The Majesty of Buckingham Palace: A Londoner’s Guide to the Royal Residence

There’s a quiet moment, just after the Changing of the Guard, when the crowds thin out and the gates of Buckingham Palace still stand silent under the London sky. If you’ve lived here long enough, you’ve walked past it on your way to the Tube, seen the flags flutter above the rooftops of St. James’s, or even spotted the Queen’s car leaving for Windsor on a Tuesday morning. But how many of us have actually stepped inside? For all its fame, Buckingham Palace isn’t just a postcard-it’s the beating heart of London’s royal story, and it’s closer than you think.

What You See When You’re Not a Tourist

Most visitors come for the spectacle: the red tunics, the bearskin hats, the brass bands playing ‘God Save the King’. But for Londoners, the real magic is in the details you only notice when you’re not rushing through. Look closely at the palace’s wrought-iron railings-each one is hand-forged, identical to the originals from 1850. The gates are opened and closed by footmen in tailcoats who’ve trained for months to walk without a single glance sideways. Even the flower beds outside are curated by the Royal Gardeners, who use the same heirloom varieties planted by Queen Victoria.

And the flag? That’s not just a symbol. When the Royal Standard flies, the monarch is in residence. When the Union Jack flies, they’re away. Locals know this instinctively. You’ll hear it in conversations at the pub near St. James’s Park: ‘Did you see the flag? He’s back.’ It’s a quiet ritual, like checking the weather or the price of a pint at your local.

The Palace That Wasn’t Always a Palace

Buckingham Palace wasn’t always grand. It started as Buckingham House, a townhouse bought by King George III in 1761 for his wife, Queen Charlotte. By the time Queen Victoria moved in in 1837, it was little more than a modest Georgian home. The expansion that turned it into the palace we know today was driven by one thing: London’s growing power. As the capital of an empire, Britain needed a residence that matched its global status. The east wing, with its iconic balcony, was added in 1850 to accommodate the growing royal family and state functions.

Today, 775 rooms span 39 acres. Inside, you’ll find the Grand Staircase lined with portraits of monarchs since William the Conqueror, the Throne Room where coronation gifts are displayed, and the State Rooms-open to the public only in summer. The furniture? Mostly original. The carpets? Woven in the same factory in Axminster that’s been supplying the Crown since 1755. Even the lightbulbs are custom-made to match the original gaslight fixtures.

Visiting in Summer: What You Need to Know

The State Rooms open every August. That’s when Londoners who’ve never been inside finally make the trip. If you’re planning to go, here’s how to do it right:

• Book online at least three weeks in advance. Tickets sell out faster than a Blur reunion show at Wembley.
• Arrive by 9:30 a.m. The queue starts forming at 7 a.m., but the first entry is at 9:30. You’ll avoid the worst of the heat and the tour groups.
• Take the District Line to Victoria Station. It’s quicker than the Tube to Westminster, and you’ll walk past the Royal Mews-where the gold state coaches are kept-on the way.
• Bring a light jacket. Even in August, the palace interior is cool. The air conditioning isn’t modern-it’s drafty, old stone.
• Don’t skip the garden. It’s the largest private garden in London, with a lake, a rose garden, and a 50-foot-high fountain that only runs during the tour season.

And yes, you can buy a £12 ice cream at the café inside. It’s not the cheapest in London, but it’s the only one served on Royal Worcester china.

The Royal Family’s London Life

King Charles III doesn’t live here full-time anymore. He prefers Clarence House, just down the road. But the palace still hosts 50,000 guests a year-heads of state, diplomats, and even the occasional pop star invited for a garden party. The last time I was there, I heard a group of French tourists asking why the Queen’s portrait in the Picture Gallery looked so stern. The guide smiled and said, ‘That’s because she’s still waiting for the kettle to boil.’

The royal family still uses the palace for daily life. The kitchen, tucked behind the east wing, serves meals to staff and royals alike. They use the same crockery as the 1950s. The laundry is done on-site, by hand, using the same soap made by the Royal Warrant holder since 1890. Even the royal dogs-Corgis and Dorgis-have their own quarters near the stables.

On Christmas Day, the King delivers his speech from the palace’s private sitting room. The broadcast is filmed in one take, no retakes. That’s the rule. The same one Queen Elizabeth followed for 70 years.

What’s Hidden in Plain Sight

Most people don’t know the palace has its own post office. Royal Mail delivers mail directly to the royal family every day. Addresses are written in old-fashioned copperplate: ‘His Majesty The King, Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA.’ That’s the same postcode used since 1963. If you send a letter there, you’ll get a reply from the palace staff-not the King himself, but someone who’s been trained to write in his voice.

There’s also a secret tunnel beneath the palace that leads to St. James’s Palace. It was built during WWII for safety. No one’s confirmed if it’s still in use, but locals swear they’ve seen staff walking through it at night, carrying tea trolleys.

And the famous balcony? It’s not just for waving. It’s where the royal family gathers for major celebrations: VE Day in 1945, the Jubilees, even the 2012 London Olympics closing ceremony. When the fireworks lit up the sky that night, you could see the silhouettes of the royal family standing together-just like any other family watching fireworks in Hyde Park.

Why It Still Matters in Modern London

London has changed. We’ve got street food markets in Shoreditch, rooftop bars in Canary Wharf, and a new generation that doesn’t care about titles. But Buckingham Palace? It still holds a strange kind of power. It’s not about royalty-it’s about continuity. In a city that’s constantly being rebuilt, torn down, and rebuilt again, the palace stands unchanged. The same gates, the same guards, the same flag.

It’s why, every year, thousands of Londoners line the streets for Trooping the Colour, even if they’ve seen it a dozen times. It’s why kids from Peckham and Camden still draw pictures of the palace for school projects. It’s why, when the Queen died, people left flowers not just at the gates, but outside every Tube station in the city.

Buckingham Palace isn’t just a landmark. It’s a living piece of London. It doesn’t belong to the royals alone. It belongs to the city.

What’s Next? Beyond the Gates

If you’ve seen the palace, don’t stop there. Walk down The Mall to Admiralty Arch, then turn left into St. James’s Park. You’ll find the pelicans-yes, pelicans-still being fed by hand at 3 p.m. every day, a tradition since the 1660s. Then head to the Royal Collection Trust shop near the exit. They sell reproductions of royal portraits, and the £5 postcards are the only ones in London with a genuine royal seal.

Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, take the 11 bus from Victoria to Windsor. You’ll see the same royal flag flying over Windsor Castle, and you’ll understand: this isn’t just about one building. It’s about a system, a history, a rhythm that’s been running for 300 years-and still ticks on, right here in London.