Whilst not open to the public, St James’s Palace has been the setting for some of the most important events in Royal History,
Built largely between 1531 and 1536. St James’s Palace was a residence of kings and queens of England for over 300 years.
It remains the official residence of the Sovereign, although since Queen Victoria reign in 1837, the Sovereign has lived at Buckingham Palace.
Today, much survives of the original red-brick Tudor style building including the Chapel Royal and the gatehouse which is guarded by soldiers from the Queen’s Household Division when the Sovereign is in town.
Major Historical events have taken place at St James’s Palace
- Henry V111’s second wife, Anne Boleyn, stayed there the night after her Coronation.
- In 1558 Mary Tudor signed the treaty surrendering Calais back to the French
- Elizabeth I was resident during the threat posed by the Spanish Armada and set out from St James’s to deliver her rousing speech to the Troops before they set sail from Tilbury on the River Thames.
- Charles II, James II May II and Queen Anne were all born and baptised at St James’s.
- Charles I spent his final night at the Palace. In the morning he walked across St James’s Park to his execution at the Banqueting House in Whitehall.
- William IV (Duke of Clarence) was the last Sovereign to use St James’s Palace as a residence.
- Queen Victoria married Prince Albert in the Chapel Royal in 1840.
- Princess Diana resided there for a short time and her coffin was kept in the Chapel Royal before her funeral.
- St James’s Palace is still a working palace and the Royal Court is still formally based here. It is also the London residence of the Princess Royal . Princess
Beatrice of York, Princess Eugenie of York and Princess Alexandra.
- Duke and Duchess of Cambridge son “Prince George” was baptised at the Chapel Royal of St James’s Palace.
