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Buckingham Palace is the British monarchy's administrative headquarters, but it's not your typical office.
The palace has a total of 775 rooms, including 19 State Rooms, 52 bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices, and 78 bathrooms. Parts of it open to the public for tours in the summer as well as for a limited time during December, January, and Easter. It also hosts various events, galas, and award ceremonies throughout the year.
Since it became a royal residence in 1762, much of the decor at Buckingham Palace has been remodeled, while some rooms remain as opulent as ever in their original states.
Here's how Buckingham Palace has changed over the years.
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King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth, and Princess Margaret waved from the balcony of Buckingham Palace in 1945.
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People still pack themselves in at the palace gates today.
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She was joined by the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.
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They stand on the balcony for Trooping the Colour every year.
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President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy posed with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at a banquet at Buckingham Palace in 1961.
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Michelle Obama wrote in her memoir "Becoming" that when she met Queen Elizabeth for the first time in 2009, she accidentally committed "what would be deemed as an epic faux pas" and touched the Queen.
"If I hadn't done the proper thing at Buckingham Palace, I had at least done the human thing," she wrote. "I daresay the Queen was okay with it, too, because when I touched her, she only pulled closer, resting a gloved hand lightly on the small of my back."
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Princess Diana's wedding shoes contained a hidden message .
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The couple first met in college at St. Andrews University in Scotland.
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Nash redesigned much of Buckingham Palace in the 1800s.
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There's a hidden door disguised as a mirror and cabinet where the Queen enters to greet guests.
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Buckingham Palace hosted world leaders during the Downing Street Summit in 1977.
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Queen Elizabeth hosted a dinner attended by Theresa May during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2018 and entertained guests in the Blue Drawing Room.
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Leaders from Canada, Cyprus, Australia, India, and New Zealand were in attendance.
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The message was also celebrating her Diamond Jubilee .
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Often used to accommodate large groups , the State Dining Room hosts luncheons, dinners, and other gatherings.
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The State Dining Room was designed by Sir James Pennethorne and built by Thomas Cubitt , according to the Royal Collection Trust.
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Guests are nominated and recognized for their public service at the parties.
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The Queen continues to greet guests in the Royal Tea Tent .
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The painting shows the second ball to have taken place in the new ballroom designed by Sir James Pennethorne , according to the Royal Collection Trust. Before that, balls were held in the Throne Room.
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Queen Elizabeth hosted a State Banquet in honor of King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain's visit in 2017.
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Many of the room's decorations, including the chandelier, are from the Royal Pavilion in Brighton , according to the Royal Collection Trust.
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The Queen recorded her annual Christmas Day message in the Yellow Drawing Room in 2004.
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Queen Elizabeth (then a princess) and Princess Margaret painted in the school room of Buckingham Palace when they were little.
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Students from St. Edward's Roman Catholic Primary School in Westminster met the Queen in the Education Room at the Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace.
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The entire ceiling was replaced in 1915 .
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Tickets to the gallery are available as part of State Room tours through the Royal Collection Trust .
