Buckingham Palace
Of course visiting Buckingham Palace for a tour and the changing of the guard was requisite. Buckingham Palace was originally known as Buckingham House and was built in 1703 for the Duke of Buckingham. King George III then bought it in 1761. Construction of the 775-room palace we see today began in 1825, and it’s been the official London residence for all reigning monarchs since Queen Victoria took up residence in 1837. It contains 775 rooms, featuring 19 State Rooms, the Grand Ballroom, and the Picture Gallery. The Ballroom is the largest room in the palace, finished in 1855 and used for state banquets and investitures. The Throne Room is the setting for formal court functions and royal wedding photos. The Picture Gallery is lined with masterpieces by Rembrandt, Rubens, and Vermeer.
Hampton Palace
Next it was on to Hampton Palace. After driving southwest through London, we arrived at Hampton Court and the Ornamental Gardens of Henry VIII. The Palace was built for Henry VIII by Cardinal Thomas Woolsey. The old portion is in the Tudor style and the newer portion, upgraded by Christopher Wren, in the Renaissance style. The differences are marked. The gardens were magnificent, covering 60 acres included the world’s largest Grape vine, planted in 1769, The Great Maze, and an English Knot Garden.
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