The Home of Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth II - Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace in London is the current residence of Queen Elizabeth II (1926 - ).  She was crowned Queen of England upon the death of her father George VI in 1953.  Her 49 year reign is the second longest in British History, behind Queen Victoria (1837-1901).  Buckingham Palace is to the English what the White House is to Americans, with all the accompanying pomp and circumstance.  The event most watched at the Palace is the changing of the guard.  For more information on the British monarch, check out http://www.royal.gov.uk/

This is the front gate of Buckingham Palace - as one of 3 official royal residences, Buckingham Palace is one of the places that Queen Elizabeth stays.  Since Buckingham is in the capital city, its the place she stays the most.  The other Royal residences are Windsor Castle in Berkshire, England and the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland.  She also has private residences in Sandringham in Norfolk, England and Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland

 Queen Victoria (reigned 1837-1901) was a very popular monarch, and there are statues and monuments to her everywhere.  This one is outside Buckingham Palace.

  The changing of the guard at Buckingham is a very long, very involved process, taking over an hour.  This is one of the many bands that matched in the changing of the guard "parade."

When they change the guard at Buckingham Palace, they don't just change the 2 guys marching in front of the Palace itself.  There's a huge park around Buckingham, and there's guards at a dozen spots throughout the park.  They send these details out to relieve those far flung guards, and bring them back for the changing of the guard ceremony.