Palace of Whitehall

　　The Palace of Whitehall, also known as Whitehall Palace, is located in London, UK. It served as the main royal residence in London for the Kings of England from 1530 to 1698. Before it was destroyed by fire in the late 17th century, the Palace of Whitehall had become the largest palace in Europe, with over 1,500 rooms—larger than both the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City and the Palace of Versailles near Paris. The palace was situated near Whitehall in Westminster, London, where many British government offices were located, making Whitehall synonymous with the UK government.

　　By 1691, the Palace of Whitehall had become the largest and most complex building in Europe. The lavish apartments of the Duchess of Portsmouth were damaged by fire on April 10, 1691, but the Banqueting House remained unharmed. Queen Mary II died of smallpox in 1694 at Kensington Palace, and both she and her husband, William III, often resided there. However, another major fire broke out at the Palace of Whitehall in January 1698, destroying most of the remaining residential and governmental buildings. Only the Banqueting House, parts of Scotland Yard, and some buildings facing the park survived. Although some structures were later rebuilt or repurposed, full reconstruction was not possible due to financial constraints faced by the government. In the second half of the 18th century, much of the palace land was leased for the construction of townhouses. Many artworks were lost in the fire, including possibly Michelangelo’s sculpture "Cupid" and Hans Holbein the Younger’s famous portrait of Henry VIII.

　　The Banqueting House is the only surviving structure of the Palace of Whitehall. Although its interior has been altered over time, it still attracts many visitors who come to see its historic legacy. Other remnants of the old palace have generally been incorporated into new government buildings, such as a tower and the tennis court from the time of Henry VIII, which were converted into a banqueting hall and jewel room.

　　Palace of Whitehall Reason to visit: The largest palace in 17th-century Europe Continent: Europe Country/Region: Britain Province/State: Greater London City: London