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.

© Primary Leap Ltd. Educational Resources - PrimaryLeap.co.uk

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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?