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Buckingham Palace is one of the most recognisable buildings on earth. It’s been known as the official residence and the administrative headquarters of the United Kingdom’s monarch for many years. Will it stay that way? That’s just one thing that may be changing about the palace as it is currently undergoing renovations. It’s a spot that millions of tourists photograph every year, and almost everyone has an opinion about it. Yet for all its fame, most people know very little about what goes on behind those iconic gates. Here are some things about Buckingham Palace that may change how you see it.<\/p>\n
The official Royal Family website<\/a> records that the site began as a comfortable family home purchased by King George III<\/a> in 1761 for his wife Queen Charlotte<\/a>. It wasn’t transformed into a palace until the 1820s under architect John Nash<\/a>, then he went so far over budget he was fired. His successor finished the job, but King William IV<\/a>, who commissioned him, never moved in either. It wasn’t until Queen Victoria<\/a> arrived in 1837 that a monarch finally called it home.<\/p>\n Buckingham Palace<\/a> has 775 rooms, including 19 State rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices, and 78 bathrooms. Tucked inside all of that are a cinema, a doctor’s surgery, a jeweller’s workshop, a swimming pool, and a working post office and ATM. Basically it has so much for residents to do that they wouldn’t have to leave often if they didn’t want to!<\/p>\n The swimming pool is an especially beloved part of the palace, and it’s located in the northwest pavilion. It’s highly secluded, and Prince William and Kate’s three children (Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis) learned to swim in the pool, reported The Times<\/a>.<\/p>\nIt has 775 rooms \u2014 including a post office, a cinema, a swimming pool, and an ATM<\/h2>\n
There’s a secret door hidden behind a mirror, and it leads straight to the King’s private apartments<\/h2>\n