The late Queen Elizabeth never used St James’s Palace as her residence as she used Clarence House before the death of her father, King George VI, in 1952.
Her son, King Charles has neither lived in it but did use York House which is located within St James’s Palace with Prince William and Prince Harry after his separation from Princess Diana in 1992.
The red-brick building was built by King Henry VIII between 1531 and 1536 and was considered one of the top two royal residences in London by most Tudor and Stuart monarchs along with the Palace of Whitehall.
The palace now serves as the ceremonial meeting place of the Accession Council, the office of the Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps, and the London residence of several members of the royal family, including Princess Anne, Princess Beatrice, and Princess Alexandra.
The building still retains a significant ceremonial function, as it is where the Accession Council meets following the death of a monarch and where the accession of a new one takes place.
The royal website described St James’s Palace as the “setting for some of the most important events in Royal history, having been a residence of Kings and Queens of England for over 300 years until the reign of Queen Victoria.
“As the home of several members of the Royal Family and their household offices, St James’s Palace today hosts up to 100 receptions each year for charities associated with members of the Royal Family.”
