Welcome to Buckingham Palace and the start of your challenge!

Built as ‘Buckingham House’ in 1703, Buckingham palace was originally constructed as a large townhouse for Duke Buckingham. In 1791, King George III bought the property as a gift for Queen Charlotte, thus earning it the name The Queen’s House.

The palace became the London residence of one of Britain’s most famous and longest reigning monarchs, Queen Victoria, in 1982.

Between 1838 and 1841 a teenager named Edward Jones, nicknamed ‘the boy Jones’ by newspapers, broke into this highly-secure building three times! He stole food from the kitchen, the Queen’s underwear from her chamber and even seized the opportunity to sit on the royal throne. He wasn’t the only thrill-seeker to undermine royal security and in 1982, Michael Fagan broke into the royal residence. He even gained access into Queen Elizabeth II’s own bedroom, in a security breach which shook a nation.

This monumental palace is so grand, it stretches across an area of 39 acres. The palace is comprised of 775 room. Of these there are 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 office, 19 state rooms and 78 bathrooms.

Take note on your next trip to Buckingham Palace, if the Queen’s royal standard flag billows high above the palace then the Queen is currently in the residence. When the Union Jack in flown instead of the royal standard flag the Queen is elsewhere. One of the Queen’s favourite places to spend the weekend is at the equally lavish royal residence of Windsor Castle.

Buckingham Palace has its own ATM insider the building. The royal family’s bank of choice, Coutts & Co., have installed and ATM in the palace’s basement.

The palace has everything it needs to be its own self-sufficient village, including a post office, movie theatre, police station and clinic.

No royal feast is complete without… sandwiches, lots and lots of sandwiches! Queen Elizabeth II hosts at least three parties every summer at London’s royal residence. Guests consume about 20,000 sandwiches at each of these parties. Forget fine-dining, sandwiches are king at these royal festivities

Many believe that there is a series of tunnels connecting Buckingham Palace to other distinguished sights across the city. Although not yet confirmed, there are rumours that underground tunnels connect this royal abode to Whitehall and the Houses of Parliament.