48-650: Friary Court is a part of St James's Palace in London , England . It is used after the death of a reigning monarch. The Accession Council meets to declare the new monarch from the deceased monarch's line. Once the monarch has made a sacred oath to the council, the Garter King of Arms steps onto the Proclamation Gallery which overlooks Friary Court to announce the new monarch. Friary Court has also been used in association with several other ceremonial functions, such as
96-621: A "pleasant royal house". Two of Henry VIII's children died at Saint James's, Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Richmond and Somerset , and Mary I . Elizabeth I often resided at the palace, and is said to have spent the night there while waiting for the Spanish Armada to sail up the Channel. Prince Henry, Prince of Wales , the eldest son of King James and Anne of Denmark , lived at St James's Palace until his death in 1612. The gardens were improved for him by Alphonsus Fowle. A riding school, one of
144-408: A central clock dominating the uppermost floor and gable; the clock is a later addition and dates from 1731, refurbished 1834. The palace is decorated with the initials H.A. for Henry and his second wife, Anne Boleyn . Henry had the palace constructed in red brick, with detail picked out in darker brick. The palace was remodelled in 1544, with ceilings painted by Hans Holbein and was described as
192-537: A fire destroyed part of St James's Palace, including the monarch's private apartments at the south-east corner. These apartments were not replaced, leaving the Queen's Chapel isolated from the rest of the palace by an open area, where Marlborough Road now runs between the two buildings. The royal family began spending the majority of their time at Buckingham House, with St James's used for only formal occasions; thrice-weekly levées and public audiences were still held there. In
240-540: A grand mansion with coach house, stables, and a view over the Thames, all within the palace network. Charles II commissioned minor works, but made extensive renovations. Like his father, he died at the palace, but from a stroke. James II ordered various changes by Christopher Wren , including a chapel finished in 1687, rebuilding of the queen's apartments ( c. 1688 ), and the queen's private lodgings (1689). The Roman Catholic chapel of James II, constructed during
288-561: A number of offices, official societies and collections, and all ambassadors and high commissioners to the United Kingdom are still accredited to the Court of St James's. The palace's Chapel Royal is still used for functions of the British royal family . Official receptions are also regularly hosted at the palace. The palace was mainly built between 1531 and 1536 in red brick , and its architecture
336-512: A period of fierce anti-Catholicism in England, attracted much criticism and also awe when it was completed in December 1686. The ceiling was adorned with 8,132 pieces of gold leaf, and at the east end of the nave an enormous marble altarpiece (40 ft (12 m) high by 25 ft (7.6 m) wide) designed by Wren and carved by Grinling Gibbons dominated the room. By 1691 the palace had become
384-524: A small town than a single building. The irregularity of the buildings was increased by the penchant of courtiers to build onto their assigned lodgings, either at their own expense or that of the king's. Stephen Fox , Charles II's Clerk of the Green Cloth , obtained permission from the Office of Works in the 1660s to build additions to the three rooms he was assigned. By the time he was finished he had constructed
432-464: Is primarily Tudor in style. The Queen's Chapel was added in the 1620s, and Clarence House was built on palace grounds directly next to the Palace in the 1820s. A fire in 1809 destroyed parts of the palace, including the monarch's private apartments, which were never replaced. Some 17th-century interiors survive, but most were remodelled in the 19th century. The palace was commissioned by Henry VIII on
480-774: Is the most senior royal palace in London , the capital of the United Kingdom . The palace gives its name to the Court of St James's , which is the monarch's royal court , and is located in the City of Westminster in London. Although no longer the principal residence of the monarch, it is the ceremonial meeting place of the Accession Council , the office of the Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps , and
528-523: Is the only integral building of the complex now standing, although it has been somewhat modified. Various other parts of the old palace still exist, often incorporated into new buildings in the Whitehall government complex. These include a tower and other parts of the former covered tennis courts from the time of Henry VIII, built into the Old Treasury and Cabinet Office at 70 Whitehall. Beginning in 1938,
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#1732844203492576-470: Is used by HM Government for official receptions, and the attached Clarence House , the former home of the Queen Mother , is the residence of King Charles III and Queen Camilla . The palace also served as the official residence of Princess Eugenie until April 2018. The nearby Queen's Chapel , built by Inigo Jones , although since the 19th century across Marlborough Road, is still considered part of
624-409: Is used to host official receptions, such as those of visiting heads of state, and charities of which members of the royal family are patrons. It forms part of a sprawling complex of buildings housing Court offices and officials' apartments. The immediate palace complex includes York House , the former home of Charles III and his sons, Princes William and Harry . Lancaster House , located next door,
672-822: The Banqueting House , some buildings survived in Scotland Yard and some facing the park, along with the so-called Holbein Gate , eventually demolished in 1769. During the fire many works of art were destroyed, probably including Michelangelo 's Cupid , a famous sculpture bought as part of the Gonzaga collections in the seventeenth century. Also lost were Hans Holbein the Younger 's iconic Whitehall Mural , including his Portrait of Henry VIII and Gian Lorenzo Bernini 's marble portrait bust of King Charles I . The Banqueting House
720-611: The Charter of the United Nations . The Proclamation Gallery is a part of St James's Palace, and it is used after the death of a reigning monarch. The Accession Council meets to declare the new monarch. Once the monarch has made a sacred oath to the council, the Garter King of Arms steps onto the Proclamation Gallery, which overlooks Friary Court , to proclaim the new monarch. Such an event last occurred on 10 September 2022 at
768-521: The English Commonwealth period. The palace was restored by Charles II following the demise of the Commonwealth, landscaping St James's Park at the same time. Mary II and Anne, Queen of Great Britain , were both born at the palace. It became the principal residence of the monarch in London in 1698, during the reign of William III , after Whitehall Palace was destroyed by fire, and became
816-522: The King's Watermen are all housed at St James's Palace. Since the beginning of the 2000s, the Royal Philatelic Collection has been housed at St James's Palace, after spending the entire 20th century at Buckingham Palace . On 1 June 2007, the palace, Clarence House and other buildings within its curtilage (other than public pavement on Marlborough Road) were designated as a protected site for
864-597: The Serjeant Painters Nicholas Lafore and Anthony Toto . Henry VIII married two of his wives at the palace—Anne Boleyn in 1533 and Jane Seymour in 1536, and died there in January 1547. Anne of Denmark 's secretary, William Fowler wrote Latin verses and anagrams for a sundial in the garden, restored by the orders of James VI and I . In 1611, the palace hosted the first known performance of William Shakespeare 's play The Tempest . In February 1613 it
912-463: The Balkan states and Turkey following the two Balkan Wars . Edward VIII when Prince of Wales used the palace as his 'town' residence until he moved into Marlborough House , and George VI as Duke of York resided there prior to his marriage in 1923. The Second Round Table Conference (September–December 1931), pertaining to Indian independence, was held at the palace. On 12 June 1941, Representatives of
960-688: The Colour Court, the Ambassador's Court, the Engine Court, and the Friary Court . The four courts remain enclosed, except for Friary Court, which in modern times is only enclosed by apartments on three sides, with the fourth side open to Marlborough Road to accommodate public gatherings. The most recognisable feature of the palace is the north gatehouse; constructed with four storeys, the gatehouse has two crenellated flanking octagonal towers at its corners, and
1008-616: The King's Surveyor of Works, was ordered expressly by William III to focus manpower on saving the architectural jewel of the complex, the Banqueting House. Wren ordered bricklayers to block up the main window on the building's south side to block the flames from entering. Around 20 buildings were destroyed to create a firebreak , but this did little to inhibit the westward spread of the flames. John Evelyn noted succinctly on 5 January: "Whitehall burnt! nothing but walls and ruins left." Besides
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#17328442034921056-507: The London residence of several members of the royal family . Built by order of King Henry VIII in the 1530s on the site of an isolated leper hospital dedicated to Saint James the Less , the palace was secondary in importance to the Palace of Whitehall for most Tudor and Stuart monarchs. Initially surrounded by a deer park and gardens, it was generally used as a hunting lodge and as a retreat from
1104-830: The Palace. While the Queen's Chapel is open to the public at selected times, the Chapel Royal in the palace is not accessible to the public. They both remain active places of worship. The offices of the Royal Collection Department , the Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps , the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood , the Chapel Royal , the Gentlemen at Arms , the Yeomen of the Guard and
1152-602: The Thames)—a total of about 23 acres (9.3 ha). It was about 710 yards (650 m) from Westminster Abbey . By the 13th century, the Palace of Westminster had become the centre of government in England, and had been the main metropolitan residence of the king since 1049. The surrounding area became a popular and expensive location. Walter de Grey , Archbishop of York , bought a nearby property as his Westminster residence soon after 1240, calling it York Place. King Edward I stayed at York Place on several occasions while work
1200-580: The United Kingdom, Canada , Australia , New Zealand , the Union of South Africa , and of the exiled governments of Belgium , Czechoslovakia , Greece , Luxembourg , Netherlands , Norway , Poland , and Yugoslavia , as well as General Charles de Gaulle of France, met and signed the Declaration of St James's Palace , which was the first of six treaties signed that established the United Nations and composed
1248-575: The administrative centre of the monarchy, a role it retains, in part. Also, at the time of the loss of Whitehall, the Chapel Royal moved its base into the castle chapel at St. James's. The first two monarchs of the House of Hanover used St James's Palace as their principal London residence. George I and George II both housed their mistresses, the Duchess of Kendal and the Countess of Suffolk respectively, at
1296-449: The christening of Prince George of Wales in the adjoining Chapel Royal . Aside from ceremonial functions it hosts royal charity events of which the royal family are an integral part. 51°30′16″N 0°08′15″W / 51.5044°N 0.1374°W / 51.5044; -0.1374 This article related to British royalty is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . St James%27s Palace St James's Palace
1344-470: The company of Anne Boleyn . The name 'Whitehall' was first recorded in 1532; it had its origins in the white stone used for the buildings. King Henry VIII hired the Flemish artist Anton van den Wyngaerde to redesign York Place, and he extended it during his lifetime. Inspired by Richmond Palace , he included sporting facilities, with a bowling green , indoor real tennis court , a pit for cock fighting (on
1392-530: The east side of the site was redeveloped with the building now housing the Ministry of Defence (MOD), now known as the Ministry of Defence Main Building . An undercroft from Wolsey 's Great Chamber, now known as Henry VIII's Wine Cellar, a fine example of a Tudor brick-vaulted roof some 70 feet (21 m) long and 30 feet (9 m) wide, was found to interfere not just with the plan for the new building but also with
1440-526: The expanding Palace of Versailles , which was to reach 2,400 rooms. At its most expansive, the palace extended over much of the area bordered by Northumberland Avenue in the north; to Downing Street and nearly to Derby Gate in the south; and from roughly the elevations of the current buildings facing Horse Guards Road in the west, to the then banks of the River Thames in the east (the construction of Victoria Embankment has since reclaimed more land from
1488-411: The first in England, was built for Henry at St James's Palace between 1607 and 1609, and then a library with sculptural decoration by Maximilian Colt . Henry also installed a menagerie with pet birds including a pair of ostriches . Charles II was born at the palace on 29 May 1630; his parents were Charles I , who ruled the three kingdoms of England , Scotland and Ireland , and Henrietta Maria ,
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1536-512: The formal court and occasionally as a royal guest house. After the Palace of Whitehall burned down , the palace took on administrative functions for the monarchy. It increased in importance during the reigns of the Hanoverian monarchs but began to be displaced by Buckingham Palace in the early 19th century. After decades of being used increasingly only for formal occasions, the move was formalised by Queen Victoria in 1837. The palace now houses
1584-434: The four corners of the earth, and the four elements. The forty rooms of the lodgings provided for King James's favourite Robert Carr, 1st Earl of Somerset included a picture gallery in a converted bowling alley. James VI and I made significant changes to the buildings, notably the construction in 1622 of a new Banqueting House built to a design by Inigo Jones to replace a series of previous banqueting houses dating from
1632-676: The largest and most complex in Europe . On 10 April a fire broke out in the much-renovated apartment previously used by the Duchess of Portsmouth , damaging the older palace structures, though apparently not the state apartments . This actually gave a greater cohesiveness to the remaining complex. At the end of 1694 Mary II died in Kensington Palace of smallpox , and on the following 24 January lay in state at Whitehall; William and Mary had avoided Whitehall in favour of their palace at Kensington. A second fire on 4 January 1698 destroyed most of
1680-407: The late 18th century, George III refurbished the state apartments but neglected the living quarters. The last monarch to take up residence at St. James's, at least part of the year, was William IV . He had earlier built Clarence House on adjacent palace grounds and connecting it to the palace. Queen Victoria formalised the move in 1837, ending the status of St James's as the primary residence of
1728-413: The monarch; it became used during her reign as a venue for courts, levees and other ceremonies. It was nevertheless where Victoria married her husband, Prince Albert , in 1840, and where, eighteen years later, their eldest child, Princess Victoria married her husband, Prince Frederick of Prussia . In 1912–1913 the palace was the venue for the international conference that arranged the treaty between
1776-700: The palace. In 1757, George II donated the Palace library to the British Museum ; this gift was the first part of what later became the Royal Collection . George III found St James's unsuitable. The Tudor palace was regarded as uncomfortable and its now built up area as not affording its residents enough privacy, or the space to withdraw from the court into family life. In 1762, shortly after his wedding, George purchased Buckingham House – the predecessor to Buckingham Palace – for his queen, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz . In 1809,
1824-551: The proclamation of King Charles III . To allow the Garter King of Arms and the trumpeters access to the balcony, workers removed the centre window the prior day and installed a temporary door. St James's Palace is still a working palace, and the Royal Court is still formally based there, despite the monarch residing elsewhere. It is also the London residence of Princess Anne , Princess Beatrice , and Princess Alexandra . The palace
1872-548: The proposed route for Horse Guards Avenue . Following a request from Queen Mary in 1938 and a promise in Parliament, provision was made for the preservation of the cellar. Accordingly, it was encased in steel and concrete and relocated 9 feet (3 m) to the west and nearly 19 feet (6 m) deeper in 1949, when construction resumed on the site after the Second World War. This was carried out without any significant damage to
1920-596: The purposes of Section 128 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 , making it a specific criminal offence for a person to trespass into the site. Whitehall Palace The Palace of Whitehall – also spelled White Hall – at Westminster was the main residence of the English monarchs from 1530 until 1698, when most of its structures, with the notable exception of Inigo Jones 's Banqueting House of 1622, were destroyed by fire. Henry VIII moved
1968-423: The remaining residential and government buildings. It was started inadvertently by a servant in an upper room who had hung wet linen around a burning charcoal brazier to dry. The linen caught fire and the flames quickly spread throughout the palace complex, raging for 15 hours before firefighters could extinguish it. The following day, the wind picked up and re-ignited the fire farther north. Christopher Wren, then
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2016-432: The remote site of a former leper hospital dedicated to Saint James the Less . He first used it as a hunting lodge for his newly enclosed deer park, St. James's Park . The new palace, secondary in the king's interest to Henry's Whitehall Palace , was constructed between 1531 and 1536 as a smaller residence to escape formal court life. Much smaller than the nearby Whitehall, St James's is arranged around four courtyards,
2064-519: The royal residence to White Hall after the old royal apartments at the nearby Palace of Westminster were themselves destroyed by fire. Although the Whitehall palace has not survived, the area where it was located is still called Whitehall and has remained a centre of the British government . White Hall was at one time the largest palace in Europe, with more than 1,500 rooms, before itself being overtaken by
2112-624: The sister of the French king Louis XIII . James II , the second surviving son of King Charles I and Henrietta Maria, was born at the palace on 14 October 1633. In 1638, Charles I gave the palace to Marie de Medici , the mother of Henrietta Maria. Marie remained in the palace for three years, but the residence of a Catholic former queen of France proved unpopular with parliament and she was soon asked to leave for Cologne . Charles spent his final night at St James's before his execution . Oliver Cromwell then took it over, and turned it into barracks during
2160-491: The site of the Cabinet Office, 70 Whitehall ) and a tiltyard for jousting (now the site of Horse Guards Parade ). It is estimated that more than £ 30,000 (several million at present-day value) were spent during the 1540s, half as much again as the construction of the entire Bridewell Palace . Henry VIII decorated his gardens with carved heraldic beasts , including unicorns, set on wooden posts. The posts were painted by
2208-474: The time of Elizabeth I . Its decoration was finished in 1634 with the completion of a ceiling by Peter Paul Rubens , commissioned by Charles I (who was to be executed in front of the building in 1649). By 1650 Whitehall Palace was the largest complex of secular buildings in England, with more than 1,500 rooms. Its layout was irregular, and its constituent parts were of many different sizes and in several different architectural styles, making it look more like
2256-550: Was carried out at Westminster, and enlarged it to accommodate his entourage. York Place was rebuilt during the 15th century and was expanded so much by Cardinal Wolsey that it was rivalled by only Lambeth Palace as the greatest house in the capital city, the King's palaces included. Consequently, when King Henry VIII removed the cardinal from power in 1530, he acquired York Place to replace Westminster (the royal residential, or 'privy', area of which had been gutted by fire in 1512) as his main residence, inspecting its possessions in
2304-462: Was the venue for the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Frederick V of the Palatinate . Anne of Denmark's apartments were painted in "antique work" by John de Critz and the fireplaces carved by Maximilian Colt . A withdrawing chamber for James VI and I featured a wind dial or compass connected to a weather vane on the roof, and the room was painted by John de Critz with a scheme of the four winds,
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