The Mall is the boulevard that runs from Buckingham Palace at the western end to the Admiralty Arch and on to Trafalgar Square at its eastern end. It is closed to traffic on Sundays and public holidays, and on ceremonial occasions.
Among the sights along the Mall includes the Victoria Memorial right in front of the palace gate. Coming from Buckingham Palace down the Mall, St. James's Park is on the right while St. James's Palace, on the left. Beyond St James's Park is the Horse Guards building, where the ceremony of Trooping the Colour occurs.
The Mall was created at the same time that similar ceremonial routes were being created in other cities including Washington, D.C., Paris, Berlin, Mexico City, Vienna, St. Petersburg and Oslo. It is intended for major national ceremonies. For the same purpose, Buckingham Palace was given a new façade while the Victoria Memorial was built.
During state visits to the United Kingdom, the visiting head of state will be accompanied by the Queen in a state carriage up the Mall and the boulevard is decorated with Union Flags and the flags of the visiting head of state's country. When Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Golden Jubilee in 2002, over one million people packed the Mall to watch the public displays and the appearance of the British Royal Family on the palace balcony.
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The Mall, London
Author: Gryffindor (public domain)
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