Guardsman outside St James's Palace, built by Henry VIII, and still the official British Court of St.James's. It is the official residence of Her Majesty the Queen, but wherever she is living becomse the official Court for the time being. However, Ambssadors to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland are accredited to the Court of St. James;s, even though the ceremonies usually take place at Buckingham Palace. St. James's Palace houses many Crown offices, the Chapel Royal, some apartments for various members of the Royal Family, and reception rooms.
L to R: Friary Court; Palace and Grounds in early 18th C. by Johannes Kip; Cherry Seller outside the Palace, 1804.
Though St. James's is small in area, it is the most exclusive area of London for residences and businesses. Few residences remain, but there are many protected from demolition by their historic status.
Though St. James's is small in area, it is the most exclusive area of London for residences and businesses. Few residences remain, but there are many protected from demolition by their historic status.
Above, Spencer House, from Green Park. Below, L to R, Nexst to the entrance of Spencer House in St James's Place is the former residence of William Huskisson (1770-1830), government minister, and first man killed by being run over by a steam locomotive; Entrance of Spencer House in St. James's Place; Also in St. James;s Place, one of the London residences of Sir Winston Churchill.
Marlborough House, facing the Mall, was built by Sir Christopher Wren for the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough, finished in 1711. It has also been the home of some members of the royal family, particularly the Prince and Princess of Wales, later King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. Their "Marlborough House Set" included the most prominent of the aristocracy and society leaders of the late Victorian period. Today, it houses the Commonwealth Offices.
Below: Memorial to Queen Alexandra on Marlborough Rd. the adjacent Queen;s Chapel built by Inigo Jones for Catholic Queen Henrietta Maria (wife of Charles I) in 1625; Lancaster House, built for the Duke of York and Albany in 1825, a neo-classical structure now used for receptions and special events, and was the setting of Downton Abbey's scenes of Lady Rose's presentation to the King and Queen, just one of many uses in films, as a stand-in for Buckingham Palace.
Below: Memorial to Queen Alexandra on Marlborough Rd. the adjacent Queen;s Chapel built by Inigo Jones for Catholic Queen Henrietta Maria (wife of Charles I) in 1625; Lancaster House, built for the Duke of York and Albany in 1825, a neo-classical structure now used for receptions and special events, and was the setting of Downton Abbey's scenes of Lady Rose's presentation to the King and Queen, just one of many uses in films, as a stand-in for Buckingham Palace.
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