The King's London House

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 306, 17 March 1928, Page 12

The King's London House

Buckingham Palace

This interesting article is specially written for THE SI'S by Mr Horace Wyndham, the well-known English author.

IT IS NOW just on a hundred years since Buckingham Palace came into permanent use as a residence for the Sovereign in London. Until that time the Court was always established either at St. James's Palace or Windsor Castle. The principal reason for this was that Buckingham Palace (then known as Buckingham House) offered very inferior accommodation, the rooms there beiDg dark and small and uncomfortable. In 1825, however, George IV considered it would enhance his dignity to remove himself to Buckingham Palace. The decision meant that the building would have to be almost entirely reconstructed. An unexpected hitch then occurred, for the “Faithful Commons” were not inclined to draw on the public purse, as the Brighton Pavilion and Carlton House had cost huge sums. His Majesty announced that it would be enough if the Palace were merely “repaired.” Imagining that this would only be a small matter, Parliament gave the necessary sanction. But the “First Gentleman in Europe” had very lordly ideas, and set John Nash (who designed Regent Street) to put them into practice. The “repairs” soon swallowed up the original structure, and cost the taxpayers half a million sterling. Despite the lavish amount spent on It (the entrance gates alone costing 6000 guineas), the building that resulted -was anything but “palatial,” at least in exterior. William IV refused to live there; and an Eastern potentate wrote in his diary: “Visited Buckingham Palace. I thought the front was the back.” Accustomed to Oriental magnificence, he was unimpressed by the dull, flat facade. But as time passed, things altered for the better, and the Palace at least became comfortable. In July, 1837, Queen Victoria began her long residence. Ten years later, the additions to the eastern side, including a private chapel, were begun. The architecture of this portion is typically German. The Western front, which faces the gardens, is seldom seen by the public. This is a pity, for, with its Corinthian towers and balustraded terrace, it is much the most imposing section. In 1850 the south -wing was added, containing suites for the Queen’s guests, servants’ quarters, and domestic offices, together with a new ballroom. This latter is a particularly fine apartment, with 26 windows. Adjoining it is a supperroom, the ceiling of which is painted to resemble the awning of a tent. The State apartments at Buckingham Palace consist of the throne-room, grand saloon, drawing-room, ballroom, dining-room, and library. The en-trance-hall has a tesselated floor of lapis lazuli, and painted walls and frescoed ceiling. The hall furniture Is of the William and Mary period. The grand-staircase, thronged with debutantes on a “Court” night, has a curved sweep of Carrara marble.

Down this staircase, in February 1840, passed down it, bearing the glad news that Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, had been born. The principal, or “blue” drawingroom is on the first flow, overlooking furniture belong to the Louis XV. style, and are covered with delicately worked tapestry. In this room is a very fine lacquer cabinet, originally in a mandarin’s palace at Pekin. Queen Mary being an accomplished musician, the gardens. Most of the pieces of Queen Victoria walked in bridal dress and Orange blossoms to plight her troth to the Prince Consort. In the following November 1841, heralds

there is a particularly magnificent grand piano, the case of which was painted for her from a design by Burne Jones. In the Royal Academy Exhibition of 1927 two specially admired pictures had for their subject the blue drawing-room and the Chinese Chippendale-room at Buckingham Palace. Each of these has since been purchased by the Queen. Another reception-room on the same floor was originally called the “Grand Saloon.” Next it is the throne-room, 64ft in length, with walls hung with crimson satin, and a gilded ceiling emblazoned with arms. The Throne it-

self, upholstered in crimson velvet, is placed in an alcove on the northern side. In this room are held “Evening Courts” during the summer months Just beyond is the picture gallery, which serves as a place of assembly for the guests. The State dining-room, the scene o! many historic banquets, has a -wrought ceiling and moulded panels. It looks on -the garden front. Mirrors and windows alternate. One wall contains a long line of portraits of members of the Royal Family, going back a couple of hundred years. On the prin- ! cipal buffet is a magnificent collection ! of gold and silverware and sporting j trophies. Above it is a painting oi fruit and flowers, flanked by two j smaller pictures representing scenes \ at the Coronation of King George and j Queen Mary. The fireplace is of j sienna and white marble, and, rest j ing on the mantelpiece, is a pictura of the Prince of Wales in hunting-kit. ! There is a good deal of sculpture at Buckingham Palace. Most of it is kept in a special gallery, beyond which is the library. In one of ths alcoves is a stand of guns, and in another a model of the "Royal George,f which foundered at Spithead in 1782. | A workman-like mahogany writingtable, with silver inkstand and letterbalance, occupies the centre of the room. In front of it is a comfortable swivel-chair. The private apartments at Buckingham Palace extend along the whole of the north front. Here are the bedrooms of their Majesties, together, with Queen Mary’s boudoir, and King ; George’s study and writing-room. Queen Mary’s bedroom is a spacious, I well-lit apartment, with some very beautiful furniture. The bed itself is a four-poster, with damask hangings of blue and silver, and a quilted coverlet embellished with seed-pearls. In one corner stands a magnificent Chinese cabinet, probably the best example of its kind in England. Her Majesty’s dressing-table, except for its glass top, is covered with blue brocade. On it always stands a photograph of the King, a bevelled mirror framed in diamonds. The carpet, specially woven at Stratford-on-Avon by the occupants of a crippled girls’ school, Is a blend of pink, black, and blue, with a design of birds and flowers. A handsome Amboyna wardrobe, with gold handles and limewood carvings, and a bow-fronted chest of drawers, are also In this room. The fireplace is of jade and white marble, and on the overmantel is hung a portrait of the late Duchess of Teck. In King George’s bedroom the colour-scheme is a warm crimson. This is the shade adopted for the bed hangings, canopy, and coverlet, and also for the upholstery of the chairs. Above the mantelpiece is a pleasant domestic touch in a large portrait of Princess Mary, from the brush of Ambrose McEvoy. The furniture is of ' English walnut, and the greater part of it is in Chippendale. Instead of , being papered, the walls are damask- : hung, and the room is lit by a handsome silver chandelier. As befits its illustrious occupants, I Buckingham Palace has extensive j pleasure-grounds, that is, extensive for ; London, since, with their velvety j lawns and trim flower beds, they ] cover nearly 50 acres. In one portion Is a small lake, above which, shut off by a shrubbery, is a four-roomed pavilion built for Queen Victoria. On fine summer afternoons, Queen Mary is very fond of sitting there; and, when garden-parties are given, it is in this pavilion that the principal guests are received by their Majesties. Author’s Club, London.