Across the road you will see the entrance to the Queen’s Gallery which houses the Royal Collection.  (Follow the link above for details of special exhibitions and to books tickets). 

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• Continue around Buckingham Gate to number 15…

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This was the home of Wilfred Scawen Blunt, a  famous diplomat, poet and traveller.   ///meal.shell.memo

 

• Return to the junction with Birdcage Walk and cross the road to enter it… 

 

On your right in Birdcage Walk you will find the Wellington Barracks – home to the Household Division – often just known as The Guards. It was named after the Duke of Wellington and is close to the Royal Palaces in case of an emergency.

 

Note the unusual plaque on the barracks railings remembering Arthur P Sullivan - a famous Australian VC - awarded for gallantry in 1919 who died here in a tragic accident.   ///aspect.softly.sparks

 

In 1702 to 1705 John Sheffield, the 1st Duke of Buckingham, built a country house to the west of St. James’s Park. In 1761 it was sold to George III, who soon renamed it “Queen’s House” as his wife, Queen Charlotte, lived here with their 15 children. George IV commissioned architect John Nash to make the house palatial, which he did between 1825 and 1828. It included a grand entrance that was later moved to become what is now the Marble Arch. 

 

In 1837, Queen Victoria became the first monarch to take up residence at the now renamed Buckingham Palace. She initiated modifications that involved moving Marble Arch to its present location in Hyde Park. Today it is the official residence of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.

 

• The East facade of the Palace has a large open space which you can cross to get closer… otherwise you might like to walk down to the edge of the lake and around it and up to the Mall…

 

The East Façade is the part of the palace most recently altered – first in 1847 and again in 1913, soon after Queen Victoria’s memorial was placed outside. The facade is in the neo-Classical style and includes the balcony on which members of the Royal Family appear on major celebrations. The gates and railings in front date from 1911.   ///stable.noses.shared