Where is St James’s Palace and who has lived there?
KING Charles III was proclaimed as monarch at St James' Palace following the death of his mother.
St James' Palace is steeped in history. Let's take look at it in more detail.
Where is St James's Palace?
St James' Palace is located in central London in the city of Westminster.
It began life as The Hospital of St James, which was a leper hospital founded in the twelfth century.
It is the oldest official residence in the capital, even pipping Buckingham Palace to the title.
Built in 1531 at the request of King Henry VIII, it only became a royal residence in 1837.
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The palace has a rich history with some very memorable moments taking place within its grounds and building.
In 1558, Mary Tudor signed the treaty surrendering Calais at the palace.
Who has lived at St James's Palace?
Once built, Henry VIII would often use the palace to escape the demands of his time at court.
He spent a lot of time there with Anne Boleyn during the peak of their marriage.
Boleyn's daughter, Elizabeth I, was one of the first royal residents to live at the palace during the threat posed by the Spanish Armada.
She would often leave the residence to address her troops in Tilbury.
Charles I famously spent his last night before his execution at St James' Palace and it was his son, Charles II, who restored it to its former glory after Oliver Cromwell turned it into an army barracks.
William III and Mary II were to use the palace as their primary residence but it was demoted to being the house of the mistresses of both George I and II shortly after.
It was George III who then bought and renovated Buckingham House, which became Buckingham Palace, which saw the end of St James' Palace being a principal residence of the monarchy.
In the 21st century, it is the official home of Princess Beatrice, and Princess Alexandra.
Princess Anne maintains a London residence there too.
Both Prince William and Prince Harry have lived here with their father King Charles III.
Who has been christened at St James's Palace?
The list of people christened at the palace really is a who's who of the British monarchy.
Here is a rundown of the Royal Family christenings that have taken place there:
- King Charles II - June 27, 1630
- Mary Princess Royal - November 4, 1631
- King James II - November 24, 1633
- Princess Elizabeth - January 2, 1636
- Princess Anne - March 30, 1637
- Queen Mary II - May 9, 1662
- Queen Anne - unknown day and month in 1665
- King George IV - September 8, 1762
- King William IV - September 18, 1765
- Princess Beatrice of York - December 20, 1988
- Prince George of Cambridge - October 23, 2013
- Prince Louis of Cambridge - July 9, 2018
How many rooms are in St James's Palace?
It is unknown how many rooms the palace has in total but it does hold up to 100 receptions every year.
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The red brick palace is built in the Tudor style and has four floors.
One of the most famous areas of the palace is the Chapel Royal which has held many memorable royal occasions.