Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the British monarch. The Palace is a setting for state occasions and royal entertaining, a base for all officially visiting Heads of State, and a major tourist attraction. It has been a rallying point for British people at times of national rejoicing, national crisis and national grief. "Buckingham Palace" or simply "The Palace" is a common metonym used when referring to the source of press statements issued by the offices of the Royal Household.
The palace, originally known as Buckingham House (and still nicknamed "Buck House" by the royal family), was a large townhouse built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703 and acquired by King George III in 1762 as a private residence. It was enlarged over the next 75 years, principally by architects John Nash and Edward Blore, forming three wings around a central courtyard.
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