Buckingham Palace
By: Kristie L'Ecuyer
Location/ Region
Buckingham Palace is the official London residence and principal workplace of Queen Elizabeth II & the rest of the British monarch. The absolute location of Buckingham Palace is 51.5° N, 0.14° W. Its relative location is in the City of Westminister in London, England, south of Oxford, northwest of Canterbury, and east of Bristol. The region of this historical site is in Westminister, London, England, the United Kingdom, and Europe.
Place
Physical Characteristics: The English landscape is varied, ranging from flat lowlands to rolling hills and rugged mountains. Much of the country is covered in low, open heathland and wetter, rugged moorlands. The overall climate in England is called temperate maritime with a reputation for wet weather, and rain is a possibility at any time. This means that it is mild with average temperatures not exceeding lower than 0ºC in winter and not higher than 32ºC in summer. The nation has a fairly temperate climate, although the mountains of northern Britain experience harsher temperatures.
Human Characteristics: The United Kingdom has a population of more than 60 million people, most of whom are English. About 10% of the population is Scottish and around 2% are Welsh. In addition to Britons, the United Kingdom has sizable West Indian and South Asian communities. The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy governed by a strong central government and a prime minister. The Church of England is the United Kingdom's established church and almost half the population is Anglican. Other religious groups include Roman Catholics, Muslims, Hindus, and Jews. English is the principal language, but about one-quarter of the Welsh population speaks Welsh, and Gaelic is spoken in parts of Scotland. The capital of the United Kingdom is London.
Human Characteristics: The United Kingdom has a population of more than 60 million people, most of whom are English. About 10% of the population is Scottish and around 2% are Welsh. In addition to Britons, the United Kingdom has sizable West Indian and South Asian communities. The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy governed by a strong central government and a prime minister. The Church of England is the United Kingdom's established church and almost half the population is Anglican. Other religious groups include Roman Catholics, Muslims, Hindus, and Jews. English is the principal language, but about one-quarter of the Welsh population speaks Welsh, and Gaelic is spoken in parts of Scotland. The capital of the United Kingdom is London.
Human-Environment Interaction
Overall, since its primary construction in 1705, the last major structural additions were made in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including the East Front, which contains the well-known balcony on which the royal family traditionally congregates to greet crowds outside, during times of national rejoicing and crisis.
Movement
Every year some 50,000 invited guests are entertained at garden parties, receptions, audiences and banquets. The Garden Parties, usually three, are held in the summer, usually in July. The Forecourt of Buckingham Palace is used for Changing for the Guard, a major ceremony and tourist attraction, daily during the summer months; every other day during the winter. The palace itself is also a major tourist attraction in which millions of people have visited to see the Queen's Gallery to exhibit art from the Royal Collection. Also, the state rooms, used for both official and state entertaining, are open to the public each year for most of August and September, as part of the Palace's Summer Opening.