Did you know that St James the Great wasn’t always a place of worship? Originally, this site housed a leper hospital for women. It was dedicated to Saint James the Less.
Now, standing before St James the Great, we delve into its rich history. King Henry VIII built St James’s Palace between 1531 and 1536. He wanted a retreat from court life. The palace and the chapel are both named after St James.
St James’s Palace is the most senior royal palace in London. However, Buckingham Palace is now the main royal home since 1837. Yet, the Royal Court is still formally based at St James’s Palace. This makes St James the Great an important religious site with royal connections.
Henry VIII constructed the palace in red brick. This Tudor style is still visible today. Look for the initials H.A. These stand for Henry and Anne Boleyn. They are engraved on some fireplaces in the state apartments.
Many significant events took place at St James’s Palace. Henry VIII’s son, Henry Fitzroy, died here. Mary Tudor signed the treaty surrendering Calais at St James’s Palace. Queen Elizabeth I stayed here while awaiting news of the Spanish Armada. Charles I spent his last night here before his execution.
Numerous royals were born and baptized within these walls. Charles II, James II, Mary II, Queen Anne, and James Francis Edward Stuart all came into the world here. Royal marriages also took place here. William and Mary, George III and Queen Charlotte, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and George V and Queen Mary all celebrated their weddings here.
A fire in 1809 destroyed parts of the palace. The monarch’s private apartments were lost and never replaced. This fire isolated the Queen’s Chapel from the rest of the palace.
St James’s Palace housed royal mistresses. George I kept the Duchess of Kendal here. George II housed the Countess of Suffolk. William IV was the last monarch to live here.
Today, St James’s Palace is still a working palace. Several members of the Royal Family have their London residences and household offices here. These include Princess Anne, Princess Beatrice, and Princess Alexandra. Various offices are also located here. The Royal Collection Trust, the Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps, and the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood all operate from St James’s Palace.
Each year, the palace hosts many receptions for charities associated with the Royal Family. The Accession Council meets here upon the death of a monarch. They proclaim the new monarch from St James’s Palace.
Though St James’s Palace is closed to the public, you can visit the Chapel Royal. You can also witness the Household Cavalry guards inspection. The Changing of the Guard departs from here daily towards Buckingham Palace.
So, as you stand here, remember the long and fascinating history of St James the Great. It began as a humble hospital. It rose to become a royal palace, a site of births, deaths, marriages, and pivotal historical moments. It remains a vital part of the British monarchy.