Travel - United Kingdom - London - Buckingham Palace

Soon after taking up residence in the new palace, however, Queen Victoria complained about the lack of space for entertaining foreign dignitaries.

So, in 1845, the architect Edward Blore was retained to enclose Nash’s forecourt on the eastern side, for the construction of staterooms and ballrooms. Buckingham Palace’s triumphal arch was moved to nearby Hyde Park.

Construction was completed in 1853, and Queen Victoria reigned until her death in 1901. Her son Edward VII ascended to the throne, and he is credited with an interior redesign of the palace, the remnants of which can still be seen today.

The home of the current monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, and her family since 1952, Buckingham Palace remains the administrative headquarters of the royal family and the site of many official events and receptions. Today, the 830,000 sq. ft. building has 775 rooms, including 19 state rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms.

The British monarch’s role in governing the United Kingdom today is largely ceremonial—in Britain’s constitutional monarchy, the monarch or sovereign is head of state. However, the power to create laws rests with Parliament, and the executive function is fulfilled by the Prime Minister.

And, Buckingham Palace continues to play an important part in the monarch’s current duties. Today, the Queen welcomes many foreign leaders to the palace for celebratory events as well as important diplomatic meetings.

Standing 25 meters high and made of 2,300 tons of gleaming white marble, the Victoria Memorial pays homage to Queen Victoria, who reigned from 1837 until her death in 1901.

The memorial was designed by Sir Aston Webb, an English architect also responsible for the main facade of Buckingham Palace. The large statues were sculpted by Sir Thomas Brock. The memorial was unveiled in 1911, one decade after Queen Victoria's death. The memorial was only completed much later, in 1924, when the last sculptures were added.

The Bromsgrove Guild of Applied Arts (1898–1966) was a company of modern artists and designers associated with the Arts and Crafts Movement, founded by Walter Gilbert. The guild worked in metal, wood, plaster, bronze, tapestry, glass and other mediums.

The Guild received a Royal Warrant in 1908.

The Guild's most famous works on public display are the main gates of Buckingham Palace and the Canada Gate both part of Sir Aston Webb's memorial scheme to Queen Victoria.

Unlike many other Arts & Crafts companies that faded away after a few decades, for instance the William Morris company, the Bromsgrove Guild survived until the early 1960s.