Buckingham Palace – The Monarch’s Home
Buckingham Palace is the home of the British king or queen in London. It has been a royal home since 1837.
The palace is very big and beautiful. It has 775 rooms. There are 19 state rooms (big, fancy rooms for parties), 52 bedrooms for royal guests, 188 bedrooms for staff, 92 offices, 78 bathrooms.
The palace also has a cinema, a swimming pool, and a post office. You can even send a letter from there!
Every day, tourists come to see the Changing of the Guard. Soldiers wear red coats and tall black hats made of bearskin. They march with music. They give the job of protecting the palace to new soldiers. Many people love to watch this ceremony.
For most of the year, the palace is closed. The royal family lives and works there. But in summer (July, August, and September), some rooms open to visitors. You can see beautiful paintings, old furniture, and shiny chandeliers.
Tasks
Task 1: Choose the correct word.
1. Buckingham Palace is in (London / Paris / New York).
2. The palace has (75 / 775 / 7,750) rooms.
3. The soldiers wear (blue trousers / red coats / green hats).
4. In summer, some rooms are open for (animals / visitors / soldiers).
Task 2: True or False?
1. There is a swimming pool inside the palace. ___
2. The Changing of the Guard happens only in winter. ___
3. Visitors can go inside the palace all year. ___
Task 3: Match the word with the meaning.
Word Meaning
1. chandelier A. a shiny light hanging from the ceiling
2. bearskin B. a building where police work
3. ceremony C. the skin of a bear
4. police station D. a special event with music and marching
Task 4: Fill in the blanks. Use these words: cinema, bathrooms, summer, tourists
1. The palace has 78 _______________.
2. Many _______________ come to see the Changing of the Guard.
3. You can watch a movie in the palace _______________.
4. In _______________, some rooms open to visitors.
Task 5: Answer in one short sentence.
1. How many bedrooms are for royal guests?
2. What do the guards wear on their heads?
3. Name two things you can see inside the state rooms.
Task 6: Your opinion – write 1–2 sentences.
Would you like to visit Buckingham Palace? Why or why not?
1 488
48 671 
