It was a bit sunny that day but the temperature in the City of London has been freezing cold. After alighting from the Tube Train at Victoria Station, that long arduous walk from Green Park to Buckingham Palace didn’t help dispell the wintry chill either. I was breathing cold mist in the middle of the day together with hundreds of people waiting at the palace gates for the colorful ceremony of Changing The Guard.

The palace is heavily secured by automated gold and black giant steel gates.

History tells us that Buckingham Palace was bought by George III in 1761 for his wife, Queen Charlotte, because of its proximity to St James Palace. It used to be called the Queen’s House because it served as a family home for the royalty. However, in 1820, George IV decided to reconstruct it into a palace with the help of his architect, John Nash. The king never moved to the palace.It was already in 1837 when Buckingham Palace was finally occupied by a British monarch, Queen Victoria.

The Palace’s maingate and forecourt. And the frozen Union Jack.

Today, Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the Queen in London and serves as the administrative headquarters for the royal family. It has 775 state rooms where they entertain state guests and perform royal functions such as banquets, garden parties and receptions. Tourists are welcome to enter the palace during summer when the Queen is out on a holiday in Scotland.

See related posts:

• December 25, 2007 -- Changing The Guard
• October 31, 2008 -- The witches are back
• October 27, 2008 -- Lessons from the Potter
• October 23, 2008 -- Backpacking in Europe
• September 4, 2008 -- Painting butterflies
• August 2, 2008 -- Clara and the pigeons
• July 27, 2008 -- One year after
• July 10, 2008 -- When Waterloo isn’t really a waterloo
• July 8, 2008 -- Getting on the red bus
• July 4, 2008 -- Life in a brick house