Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the British monarch in London. The Palace is a setting for state occasions and royal entertaining and a major tourist attraction. It has been a rallying point for the British people at times of national rejoicing, crisis, and grief. Originally known as Buckingham House, the building forming the core of today's palace was a large townhouse built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703 and acquired by King George III in 1762 as a private residence. It was enlarged over the next 75 years, principally by architects John Nash and Edward Blore, forming three wings around a central courtyard. Buckingham Palace finally became the official royal palace of the British monarch on the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837. The last major structural additions were made in the late 19th and early 20th century, including the present-day public face of Buckingham Palace.
