Mon, Sep 12, 2011
Buckingham Palace, the British monarch's present principal official residence, in London, was originally built as a hunting lodge by Tudor King Henry VIII. Thde mighty general duke of Buckingham bought it and transformed it into a palatial estate, but lost it trough debts. Several kings and/or their successors in waiting repeatedly rebuilt and furnished it to their vastly differing tastes, the main architect being the famous Nash, who instead of a knighthood got a trial for exceeding the budget as his then defunct king George IV instructed time and time. Its splendid art collection includes a especially rich Italians purchases. Queen Victoria's consort Albert and her party)loving heir Edward roughly give it the present magnificent state.
Mon, Sep 19, 2011
Windsor Castle was built not as a palace but retains the massive walls of a major military fortification, erected while Anglo-Norman England absorbed its Celtic neighbors. Favored by various monarchs, as by present royals, its interior was fashionable made-over and fitted with an art collection worthy of the world's largest continuously inhabited castle., yet also has its macabre moments. Restoration king Charles II Stuart especially made it a showcase of gloriously resurrected kingship.
Mon, Sep 26, 2011
The Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh is the British monarch's barely known official residence in Scotland. Unlike Edinburg castle, which overlooks the Scottish capital from a high hill like a true citadel, as do other feudal)age Scottish castles, it's more like a continental palace. Queen Mary furnished it in rich French fashion after her stay in Blois castle and shirt-lived marriage to the dolphin, until the Rizzo affair caused her flight. After Cromwellian misery, Stuart Restoration king James II would make it a grand showcase of his age's French fashion before moving to London as new king of England too.