The Queen is the longest-reigning monarch in British history and is still working full time despite her age. For someone who was never expected to be Queen, she has carried out her life of service with duty with devotion. There are many official royal residencies which have housed monarchs and their families over the centuries which give a glimpse into the rich history of England. Here’s my list of palaces, starting with the oldest.𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒔𝒐𝒓 𝑪𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒍𝒆 1070. The oldest continually occupied castle in the world with over 900 years of royal history! This was the primary residence for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert until his untimely death and Queen Victoria became known as the “Widow of Windsor”.𝑻𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝑳𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒏 1078. Built by William the Conqueror, it now famously houses the Crown Jewels. 6 ravens are kept at the tower at all time, and it is rumored “if the ravens leave the tower the Kingdom will fall…”𝑭𝒖𝒍𝒉𝒂𝒎 𝑷𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 1350. The site has been a residence of the Bishops of London since 704 AD, but the site dates back to 4,000 BC!𝑳𝒂𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 1435. The official London residence of The Archbishop of Canterbury, head of the Church of England. The palace is also home to the oldest garden in London.𝑯𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒕𝒐𝒏 𝑪𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒕 𝑷𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 1514. A favourite of King Henry the VIII and home to his many wives. The Church of England began here to suit the need for King Henry the VIII to have multiple wives. It also has its own chocolate kitchen!𝑺𝒕. 𝑱𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒔’𝒔 𝑷𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 1536. It is the official London residence of The Prince of Wales, The Princess Royal and Princess Alexandra, the Queen’s Cousin. Queen Elizabeth II gave her first official speech as Queen of England. This is also the oldest royal residence in the whole of the UK. 𝑲𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒐𝒏 𝑷𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 1605. Queen Victoria was born here and it is the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s official London residence. This was Princess Diana’s home after she separated from Prince Charles.𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑸𝒖𝒆𝒆𝒏’𝒔 𝑯𝒐𝒖𝒔e 1616. Built next to the now-demolished Palace of Placentia, the birthplace of Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I. Be sure not to miss the Tulip Stairs!𝑩𝒂𝒏𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑯𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆 1619. The only surviving bit of the Palace of Whitehall with the crowning jewel of Ruben’s ceiling completed in 1634.𝑲𝒆𝒘 𝑷𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 1631. The smallest of all the royal palaces. King George III hid away here while he battled mental illness after loosing the American colonies.𝑩𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒉𝒂𝒎 𝑷𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 1703. The first resident was Queen Victoria and it has over 700 rooms. Tours are available to the public towards the end of the summer while the Queen is away. 𝑷𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑾𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 1870. The site has been home to Parliament and modern democracy since the 13th century, but still retains status as a royal residence for ceremonial purposes. A copy of the Magna Carta is on display here. It is also illegal to die inside the walls of the palace!
