|
St. James Palace is a rambling and picturesque brick mansion of Tudor
origin built in the late 1530s. It was a primary royal residence
only briefly, mainly during the reign of Elizabeth I and during the late
17th and early 18th centuries. In 1952 Queen Elizabeth II made
her first speech as queen here. Foreign ambassadors are still
accredited to “the Court of St. James”. The name of the palace is derived
from a leper hospital dedicated to St. James the Less, which was located
here until Henry VIII replaced it with a palace designed by the artist
Holbein. The chief relic of this Tudor palace is the picturesque
four-story gatehouse or clock tower. There are no public visits to the
palace.
When Charles and Diana divorced, this palace was the official London
residence of Charles. After Diana's death, her casket rested in the
small chapel until public outcry caused the monarchy to move it to
Kensington Palace.
The palace buildings are now occupied by privileged Crown servants.
|
