Buckingham Palace, the best (0) known royal palace
in the world, is Buckingham Palace, the best (0) known royal palace in
the world, is (1) situated_ in Central
London. The palace takes (2)_its__ name from the
house(3) which___ was built in 1703. Sixty years later it was bought by
King George III for his wife, Queen Charlotte and became known (4) as___ the
queen's house. John Nash, the royal architect, (5) made ___ it into a palace
in the 1820s. Victoria was the (6) first ____ queen to live there (from 1837).
In the palace there(7) is ___ the Queen's Gallery which exhibits (8) items ___
from the royal art collection, (9) including ____ drawings by Leonardo da Vinci.
The first floor balcony is the scene of formal appearances by the Royal
Family on important(10) events. ___ Below it in the forecourt, the colourful
ceremony of Changing the Guard takes (11) place ____(generally every
morning from April to early August). (12)_ When __ Her Majesty the Queen is in
residence, you can see the Union Jack above the palace. Traditionally
closed to the(13) public , the State Rooms of the palace were (14) open to
tourists during the summer months in the mid-1990s. The State Rooms of
the palace are used for (15 meeting ___) heads of state and for holding
ceremonies where Her Majesty and other (16) members ____ of the Royal Family
give official titles, honours and (17) awards.