Today while chatting with some visitors, I was asked to find our famous Key to Buckingham Palace. If you've ever been to the Key Room, you know that finding one certain key can be a bit of a challenge. Thankfully, we have pretty detailed records of where our most notable keys are placed, so after a few minutes of digging I was able to find it. Ooohs and Ahhs ensued as onlookers imagined which famous figure might have held this key in the past. Or more likely, which famous figure's dutiful servant.
Hailing all the way back to 1936, our key to the side gate of Buckingham Palace contains lots of storied history. Did you know that Buckingham Palace wasn't always possessed by the crown? In the Middle Ages, various parties leased the residence from royal owners and it changed hands many times. It wasn't until 1837 that Buckingham Palace became the principal home of the monarchy, with Queen Victoria establishing residence there.
You might be imagining a lavish retreat with all the finest fabrics, 14k gold silverware, and spotlessly clean furnishings. In reality, Buckingham Palace was something of a fixer upper in the mid-19th century, with a significant ventilation problem and neglectful staff. All the architectural issues and staff organization problems were solved in the late 1800s, with Buckingham Palace finally taking shape as the picture of perfection we know it as today.
Nowadays, Buckingham Palace has a whopping 775 rooms and the largest private garden in London. If you can't make it to London this season to see the wonderful estate in person, head on up to The Baldpate Inn to marvel at a piece of its history instead!
Written by Danielle New
Museum Curator
