Here's Everyone Who Lived In Buckingham Palace

According to All That's Interesting, the current Royal Family of the United Kingdom is one of the oldest reigning monarchies of all time and has existed for more than 1,200 years. Since 1952, the kingdom has been under the leadership of Queen Elizabeth II, and in June 2022, the Queen became the longest-reigning living monarch, having reigned for 70 years in total. To celebrate her Platinum Jubilee, U.K. residents enjoyed a four-day holiday, and the royal family gathered at Buckingham Palace for major celebrations (via BBC).

Queen Elizabeth and the royal family have an impressive property portfolio, but the most popular location is Buckingham Palace. This edifice is the helm of all royal duties, and it has been the seat of the court since 1837. Since 1993, the Queen has added tourism value by allowing Buckingham Palace to become a public monument. Visitors can take pictures and have a glimpse of notable areas the Queen frequents, such as the garden where parties are held, and staterooms in which many ceremonies are held. However, only a handful can actually enjoy a full tour of the building, and even fewer are granted the opportunity to call it home. Which begs the question, besides Her Majesty the Queen, who else has lived inside this mammoth living space?

Another notable figure we cannot ignore is King Edward VII, who initiated many renovations of the palace during his tenure as king. Queen Victoria's first child was a daughter, but it was the arrival of her first son a year later, the future King Edward VII, which garnered much fanfare. She wrote about the new male heir in one of her diary entries, stating, "Our little boy is a wonderfully strong and large child ... I hope and pray he may be like his dearest Papa" (via BBC History Magazine).

He took up the role of King on January 22, 1901, and became very popular amongst his subjects. He had been well-prepped throughout his youthful years, obtaining the best of the best education to steer the nation properly (via Biography). During Edward's era, he introduced gold and glittery accents to the palace, giving it a Rococo upgrade (via Royal Collection Trust). He also wanted to honor his mother's reign in the front grounds, commissioning the Victoria Memorial fountain we see today.

King George VI is the current queen's late father. Until today, the story of how he became king can easily be mistaken for a Shakespearean novel. According to Vanity Fair, his brother, King Edward VIII, was the rightful successor to the throne after the passing of King George V and assumed his role of serving the country with all his might. 

The younger George's tenure turned out to be short-lived. He was madly in love with twice-divorced socialite Wallis Simpson and wished to marry her, but the law forbade a royal from marrying a divorcee. The Queen Mother, Mary of Teck, put her foot down and demanded he end the relationship but, much to everyone's shock, King Edward VIII chose to abdicate and leave the leadership role to his brother, King George VI (via Brides).

King George VI lived in Buckingham Palace throughout his tenure, and after he moved in, he discovered just how massive the place was. One day, as he walked the grounds alongside his wife, he came across a man from Newcastle living inside one of the numerous tunnels Buckingham Palace boasts (via Tootbus). As his tenure continued, the king was faced with many threats to his life and the royal residence during World War II's bombing campaigns, forcing him to temporarily move his wife and daughters, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, out of the shared family abode for their safety (via The Royal Household).

BBC reported that Queen Elizabeth II began a palace renovation a few years ago, even though Buckingham Palace had been virtually untouched since 1949 when her father, King George VI, was king. One such room is the White Drawing Room, the chosen room for family photos. Between 1947 and 2011, the room continued to boast the same features, including the massive crystal chandelier, ornate gold mirrors hung on the walls, and furniture in yellow and gold patterned upholstery. "Most people decorate their houses, mainly for fashion reasons, every 10 years or so," historian Ellen Leslie told BBC, "but this isn't what the Royal Family are into when it comes to Buckingham Palace. They want it to keep looking the same."

The queen no longer lives in Buckingham Palace, and moved into Windsor Castle in Berkshire during the pandemic in 2020 (via People). While her new residence is Windsor, she still occasionally comes back to the London palace for events.

At 72 years old, Prince Charles holds the record of being the longest-serving heir to the throne. Prince of Wales reports that his mother (then Princess Elizabeth) gave birth to him at Buckingham Palace on November 1948. Instead of a hospital ward, his parents chose to deliver him within the royal residence, choosing The Music Room as the ward. When Elizabeth became Queen, Charles was four years old, and he and his parents officially moved into the residence. 

As heir apparent, Prince Charles is next in line to the throne. When he is crowned King of England, he and his wife Camilla will reside in Buckingham Palace. They currently live in Windsor Castle, but it's believed they will move into the iconic palace. According to Daily Mail, a source shared that Charles is "firmly of the view that it's the visible symbol of the monarchy in the nation's capital and therefore must be his home."

Queen Elizabeth II's third child is Prince Andrew. He, who became the Duke of York, was also the first child Queen Elizabeth II had as a reigning monarch. She had him seven years after her coronation, and because it was custom for the nation's ruler to live in Buckingham Palace, he was birthed in the palace's Belgian suite within a makeshift hospital, as per English Monarchs. Buckingham Palace is well equipped with a hospital wing known as The Royal Mews Surgery; however, this is not used by the Queen. Instead, Dr. Timothy Evans is on hand as a general practitioner to offer the staff who work at Buckingham Palace adequate healthcare (via The Sun).

According to Woman & Home, Prince Andrew currently lives in a mansion called the Royal Lodge with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson. He moved into the estate in 2004, and Ferguson moved in four years later. He still resides there even though he has lost his royal titles due to his relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein (via Associated Press).

According to Britannica, in 1999, Prince Edward married the love of his life, Sophie Rhys-Jones, who was also in the media and communications business. Together, they became the Earl and the Countess of Wessex, a title gifted to them as a wedding present by Queen Elizabeth II.

Sophie appears to be one of the Queen's favorite people, so much so that, before she became the Countess of Wessex when she tied the knot with Edward, she was a very welcome visitor to Buckingham Palace (via Express). Sophie reportedly had her own room within the mammoth of a home, free to come and go as she pleased. 

In the 23 years since their marriage became official, Sophie went from having a room to becoming the lady of the house in charge of a private apartment in Buckingham Palace, which she shares with her husband and two children (via HITC). They use this apartment when visiting London — they currently reside in Surrey.

In a building that boasts almost 800 rooms, numerous windows, and appliances, we surely do not expect the Queen to be in charge of maintenance. According to The Royal Household, there are different departments of staffers assigned to various tasks, but The Master of the Household's Department is in charge of all domestic and hospitality events. 

The Royal Household Staff consists of over 1,000 individuals in employment. Some unique roles which remain in existence include The Royal Horological Conservator, who ensures that all the 1,000 clocks in Buckingham Palace are set to the correct time; a hereditary role called The Grand Carver, who is in charge of cutting up the meats at royal feasts; the Astronomer Royal, who is the ruler's head consultant on all astrological matters; the Chief Flag Bearer, who raises the Royal Standard flag when the Queen is in residence; and many more (via Ranker). 

Reports show that these household staff members are recruited by officials in charge, not necessarily by the Queen herself (via The Royal Household). Most of the staff hired at Buckingham Palace are made to sign a document binding them never to disclose what goes on behind closed doors. Still, perks include access to the building's facilities, including healthcare, recreational activities, and a handy ATM (via Forbes).