There are two addresses in
London that the whole world knows. One is 10 Downing Street, where the prime
Minister lives. The other is Buckingham Palace. This famous palace, first built
in 1703, is in the very centre of London.
It is two places, not one.
It is a family house, where children play and grow up. It is also the place
where presidents, kings, and politicians go to meet the Queen.
Buckingham Palace is like
a small town, with a police station two post offices, a hospital, a bar, two
sports clubs, a disco, a cinemal, and a swimming pool. There are 600 rooms and
three miles of red carpet. Two men work full-time to look after the 300 clocks.
About 700 people work in the Palace.
When theQueen gets up in
the morning, seven people look after her. One starts her bath, one prepares her
clothes, and one feeds the Royal dogs. She has eight or nine dogs, and they
sleep in their own bedroom near the Queen's bedroom. Two people bring her
breakfast. She has coffee from Harrods, toast, and eggs. Everyday for fifteen
minutes, a piper plays Scottish music outside her room and the Queen reads The Times.
Every Tuesday evening, she
meets the Prime Minister. They talk about world news and have a drink, perhaps
a gin and tonic or a whisky.