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Inside Queen Elizabeth $5 Billion Buckingham Palace

King Luxury・28 minutes read

Buckingham Palace, the British monarch's official residence dating back to the 17th century, boasts 775 rooms, including state rooms open to the public from July to October, housing valuable items like the Two Penny Blue Mauritius stamp, Queen Elizabeth II's art collection, and the iconic Imperial State Crown, while also showcasing unique pieces like Norton's astronomical clock and the Queen's Launer London handbags. Queen Elizabeth II's program of Pembrook Welsh Corgi breeding at Windsor Castle produced purebred puppies like Susan, the ancestral matriarch of her corgis, who became not only her pets but also companions and celebrities featured in various media, cultural events, and even the 2012 London Olympics.

Insights

  • Buckingham Palace, the official residence of the British monarch, houses the rare Two Penny Blue Mauritius stamp, part of Queen Elizabeth II's royal philatelic collection, known for its Queen Victoria profile and limited availability, with King George V setting a world record by acquiring one at auction in 1904 for £1,450.
  • Norton, the renowned London clockmaker in the 18th century, crafted a complex astronomical clock for King George III in 1765, now displayed in Buckingham Palace, featuring intricate sides displaying time, astronomy, and an orrery depicting the planets' orbits, showcasing innovative design and craftsmanship.

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Recent questions

  • What is the history of Buckingham Palace?

    Buckingham Palace was originally a townhouse built by the first Duke of Buckingham, later transformed into a grand palace by King George IV and Queen Victoria in the 17th century. It now serves as the official residence of the British monarch, with 775 rooms, including staterooms, bedrooms, offices, and more. The palace is valued at $5 billion and opens its state rooms to the public from July to October each year.

  • What is the significance of the Two Penny Blue Mauritius stamp?

    The Two Penny Blue Mauritius stamp is part of Queen Elizabeth II's royal philatelic collection, featuring Queen Victoria's profile. Highly sought after by collectors, only a few dozen are known to exist. King George V acquired one at an auction for £1,450 in 1904, setting a world record.

  • What is the Mosaic Fab Egg at Buckingham Palace?

    The Mosaic Fab Egg, created by Peter Carl Fabergé in 1914, is a masterpiece of jewelry and art at Buckingham Palace. It features intricate designs, precious stones, and is a significant part of the palace's collection.

  • What is the significance of Queen Elizabeth II's jewelry collection?

    Queen Elizabeth II's jewelry collection at Buckingham Palace includes the iconic Imperial State Crown, adorned with diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, rubies, and pearls, valued between £3 billion and £5 billion. It is a symbol of her reign and the British monarchy's history.

  • What is the story behind Norton's astronomical clock at Buckingham Palace?

    Norton, a renowned clockmaker in London in the 18th century, created an astronomical clock for King George III in 1765. The clock, now part of the Royal Collection Trust, is displayed in Buckingham Palace's library and features intricate designs showcasing various aspects of time and astronomy.

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Summary

00:00

"Buckingham Palace: Rich History and Treasures"

  • Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the British monarch, with a rich history dating back to the 17th century.
  • Originally a townhouse built by the first Duke of Buckingham, it was later transformed into a grand palace by King George IV and Queen Victoria.
  • The palace has 775 rooms, including staterooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, offices, a ballroom, a chapel, a cinema, a swimming pool, and a post office.
  • Buckingham Palace is valued at $5 billion and opens its state rooms to the public from July to October each year.
  • The palace houses the rare and valuable Two Penny Blue Mauritius stamp, part of Queen Elizabeth II's royal philatelic collection.
  • The stamp features Queen Victoria's profile and is highly sought after by collectors, with only a few dozen known to exist.
  • The stamp has a rich history, with King George V acquiring one at an auction for £1,450 in 1904, setting a world record.
  • The Mosaic Fab Egg, created by Peter Carl Fabergé in 1914, is a masterpiece of jewelry and art, featuring intricate designs and precious stones.
  • Queen Elizabeth II's art collection at Buckingham Palace is extensive, with over 1 million objects, including paintings, drawings, photographs, and sculptures.
  • Queen Elizabeth II's jewelry collection includes the iconic Imperial State Crown, adorned with diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, rubies, and pearls, valued between £3 billion and £5 billion.

13:44

Innovative Clockmaker and Queen's Secret Signals

  • Early Norton was a renowned clockmaker in London in the 18th century known for his innovative and complex clocks, particularly astronomical ones.
  • Norton created an astronomical clock for King George III in 1765, now part of the Royal Collection Trust and displayed in Buckingham Palace's library.
  • The clock has four unique sides displaying various aspects of time and astronomy, including a 24-hour dial, a painted landscape showing the sun's journey, and a lunette recording the date and month.
  • The left side dial shows the date, day of the week, and month, with a control system powered by gears and a back dial indicating the age and phases of the moon and tides.
  • The right side dial showcases an orrery, depicting the solar system's planets in their orbits according to the system of Cernus.
  • Norton's astronomical clock is housed in a mahogany case with silver and enamel dials, featuring a three-train fusée driven movement and a jewel old deadbeat escapement.
  • Queen Elizabeth II's iconic accessory was her Launer London handbag, a luxury leather goods company founded in 1940, known for its classic and elegant designs.
  • The Queen's handbags were custom-made by Launer, with her favorites being the Royale and Traviata models, costing over $2,000 each, featuring long handles and patent leather.
  • The Queen used her handbags as tools of communication, signaling staff and guests subtly, with specific actions like placing her bag on a table or dropping it on the floor.
  • The Queen's handbags were not just accessories but also repositories of secrets, speculated to contain items like a compact mirror, lipstick, handkerchief, mints, and a portable hook.

27:08

Queen Elizabeth's Royal Corgis: Regal Companions

  • Queen Elizabeth oversaw a program of Pembrook Welsh Corgi breeding at Windsor Castle, with her meticulously bred purebred puppies bearing The Windsor kennel name; Susan became the ancestral matriarch to all of the Queen's corgis, who were not only her pets but also her companions and confidants, accompanying her on official trips, residing in various residences, and even having a specially designed room within Buckingham Palace known as the Corgi room; the Royal corgis had a disciplined regimen for meals, health, and grooming, with their own dishes approved by veterinary experts and wicker baskets, becoming celebrities featured in media, cultural events, magazine covers, stamps, coins, and television shows, with three of them even participating in the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics.
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