St James's Palace is one of the oldest palaces in London. It is situated on Pall Mall, just north of St James's Park. It was commissioned by King Henry VII, and sits on the site of a former leper hospital dedicated to Saint James the Younger, from whom the palace and the park took their names. The hospital was disbanded in 1532. The palace was constructed in red-brick Tudor style, and became the principal residence of the English monarch in London from 1698, when Whitehall Palace was destroyed by fire.
Queen Mary I left her heart at St James's Palace. It was buried in the palace's Chapel Royal, along with her bowels. Queen Elizabeth I slept there, as did King Charles I ... less soundly for him, for it was his final night before execution. Oliver Cromwell turned it into a barracks. King Charles II restored it and laid out St James's Park. After King George III bought Buckingham House (today known as Buckingham Palace), St James's Palace declined in importance, although it continued to be used for formal occasions. Queen Victoria formalised the move into Buckingham Palace, and ended St James's status as official residence.
Today, St James retains its role as the administrative centre of the monarchy. Foreign ambassadors are still accredited to the Court of St James's, even though they are received by the Queen at Buckingham Palace. It is the London residence of Princess Royal and Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy. Within St James's Palace is York House, the former home of the Prince of Wales and his sons; Lancaster House, used by HM Goverment for official receptions; and nearby Clarence House, the home of the late Queen Mother, and present home of the Prince of Wales.
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