St James's Palace

St James's Palace
Name	St James's Palace
Caption	The main entrance on Pall Mall
Location	London, England
Coordinates	51, 30, 17, N...
Built	1531–1536
Architect	Henry VIII
Architecture	Tudor
Designation1	Grade I listed building
Designation1 date	5 February 1970
Designation1 number	1357295

St James's Palace. A major royal palace in London, it was commissioned by Henry VIII on the site of a former leper hospital dedicated to Saint James the Less. Although no longer the principal residence of the monarch, it remains the senior royal palace in England and the formal administrative centre of the British monarchy. The palace is the location of the Court of St James's and has been the setting for numerous historic proclamations and ceremonies for over three centuries.

History

The site was originally occupied by a leper hospital founded in the 12th century for women afflicted with leprosy, under the patronage of Saint James the Less. Henry VIII acquired the land and between 1531 and 1536 constructed a red-brick Tudor palace, partly to satisfy his desire for a residence near his newly acquired St James's Park. Several monarchs died at the palace, including Henry VIII's illegitimate son, Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Richmond and Somerset, and Mary I, whose heart and bowels were buried in the palace's Chapel Royal. The palace became the principal London residence of the monarch following the destruction of the Palace of Whitehall by fire in 1698, a status it held until Queen Victoria made Buckingham Palace the main residence in 1837. It survived the Great Fire of London in 1666 and was extensively remodeled by Sir Christopher Wren for Queen Anne and later by William Kent for George II.

Architecture

The palace's architecture is predominantly red brick in the Tudor style, with four primary courtyards: Ambassador's Court, Engine Court, Friary Court, and Colour Court. The most recognizable external feature is the imposing gatehouse on Pall Mall, flanked by polygonal turrets and bearing the monogram of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Significant later additions include the Queen's Chapel, built by Inigo Jones for Queen Henrietta Maria, which introduced pure Palladian architecture to England. The State Apartments, largely the work of William Kent, are accessed via the magnificent Ambassador's Staircase and contain notable interiors such as the Tapestry Room, which features works believed to be from the Mortlake Tapestry Works.

Royal residence and court

St James's Palace remains a working palace and a residence for members of the British royal family. It houses the London residences of The Princess Royal and Princess Alexandra. For decades, it was the London home of Princess Margaret and later of Prince Harry until his marriage. The palace is the official administrative headquarters of the Royal Collection Trust and the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood. Crucially, it gives its name to the Court of St James's, the formal court of the British sovereign, where foreign ambassadors are still accredited "to the Court of St James's".

State functions and events

The palace is a central venue for official ceremonies and state functions. The Accession Council meets at St James's Palace upon the death of a monarch to proclaim the successor, a tradition followed for every sovereign since George I. Proclamations of a new monarch are made from the Proclamation Gallery overlooking Friary Court. The palace regularly hosts receptions for organizations such as the Diplomatic Corps and investitures for honors including the Order of the British Empire. It was the venue for the christening of Prince George of Wales in 2013 and has been used for official entertaining by senior royals, including the Prince of Wales.

Chapel Royal

The Chapel Royal at St James's Palace is a Royal Peculiar under the direct jurisdiction of the monarch. The current chapel building, largely reconstructed after a fire in 1809, stands on the site of Henry VIII's original chapel. It has a distinguished musical tradition, with past organists and composers including Thomas Tallis, William Byrd, and Henry Purcell. The chapel remains in regular use for royal services and has been the setting for significant events such as the marriage of Queen Victoria to Prince Albert in 1840. The vault beneath the altar contains the urns holding the remains of Mary I and Elizabeth I.

Guard mounting

The ceremony of the Guard Mounting at St James's Palace is a key ceremonial tradition. The Foot Guards of the Household Division, in their distinctive red tunics and bearskin caps, are responsible for guarding the sovereign. The ceremony involves the Old Guard from St James's Palace being relieved by the New Guard, which typically marches from Wellington Barracks. While the sovereign's official residence is now Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London is recognized as the official headquarters of the Guard Mounting, with the Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard historically based at St James's.

Category:Royal residences in London Category:Tudor architecture in London Category:Grade I listed buildings in the City of Westminster Category:1530s establishments in England