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Buckingham Palace swimming pool

Buckingham PalaceSwimming pools

The swimming pool at Buckingham Palace was built in 1938. It was converted from the northwest pavilion, designed by John Nash as a conservatory. The pool was built in 1938, commissioned by George VI. The young Princesses Elizabeth (later Elizabeth II) and Margaret were enthusiastic swimmers. The pool was rebuilt after suffering bombing damage during the London Blitz in September 1940. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Michael Parker were once locked in the pool having gone for a swim after a late dinner. The three-year-old Prince Charles (later Charles III) would be thrown into the pool by his father, Prince Philip, against the protestations of his nurse, Helen Lightbody. Charles and his siblings, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward all learnt to swim in the pool as children. Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, the children of the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine, also learnt to swim in the pool before their move to Windsor. The temperature of the pool was reduced in 2023 by order of Charles. Charles aims to achieve net-zero emissions from the buildings of the Royal household before the British government's target date of 2050. Charles reportedly prefers swimming in the sea. The pool is permitted to be used by senior members of the royal household who must check in advance if royal family members are planning to swim. If staff members are swimming and a member of the royal family appears, they must get out of the pool, although they are very often invited to remain swimming. Staff members will not attempt to join royals if they are already swimming, however. The exterior of the pool is covered with darkened glass to ensure privacy. No publicly available photographs exist of the interior of the swimming pool. It has been described as "basic" by a former royal aide. It is rectangular and has no loungers.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Buckingham Palace swimming pool (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors).

Buckingham Palace swimming pool
Ambassador's Court, City of Westminster Victoria

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N 51.501179 ° E -0.143792 °
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Buckingham Palace

Ambassador's Court
SW1A 1AA City of Westminster, Victoria
England, United Kingdom
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royalcollection.org.uk

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Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace (UK: ) is a London royal residence and the administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and royal hospitality. It has been a focal point for the British people at times of national rejoicing and mourning. Originally known as Buckingham House, the building at the core of today's palace was a large townhouse built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703 on a site that had been in private ownership for at least 150 years. It was acquired by King George III in 1761 as a private residence for Queen Charlotte and became known as The Queen's House. During the 19th century it was enlarged by architects John Nash and Edward Blore, who constructed three wings around a central courtyard. Buckingham Palace became the London residence of the British monarch on the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837. The last major structural additions were made in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including the East Front, which contains the well-known balcony on which the royal family traditionally appears to greet crowds. A German bomb destroyed the palace chapel during the Second World War; the Queen's Gallery was built on the site and opened to the public in 1962 to exhibit works of art from the Royal Collection. The original early-19th-century interior designs, many of which survive, include widespread use of brightly coloured scagliola and blue and pink lapis, on the advice of Sir Charles Long. King Edward VII oversaw a partial redecoration in a Belle Époque cream and gold colour scheme. Many smaller reception rooms are furnished in the Chinese regency style with furniture and fittings brought from the Royal Pavilion at Brighton and from Carlton House. The palace has 775 rooms, and the garden is the largest private garden in London. The state rooms, used for official and state entertaining, are open to the public each year for most of August and September and on some days in winter and spring.

Canada Gate
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