Buckingham Palace

===Queen Victoria (1837–1901)===
[[File:Buckingham Palace engraved by J.Woods after Hablot Browne & R.Garland publ 1837 edited.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Buckingham Palace c. 1837, showing [[Marble Arch]] at left, a ceremonial entrance. It was moved next to [[Hyde Park, London|Hyde Park]] to make way for the new east wing in 1847.]]
Buckingham Palace became the principal royal residence in 1837, on the accession of Queen Victoria,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Royal Residences > Buckingham Palace |url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/TheRoyalResidences/BuckinghamPalace/BuckinghamPalace.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327220845/http://www.royal.gov.uk/TheRoyalResidences/BuckinghamPalace/BuckinghamPalace.aspx |archive-date=27 March 2010 |publisher=www.royal.gov.uk}}</ref> who was the first monarch to reside there; her predecessor William IV had died before its completion.<ref>Hedley, p. 10.</ref> While the [[state room]]s were a riot of [[Gilding|gilt]] and colour, the necessities of the new palace were somewhat less luxurious. It was reported the chimneys smoked so much that the fires had to be allowed to die down, and consequently the palace was often cold.<ref name="ws249">Woodham-Smith, p. 249.</ref> Ventilation was so bad that the interior smelled, and when it was decided to install gas lamps, there was a serious worry about the build-up of gas on the lower floors. It was also said that the staff were lax and lazy and the palace was dirty.<ref name="ws249"/> Following the Queen's marriage in 1840, her husband, [[Albert, Prince Consort|Prince Albert]], concerned himself with a reorganisation of the [[Royal Household|household]] offices and staff, and with addressing the design faults of the palace.<ref name="Rappaport">Rappaport, p. 84.</ref> By the end of 1840, all the problems had been rectified. However, the builders were to return within a decade.<ref name="Rappaport">Rappaport, p. 84.</ref>

By 1847, the couple had found the palace too small for court life and their growing family<ref>Harris, de Bellaigue & Miller, p. 33.</ref> and a new wing, designed by Edward Blore, was built by [[Thomas Cubitt]],<ref>''Holland & Hannen and Cubitts – The Inception and Development of a Great Building Firm'', published 1920, p. 35.</ref> enclosing the central quadrangle. The large East Front, facing [[The Mall, London|The Mall]], is today the "public face" of Buckingham Palace and contains the balcony from which the [[British royal family|royal family]] acknowledge the crowds on momentous occasions and after the annual [[Trooping the Colour]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Owens |first=Ed |title=Buckingham Palace's balcony: a focal point for national celebration |url=http://www.historyextra.com/article/feature/history-buckingham-palace-balcony-appearance-focal-point-national-celebration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170522124727/http://www.historyextra.com/article/feature/history-buckingham-palace-balcony-appearance-focal-point-national-celebration |archive-date=22 May 2017 |access-date=12 June 2017 |publisher=Immediate Media/BBC}}</ref> The ballroom wing and a further suite of state rooms were also built in this period, designed by Nash's student [[James Pennethorne]].<ref name="Twilight">King, p. 217.</ref> Before Prince Albert's death, the palace was frequently the scene of musical entertainments,<ref>Hedley, p. 19.</ref> and the most celebrated contemporary musicians entertained at Buckingham Palace. The composer [[Felix Mendelssohn]] is known to have played there on three occasions.<ref>Healey, pp. 137–138.</ref> [[Johann Strauss II]] and his orchestra played there when in England.<ref>Healey, p. 122.</ref> Under Victoria, Buckingham Palace was frequently the scene of lavish costume balls, in addition to the usual royal ceremonies, investitures and presentations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Who has lived at Buckingham Palace? |url=https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/visit/buckinghampalace/about/who-has-lived-at-the-palace |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623215833/https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/visit/buckinghampalace/about/who-has-lived-at-the-palace |archive-date=23 June 2017 |access-date=12 June 2017 |publisher=Royal Collection Trust}}</ref>

Widowed in 1861, the grief-stricken Queen withdrew from public life and left Buckingham Palace to live at [[Windsor Castle]], [[Balmoral Castle]] and [[Osborne House]]. For many years the palace was seldom used, even neglected. In 1864, a note was found pinned to the fence of Buckingham Palace, saying: "These commanding premises to be let or sold, in consequence of the late occupant's declining business."<ref name="Gardiner2006">{{Cite book |last=John Gardiner |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Dipe9nVHV3cC&pg=PA142 |title=The Victorians: An Age in Retrospect |publisher=A&C Black |date=2006 |isbn=978-1-8528-5560-4 |page=142}}</ref> Eventually, public opinion persuaded the Queen to return to London, though even then she preferred to live elsewhere whenever possible. Court functions were still held at Windsor Castle, presided over by the sombre Queen habitually dressed in mourning black, while Buckingham Palace remained shuttered for most of the year.<ref name="rob9">Robinson, p. 9.</ref>