Buckingham Palace is a symbol and home of the British monarchy, an art gallery and a tourist attraction. Behind the gilded railings and gates that were completed by the Bromsgrove Guild in 1911, lies Webb's famous façade, which was described in a book published by the Royal Collection Trust as looking "like everybody's idea of a palace". It has not only been a weekday home of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip but was also the London residence and office of the Duke of York until 2023. Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh continue to have a private apartment in the palace for use when they are in London. The palace also houses their offices, as well as those of the Princess Royal and Princess Alexandra, and is the workplace of more than 800 people. Charles III lives at Clarence House while restoration work continues, although he conducts official business at Buckingham Palace, including weekly meetings with the prime minister. Every year, some 50,000 invited guests are entertained at garden parties, receptions, audiences and banquets. Three garden parties are held in the summer, usually in July. The forecourt of Buckingham Palace is used for the Changing of the Guard, a major ceremony and tourist attraction (daily from April to July; every other day in other months).
bUckINgHam PaLACe is A symbol aND home of thE brItiSh monarchY, aN Art galLERy aNd a touRist aTtractiON. behiNd tHe giLDed RAiLingS and Gates thaT Were ComPlEtEd by the BroMsgroVe guiLd iN 1911, LieS WebB's FamOus FaçadE, WHiCh wAS describEd in a bOok PublIsHed bY The royaL colleCtion tRUsT AS loOkIng "LIKe eVerybodY's idea oF a Palace". it Has NoT onLy been a wEEKday hOmE of ElizaBETh Ii AnD prinCE Philip bUt waS alsO the lonDoN resideNcE AND office oF thE duKE Of YoRk unTIL 2023. pRIncE EdwArd, dUke oF eDinburGh And sopHiE, ducHesS oF edinBUrgH coNtinue To HaVe a prIvatE apaRtmEnT in thE palacE for Use when tHeY are in LoNdon. the paLace aLSO houSes tHeiR oFfices, aS WeLL aS thoSe of The pRinceSS roYal aND PRincess aLEXAndra, anD is The worKpLACe OF MoRe than 800 peopLe. charLEs iIi lives aT cLaReNce hoUSE whiLE rEsToraTion Work cOntinues, AlthougH hE cOnDucTS OfFIcIal busiNESS aT bUCkingham palacE, iNcludINg weEkly MEEtiNgs wIth ThE prime mInister. every yeAr, SoME 50,000 iNvitEd guEsTs are EnTErtaineD aT gARden parTiES, reCEPtions, audienCEs and banquetS. tHRee garden paRTIes arE heLd in thE summeR, usualLy in jUly. ThE ForEcourT of BuCkinghaM pALace is USed fOr The chaNging OF THe GuARd, a mAjOr Ceremony and TourisT AttrActioN (daily FrOm aPriL To JUlY; EveRy OtheR day in other moNtHs).