, St. James's Palace has been a royal residence and many memorable dates are associated with it. And today accreditation of ambassadors of foreign states, ceremonies and much more takes place here.
At the beginning of the 19th century, there was a fire in the palace, which damaged the south-eastern part. It still hasn't been restored. It is for this reason that the Queen's Chapel, previously attached to the palace, is now located separately. This chapel is known throughout the world - Princess Diana's coffin was displayed in it. Over time, the building expanded and includes four parts - the Ambassadorial Courtyard, the Engine Courtyard, the Men's Courtyard and the Tsvetnoy Courtyard. The Tudor watch gate at the south end of St James's Street still bears the HR symbol that surmounted Henry VIII's crown. The Queen's Chapel and the Royal Chapel are available for visiting. The palace complex also includes the Lancaster House, where the royal family holds receptions.
An interesting point is that the palace has no fence and despite the fact that it is closed to the general public, passers-by can approach the windows and even see members of the royal family. Tourists love this palace very much because it is near it that the very same guardsmen whose steadfastness is known throughout the world stand guard.
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The interiors of St James's Palace are much more aesthetically pleasing than the building itself. In the 17th century, yielding to the complaints of the courtiers who complained that the palace had become cramped and old, it was finally renovated. The state chambers were expanded and redesigned. Inside, the palace is furnished with elegant furniture and decorated with exquisite tapestries and paintings. Particularly interesting is the Armory Room with a magnificent collection of armor and weapons. Since tourists do not have the opportunity to appreciate St. James's Palace from the inside, they can learn something truly interesting about the history of the royal families who lived there for a long time.
The palace was created by order of Henry VIII, one of the most scandalous kings. Excommunicated from the church, he ordered himself to be proclaimed head of the Church of England, he had six wives, two of whom were executed at his whim. The reign of this king was associated with tough reforms. St James's Palace was monogrammed with the names of the king and one of his consorts, Anne Boleyn. However, even the intertwining of their names and the knot of lovers on the fireplaces in the palace chambers did not guarantee them a long married life. After the birth of the future Queen Elizabeth, Henry rejected this wife as well. Here, in the palace, his daughter, Queen Mary Tudor, was forced to sign a decree on the surrender of Calais, the last possession of the English crown in France.
Some historians call this palace the royal maternity hospital, since many future kings were born here. Queen Maria Henrietta was the first to give birth here (both of her sons later reigned). Charles II and James II, Mary II and Queen Anne were born and baptized at St. James's Palace. Prince Albert and Queen Victoria were married in the Chapel Royal.
Many famous names of British monarchs are in one way or another connected with this palace. Today it still remains one of the important centers of business and government life in the country. This is where the Succession Council is located - it is necessary to announce the name of the heir in the event of the death of a king or queen. Meetings with some heads of foreign states are held here. St. James's Palace today is the official residence of Lady Di's children, Prince William and Prince Harry, as well as Princesses Anne and Alexandra. Throughout the year, the royal family also attends charity receptions - of which there are about a hundred each year. It is also home to the Military Diplomatic Corps, the central office of the Order of Chivalry, the Yeomanry Guard (which is different from the Yeomen who guard the Tower) and the Queen's Firemen. The most amazing sight is the changing of the guard ceremony, which takes place at the gates of the palace every day in the summer at 11:15 (in winter the ceremony is held every other day).
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St. James's Palace is one of the oldest palaces of the English monarchy, located in.
Built primarily between 1531 and 1536, it was the home of the kings and queens of England for over three hundred years. It has remained the official residence of the sovereign, although since Queen Victoria's accession to the throne in 1837, monarchs have lived in it. As the residence of several members of the royal family and their home offices, it is often used for official ceremonies. Unfortunately, for this reason, one of the most interesting attractions in London is closed to tourists.
Situated a quarter of a mile west of Charing Cross, the site was occupied in the Middle Ages by St. James's Hospital for women lepers, under the patronage of a Catholic monastery.
Henry VIII really liked this site, conveniently located near Whitehall Palace, so after a break with the Catholic religion, the land from the monastery and hospital was taken away and a new palace was built, giving it the name of St. James (James). According to Henry's plan, the palace was intended as a gift to his beloved wife Anne Boleyn. She spent the night there after her coronation. Her initials, linked with Henry's in a single knot, survive on several Tudor mantelpieces in the State Apartments. Anna was not able to live in the new palace because she was executed in 1533, and construction was completed only in 1536.
The main residence of the monarch was considered to be where all official court ceremonies took place; St. James's Palace at that time was the king's resting place. It was only after Whitehall burned down that the official residence was moved to St James's Palace.
Throne room in the 18th century Henry VIII's illegitimate son Henry Fitzroy, whom he intended to recognize as his heir, lived at the Palace until his death in 1536 at the age of seventeen.
It was at St James's Palace that Mary Tudor signed the treaty in 1558, giving Calais, the last French land to the English crown. Elizabeth I lived here during the war between England and Spain. The future Charles II and James II were born in St. James, as were many other members of the royal family. After the destruction of Whitehall Palace, all monarchs until William IV lived here.
In 1809 most of the eastern and southern parts of the Palace were destroyed by fire, but the state rooms were restored by 1813. At this time the Prince Regent (later George IV) lived at Carlton House, but his four brothers were given buildings within the palace walls. Frederick, Duke of York was given Godolphin House, now called Lancaster House, William, Duke of Clarence (later William IV) was given , now the Prince of Wales, Charles, lives there.
William IV was the last of the kings to use St James's Palace as his residence. After his death, official ceremonies were still held in the state apartments, which were remodeled by Christopher Wren and decorated by William Kent. Queen Victoria married Prince Albert at the Court Church in 1840, and Court morning services continued to be held there until 1939.
Security Tower The Tudor architectural style found clear expression in St. James's Palace. Buildings of two or three floors form four courtyards, now known as the Ambassadors' Courtyard, the Engine Courtyard, the Monastery Courtyard and Tsvetnoy.
The Guard Tower, built of red brick, stands on St. James Street. It still bears the royal monogram of Henry VIII, surmounted by his crown. The Court Church is adjacent to the tower on the western side. Archaeologists have found remains of Norman period stonework in its foundations and walls. Probably a church was also located on this site during the existence of the old hospital. On the tall brick Guard Tower is a clock dating from 1731, made by Clay, clockmaker to George II. The clock originally had only one hand. When the tower was reconstructed in 1831, the clock was also renovated. The mechanism was replaced and a minute hand was added.
Palace courtyard An arched passage through the Security Tower leads to a courtyard called “Tsvetnoy”. It is believed that the name arose in connection with the colorful uniforms of the guard of honor that are stationed there. In this courtyard, according to tradition, every day at eleven in the morning the queen's guard regiment performs a ceremony of raising the regimental standard and the new guard. It is in this courtyard that the official announcement of the name of the new monarch taking the throne takes place.
The state apartments, in the southern part of the palace, overlook. The rooms, as the guidebooks say, are spacious and beautiful, but not very large. At the top there is a gallery or guardhouse, converted into a weapons museum. The walls are tastefully decorated with daggers, muskets and swords. This room is occupied by the Yeomen of the Guard. There are only 140 Yeomen of the Guard. Their responsibilities include serving dishes to the royal table and taking care of the monarch’s luggage during travel. But their main duty is to protect the interior of the palace.
Royal reception in the 19th century The Old Chamber of Representatives, now the Tapestry Chamber. Its walls are covered with a tapestry that was made for Charles II. Here visitors awaited reception. From this room you can go to the state chambers.
In the modern Court Chamber, on a raised platform under a canopy, there is a throne upholstered in dark red velvet and decorated with gold embroidery. Pictures of British military victories and portraits of English monarchs are hung on the walls. In this room the Queen receives ambassadors and other officials on her birthday.
Throne room In the furnishings of the state rooms of the palace, many beautiful and culturally significant objects of art, a collection of weapons, tapestries, and porcelain were used.
The palace premises contain an interesting selection of royal portraits from the time of Henry VIII, including works by Van Somer, Michael Wright, Wissing and Lawrence; portraits of British military figures, executed for George IV by Reynolds and Hoppner.
During the London Olympics, rooms in St. James's Palace were rented out, according to the Associated Press. British newspaper Daily Mail reported that the cost of renting one room for the day was approximately £47,500.
Today, St James's Palace is used for ceremonial and official events. For example, Prince William and Kate Middleton posed for photos at the palace after announcing their engagement. 
The offices of the Royal Collection Department, the Diplomatic Corps, the Central Chancery of the Order of Chivalry, the Court Church, the Life Guards, the Yeomen of the Guard and the Queen's Boatmen are all located in St James's Palace. Since January 2009, Prince William and Prince Harry's Home Office has been based in the palace, although their official residence remains Clarence House.
Queen's Court Church Queen's Court Church Queen's Chapel, which was separated from the palace as a result of a fire in 1809, remains a functioning temple and can sometimes be visited. A Royal Chapel Chapel Royal, is located inside the palace and is not accessible to tourists. It is used only by the royal family. The last important ceremony that took place there was the baptism of William and Kate's son.
Royal Chapel Lancaster House, part of the St James's Palace complex, is used to accommodate official foreign delegations.
In addition to the official residence of the Prince of Wales (Clarence House), St. James's Palace also houses the London residence of the Queen's eldest daughter, Princess Alexandra.
St. James's Palace is one of the oldest palaces in London and the main official residence of the monarch of the United Kingdom. And although, since 1837, kings and queens have not lived here, this landmark of London is interesting primarily for its centuries-old history.
Once upon a time, on the site of the palace there was a shelter of St. James surrounded by forest, where people with leprosy lived. St. James's Palace got its name from the name of this shelter (the name Jacob is English James).
From 1537 and for almost three centuries, St. James's Palace served as the royal residence of English kings. King Henry VIII lived here, known for his sinister reputation (he had six wives, he divorced two, executed two wives, one died during childbirth). Historians jokingly call St. James's Palace the royal maternity hospital - many heirs to the throne were born here. Prince Albert and Queen Victoria were married in the Royal Chapel. Here, in 1997, the British said goodbye to their favorite Princess Di; the coffin with her body was taken to the chapel.
St. James's Palace is located in the heart of old London on Poll Mall, north of the park of the same name.
In 1531, King Henry VIII purchased a piece of land he liked near his main palace, Whitehall. Here he decided to build a second royal residence, intended for his beloved wife Anne Boleyn. Work on the construction of the palace was carried out according to the drawings of the German painter Hans Holbein and was completed in 1536. Unfortunately, Queen Anne was not destined to live in the new apartments - she was executed in 1534.
St. James's Palace is not distinguished by exquisite architecture. Its forms are strict and laconic. The building is rectangular in shape, made of red brick, has a flat roof, many windows and does not at all remind of the greatness of royal power. There is no fence around the building. The residence seems to speak of the restraint of the English character and at the same time emphasizes the openness of the royal family.
Over time, St. James's Palace expanded and new buildings formed four courtyards: Ambassadorial, Machine and Tsvetnoy, as well as the courtyard of the Monastery. There are two chapels at the residence:
- The small Queen's Chapel is located opposite the palace across the road. Initially, the chapel was part of the palace, but after the fire of 1809 it was separated from it. Later, the Marlborough Road was built between St James's Palace and the Chapel. Those interested can visit the church during services on Sundays from 8:30 to 11:30
- The Royal Chapel is one of the palace buildings of the 16th century that has survived to this day. This chapel is more difficult to access; it is located inside the palace and is often used by the royal family. However, you can come to the service from October to April on Sundays. The times of services are reported in The Times and Daily Telegraph newspapers.
The Royal Chapel is famous for its choir, consisting of six men and ten children, dressed in red and gold. Due to its proximity to the crown, the chapel's organists have always been the best English composers. Historians call the chapel "the cradle of English church music."
It is believed that the vaults of the chapel were painted by Hans Holbein in 1540. They are decorated with images of royal coats of arms and initials. According to another version, the painted ceiling in the chapel is a late copy of the original attributed to Holbein.
Of the original buildings, in addition to the royal chapel, the passage tower rising above the gate to the palace, several turrets and two halls in the State Chambers have survived to this day.
On the high brick tower you will see a clock dating back to 1732. Previously, it had only one hand, but during the reconstruction of the tower in 1831, the clock mechanism was replaced and a minute hand was added.
Unfortunately, tourists can only view St. James's Palace from the outside, as it is used for receptions and ceremonies. As in the old days, foreign ambassadors are accredited to St. James's Palace. The Succession Council meets in the palace to announce the new king or queen. In addition, wedding ceremonies of the royal family are held here.
It's also a great place to see the changing of the guard. Unlike Buckingham Palace, where there are always crowds of tourists, there is no fuss here and you can watch the entire ceremony up close. It takes place every day at 11:15 in the summer and every other day in the winter.
Currently, St. James's Palace is the home of Charles, Prince of Wales, and also houses the offices of his sons, Princes William and Harry.
Mansion House is the official residence of the Mayor of London. The palace is not fully open to the general public: you can only enter it on Tuesdays at 2 pm. The number of people in the group is limited (40 people). In the palace it is worth looking at the luxurious interiors, collections of paintings and the decoration of the most luxurious banquet hall.
The palace building was built in 1752, but the Great Fire of London destroyed it. After a long time, the building for the new palace was nevertheless erected in the Palladian style with Corinthian columns with gold trim. The Egyptian Hall for formal dinners is especially beautiful. An interesting fact is that the Egyptian Hall is in no way connected with the Egyptian style: in the hall you can find reflections of the Roman styles of dining halls. Now this magnificent hall is a place for official receptions.
The palace houses a collection of 17th-century Dutch and Flemish paintings, numbering 84 paintings.
Blenheim Palace
Baroque Blenheim Palace is one of the most luxurious and rich palaces in England. This is the current residence of the Duke of Marlborough, whose family still lives in this castle.
The palace is also famous for being the birthplace of Winston Churchill. An exhibition dedicated to the famous British politician is organized here for visitors.
Blenheim is rich in room decoration, vases, flowers, a library, a porcelain collection, and photographs of family members. Some rooms in the palace are rented out for various events. In 2006, the film Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was filmed here.
There is also a beautiful English-style park with a lake and waterfall near the palace. It was created in the 1760s by Lancelot Brown, who is considered the best landscape designer in England. Rare trees grow here, with signs hanging on them. The fields are always strewn with flowers of different types. The park has entertainment: a small railway, a labyrinth, a golf course, a butterfly house, giant chess.
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace is the largest palace in the world, as well as one of the most recognizable symbols of Great Britain.
The palace is the official residence of the current monarchs and is therefore closed to the public most of the time, but from August to September the Queen leaves Buckingham and is open to everyone.
Buckingham House was originally built, and then three more similar buildings were completed, which form a square in plan. The interiors of the building, as expected, amaze with luxury - cream tones and gilding predominate, many rooms are furnished in Chinese style. It houses collections of antiques, furniture, paintings and porcelain, and among its 775 rooms there is a swimming pool, its own cinema, post office, ballroom and concert halls. And all this is available to the eyes of visitors.
A special show is the changing of the royal guard, which takes place daily in summer and every other day in winter. A regiment of guards infantry, dressed in red uniforms and bearskin hats, is perhaps the most popular spectacle, which thousands of tourists come to see.
Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace was built in 1850 in London and was located in Hyde Park. It was built of iron and glass, and construction was timed to coincide with the 1851 World Exhibition. The architect of the project was Joseph Paxton.
The palace looked like a huge greenhouse. For the first time, construction without partitions was used and the interior space looked like a huge exhibition hall. At the end of the exhibition, the Crystal Palace was dismantled and moved to Sydney Hill. The place has become a favorite among townspeople for country walks. The Palace itself was famous for its many attractions.
The interpretation of the scene of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius was of great interest. The exhibition recreates the furnishings of Pompeii dwellings, which were made on the basis of casts at the excavation site.
Visitors were especially delighted by the realistic view of the Victoria Falls in South Africa and the Ethnological Museum, which represents the life of the aborigines of Africa, Australia and America. There were also Roman, Greek and Egyptian halls here.
On the lower terrace there was a greenhouse and a winter garden, fountains with pools.
After the fire in November 1936, the Palace was not restored. In 1990, a museum dedicated to the Crystal Palace was opened. One of the districts of London, a railway station, a complex of television towers and a football club are named after the palace.
Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace is located in west London. The building is small in size and built, as if on purpose, very modestly. The palace is the residence of representatives of the high families of Gloucester and Kent.
Initially, the palace was built as a country house for the Earl of Nottingham. The house was later purchased by King William III, who entrusted the reconstruction to the architect Christopher Wren. During Anna's reign, a garden was laid out near the palace. Today in the park there is a sculpture of Queen Victoria, who was born in this palace and became head of state at the age of eighteen.
After her marriage, Princess Diana lived constantly in the palace until her death, and currently her son William and his wife have settled there.
At the gates in front of Kensington Palace, almost every day there is a sea of flowers, as a tribute to the residents’ recognition of their Queen Diana.
Lambeth Palace
Lambeth Palace is located near London, in the town of Lambeth, on the right bank of the River Thames. The palace serves as the residence of the clergy of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The first buildings of the palace that have survived to this day date back to the 13th century. This is a Gothic chapel and a Lollard tower where so-called dissenters were held during the English Revolution.
Over the course of several centuries, the appearance of the palace was constantly changing, and reconstruction of the interior was carried out. A brick entrance to the courtyard appeared, and living rooms were added.
The palace houses an ancient collection of portraits of archbishops, works by famous artists Holbein, Hogarth, van Dyck and others.
In the main hall of the palace there is a library, which was founded in 1610. Today there are about 40 thousand volumes, including the well-known Guttenberg Bible and the Lambeth Bible.
St James's Palace
One of the ancient palaces in London - St. James's is located near Pall Mall Park. In the Middle Ages, on this site there was a hospital of St. James for people with leprosy.
The palace is a deliberately modest building made of red brick. At one time it was considered the second capital residence of Henry VIII. The crypt of St James's Palace contains the entrails of Mary Tudor, Henry's mother.
St James's Palace has been the main residence of the royal courtiers since 1698, before which they lived in Whitehall. Representatives of the Royal Court were constantly dissatisfied with the dilapidated housing and poor living conditions. Members of the royal family preferred to live in Kensington Palace.
After the fire of 1809, only the main tower survived, which is a good example of Tudor architecture.
A fascinating spectacle takes place near St. James's Palace - the changing of the guard, which always attracts a large number of spectators.
Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court will appeal to both history buffs and architecture buffs.
Most often, Hampton Court is associated with the name of Henry VIII, since during his time the palace was completed and then actively expanded, and the history of his family gave rise to a lot of legends and secrets. Employees and visitors to the castle have repeatedly claimed that they saw the ghosts of the murdered wives of Henry VIII in the corridors.
In addition to mysteries, the palace will delight visitors with numerous exhibitions, Tudor-era cuisine, completely recreated royal chambers, and beautiful gardens.
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