Buckingham_Palace

context: Originally known as Buckingham House, the building at the core of today's palace was a large townhouse built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703 on a site that had been in private ownership for at least 150 years. It was acquired by King George III in 1761 as a private residence for Queen Charlotte and became known as "The Queen's House". During the 19th century it was enlarged, principally by architects John Nash and Edward Blore, who constructed three wings around a central courtyard. Buckingham Palace became the London residence of the British monarch on the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837.
qas: answers: text: Buckingham House
question: What was Buckingham Palace orginally known as?

answers: text: Duke of Buckingham
question: Who was Buckingham Palace was originally built for?

answers: text: King George III
question: Which king acquired the Buckingham House in 1761?

answers: text: "The Queen's House"
question: What was Buckingham House known as when Queen Charlotte resided there?

answers: text: John Nash and Edward Blore
question: Which two architects were commissioned to enlarge Buckingham in the 19th century?

answers: text: Duke of Buckingham
question: For whom was Buckingham house originally built?

answers: text: King George III
question: Who bought Buckingham House in 1761?

answers: text: John Nash and Edward Blore
question: Who enlarged the house in the 19th century?

answers: text: 1837
question: When did the palace become the London residence for the monarchs?

context: The original early 19th-century interior designs, many of which survive, include widespread use of brightly coloured scagliola and blue and pink lapis, on the advice of Sir Charles Long. King Edward VII oversaw a partial redecoration in a Belle Époque cream and gold colour scheme. Many smaller reception rooms are furnished in the Chinese regency style with furniture and fittings brought from the Royal Pavilion at Brighton and from Carlton House. The palace has 775 rooms, and the garden is the largest private garden in London. The state rooms, used for official and state entertaining, are open to the public each year for most of August and September, and on selected days in winter and spring.
qas: answers: text: Belle Époque cream and gold
question: What colors were added in the partial redecoration overseen by King Edward VII?

answers: text: brightly coloured scagliola and blue and pink lapis
question: What original colors from the 19th century were used on the advice of Sir Charles Long?

answers: text: 775 rooms
question: How many rooms does the palace have?

answers: text: Chinese regency style
question: In which style are many of the smaller reception rooms furnished in?

answers: text: Carlton House
question: What house were many of the furniture and fittings brought from?

answers: text: Sir Charles Long
question: Who suggested the use of brightly coloured scagliola and blue and pink lapis?

answers: text: King Edward VII
question: Who oversaw the redecoration that used a Belle Époque cream and gold colour scheme?

answers: text: Chinese regency style
question: Smaller reception rooms are decorated in which style?

answers: text: Carlton House
question: Furniture and fittings were brought over from which house?

context: In the Middle Ages, the site of the future palace formed part of the Manor of Ebury (also called Eia). The marshy ground was watered by the river Tyburn, which still flows below the courtyard and south wing of the palace. Where the river was fordable (at Cow Ford), the village of Eye Cross grew. Ownership of the site changed hands many times; owners included Edward the Confessor and his queen consort Edith of Wessex in late Saxon times, and, after the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror. William gave the site to Geoffrey de Mandeville, who bequeathed it to the monks of Westminster Abbey.
qas: answers: text: river Tyburn
question: Which river runs underneath the palace?

answers: text: Edith of Wessex
question: The site of the palace was once owned by which queen consort in the late Saxon times?

answers: text: Geoffrey de Mandeville
question: Who did William the Conqueror give the site of the palace to?

answers: text: Westminster Abbey
question: The site was passed to monks from which abbey?

answers: text: Manor of Ebury
question: The site of the palace formed part of which Manor in the Middles ages?

answers: text: Eye Cross
question: What was the name of the village that grew at Cow Ford?

answers: text: Geoffrey de Mandeville
question: Who gave the site to the monks of Westminster?

answers: text: Manor of Ebury
question: What was the name of the manor that previously existed on the site?

context: Various owners leased it from royal landlords and the freehold was the subject of frenzied speculation during the 17th century. By then, the old village of Eye Cross had long since fallen into decay, and the area was mostly wasteland. Needing money, James I sold off part of the Crown freehold but retained part of the site on which he established a 4-acre (16,000 m2) mulberry garden for the production of silk. (This is at the northwest corner of today's palace.) Clement Walker in Anarchia Anglicana (1649) refers to "new-erected sodoms and spintries at the Mulberry Garden at S. James's"; this suggests it may have been a place of debauchery. Eventually, in the late 17th century, the freehold was inherited from the property tycoon Sir Hugh Audley by the great heiress Mary Davies.
qas: answers: text: Sir Hugh Audley
question: Which property tycoon inherited the property in the late 17th century?

answers: text: Eye Cross
question: Which village had fallen into decay?

answers: text: James I
question: Who established a mulberry garden on the property?

answers: text: silk
question: What product did the mulberry garden produce?

answers: text: Clement Walker
question: Who suggests that the mulberry garden is likely a place for debauchery?

answers: text: the freehold
question: What about the palace was subject to speculation in the 17th century?

answers: text: Eye Cross
question: Which village had fallen into decay but the 17th century?

answers: text: James I
question: Who sold off part of the Crown Freehold?

answers: text: mulberry
question: What type of garden did James I create?

answers: text: silk.
question: What did the mulberry garden produce?

context: Possibly the first house erected within the site was that of a Sir William Blake, around 1624. The next owner was Lord Goring, who from 1633 extended Blake's house and developed much of today's garden, then known as Goring Great Garden. He did not, however, obtain the freehold interest in the mulberry garden. Unbeknown to Goring, in 1640 the document "failed to pass the Great Seal before King Charles I fled London, which it needed to do for legal execution". It was this critical omission that helped the British royal family regain the freehold under King George III.
qas: answers: text: Sir William Blake
question: Who built the first house on the site?

answers: text: Lord Goring
question: Which owner developed much of the garden still seen today?

answers: text: Goring Great Garden
question: What was Lord Goring's garden known as?

answers: text: King George III
question: Under which king did the Royal Family regain the freehold title of the property? 

answers: text: King Charles I
question: Which king failed to execute Goring's freehold document before fleeing to London?

answers: text: Sir William Blake
question: Who owned the first house built on the site?

answers: text: Lord Goring
question: Who developed what is much of today's garden at Buckingham?

answers: text: Goring Great Garden
question: What was the name of Lord Goring Garden?

answers: text: King Charles I
question: Which king fled to London leaving allowing the Royal family to keep it's freehold on the property?

context: The house which forms the architectural core of the palace was built for the first Duke of Buckingham and Normanby in 1703 to the design of William Winde. The style chosen was of a large, three-floored central block with two smaller flanking service wings. Buckingham House was eventually sold by Buckingham's descendant, Sir Charles Sheffield, in 1761 to George III for £21,000. Sheffield's leasehold on the mulberry garden site, the freehold of which was still owned by the royal family, was due to expire in 1774.
qas: answers: text: 1703
question: In what year did William Winde design the house which forms the core of the palace?

answers: text: Sir Charles Sheffield
question: Who sold Buckingham house in 1761?

answers: text: £21,000
question: How much did George III pay for the house?

answers: text: 1774
question: In what year was the leasehold of the Mulberry site due to expire?

answers: text: two
question: How many flanking service wings did the original Buckingham House have?

answers: text: Duke of Buckingham and Normanby
question: The house which is the core of Buckingham was first built for who?

answers: text: William Winde
question: Who designed the house for the Duke of Buckingham?

answers: text: two
question: How many flanking service wings did Buckingham House have?

answers: text: George III
question: Who bought Buckingham House in 1761?

answers: text: £21,000
question: How much did George III pay for Buckingham House? 

context: Remodelling of the structure began in 1762. After his accession to the throne in 1820, King George IV continued the renovation with the idea in mind of a small, comfortable home. While the work was in progress, in 1826, the King decided to modify the house into a palace with the help of his architect John Nash. Some furnishings were transferred from Carlton House, and others had been bought in France after the French Revolution. The external façade was designed keeping in mind the French neo-classical influence preferred by George IV. The cost of the renovations grew dramatically, and by 1829 the extravagance of Nash's designs resulted in his removal as architect. On the death of George IV in 1830, his younger brother King William IV hired Edward Blore to finish the work. At one stage, William considered converting the palace into the new Houses of Parliament, after the destruction of the Palace of Westminster by fire in 1834.
qas: answers: text: a small, comfortable home
question: What did King George IV originally want the structure to be?

answers: text: new Houses of Parliament
question: King William thought about converting the palace into what after a fire destroyed the Palace of Westminster in 1834?

answers: text: John Nash
question: Which architect helped modify the house into a palace?

answers: text: 1829
question: In what year was Nash removed as architect?

answers: text: Edward Blore
question: Who was hired in 1830 to finish the work on the palace?

answers: text: 1762
question: What year did remodeling of Buckingham House begin?

answers: text: a small, comfortable home
question: What was George IV's original plan for the house? 

answers: text: 1826
question: What year did the king decide to make it into a palace?

answers: text: John Nash
question: Who was the main architect that transformed the house into the palace?

answers: text: Edward Blore
question: Who did King William IV hired to finish the work after Nash was fired?

context: Buckingham Palace finally became the principal royal residence in 1837, on the accession of Queen Victoria, who was the first monarch to reside there; her predecessor William IV had died before its completion. While the state rooms were a riot of gilt and colour, the necessities of the new palace were somewhat less luxurious. For one thing, it was reported the chimneys smoked so much that the fires had to be allowed to die down, and consequently the court shivered in icy magnificence. Ventilation was so bad that the interior smelled, and when a decision was taken to install gas lamps, there was a serious worry about the build-up of gas on the lower floors. It was also said that staff were lax and lazy and the palace was dirty. Following the queen's marriage in 1840, her husband, Prince Albert, concerned himself with a reorganisation of the household offices and staff, and with the design faults of the palace. The problems were all rectified by the close of 1840. However, the builders were to return within the decade.
qas: answers: text: Queen Victoria
question: Who was the first monarch to reside at Buckingham Palace?

answers: text: William IV
question: Who died before the palace was completed?

answers: text: 1837
question: Buckingham became a principle residence for the Royal Family in which year?

answers: text: the chimneys smoked
question: What was the problem with chimneys in the palace?

answers: text: 1840
question: At the end of which year were most of the design problems of the palace rectified under Prince Albert?

answers: text: 1837
question: When did Buckingham officially become the principle royal residence?

answers: text: Queen Victoria
question: Who was the first monarch to reside there?

answers: text: William IV
question: Who died before seeing Buckingham Palace's completion?

answers: text: the chimneys smoked
question: What was the problem with the palace's chimneys?

answers: text: Prince Albert
question: Who dealt with the design faults of the palace?

context: By 1847, the couple had found the palace too small for court life and their growing family, and consequently the new wing, designed by Edward Blore, was built by Thomas Cubitt, enclosing the central quadrangle. The large East Front, facing The Mall, is today the "public face" of Buckingham Palace, and contains the balcony from which the royal family acknowledge the crowds on momentous occasions and after the annual Trooping the Colour. The ballroom wing and a further suite of state rooms were also built in this period, designed by Nash's student Sir James Pennethorne.
qas: answers: text: Edward Blore
question: Who designed the new wing for the palace in 1847?

answers: text: Thomas Cubitt
question: The new wing was built by whom?

answers: text: "public face" of Buckingham Palace
question: What is the East front of the palace known as?

answers: text: the balcony
question: The East Front contains what famous feature?

answers: text: Sir James Pennethorne.
question: Who was the student of Nash that designed the ballroom wing?

answers: text: Edward Blore
question: Who designed a new wing for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert when they felt they needed more space?

answers: text: Thomas Cubitt
question: Who built the new wing?

answers: text: The large East Front
question: What is considered the public face of the palace?

answers: text: The ballroom wing
question: What other wing was built during this time?

answers: text: Sir James Pennethorne
question: Which of Nash's students designed The Ballroom?

context: Before Prince Albert's death, the palace was frequently the scene of musical entertainments, and the greatest contemporary musicians entertained at Buckingham Palace. The composer Felix Mendelssohn is known to have played there on three occasions. Johann Strauss II and his orchestra played there when in England. Strauss's "Alice Polka" was first performed at the palace in 1849 in honour of the queen's daughter, Princess Alice. Under Victoria, Buckingham Palace was frequently the scene of lavish costume balls, in addition to the usual royal ceremonies, investitures and presentations.
qas: answers: text: musical entertainments
question: The palace frequently hosted which type of events prior to the death of Prince Albert?

answers: text: Felix Mendelssohn
question: Which composer played at Buckingham on three occasions?

answers: text: Alice Polka
question: Which piece of music by Johann Strauss was first performed at Buckingham in honor of Princess Alice?

answers: text: lavish costume balls
question: Queen Victoria hosted which type of balls?

answers: text: musical entertainments
question: Before Prince Albert died what sort of entertainment was held at Buckingham?

answers: text: Felix Mendelssohn
question: Which composer played there on three occasions?

answers: text: Johann Strauss II
question: Who performed Alice Polka in honor of Princess Alice?

answers: text: lavish costume balls
question: What type of balls did Queen Victoria hold?

context: Widowed in 1861, the grief-stricken Queen withdrew from public life and left Buckingham Palace to live at Windsor Castle, Balmoral Castle and Osborne House. For many years the palace was seldom used, even neglected. In 1864, a note was found pinned to the fence of Buckingham Palace, saying: "These commanding premises to be let or sold, in consequence of the late occupant's declining business." Eventually, public opinion forced the Queen to return to London, though even then she preferred to live elsewhere whenever possible. Court functions were still held at Windsor Castle, presided over by the sombre Queen habitually dressed in mourning black, while Buckingham Palace remained shuttered for most of the year.
qas: answers: text: 1861
question: When year did Prince Albert die?

answers: text: public opinion
question: What forced the Queen to return to London?

answers: text: the palace was seldom used, even neglected.
question: What was the fate of Buckingham after the left?

answers: text: Windsor Castle
question: Where were court functions held upon the Queens return to London?

answers: text: 1861
question: When did Prince Albert die?

answers: text: left Buckingham Palace
question: What did Queen Victoria do in response to his death?

answers: text: Osborne House
question: Which house did Queen Victoria stay at after she left Buckingham?

answers: text: palace was seldom used, even neglected
question: What happened to Buckingham after Queen Victoria left?

answers: text: Windsor Castle
question: Where did Queen Victoria hold court functions during this time?

context: The palace measures 108 metres (354 ft) by 120 metres (390 ft), is 24 metres (79 ft) high and contains over 77,000 m2 (830,000 sq ft) of floorspace. The floor area is smaller than the Royal Palace of Madrid, the Papal Palace in Rome, the Louvre in Paris, the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, or the Forbidden City. There are 775 rooms, including 19 state rooms, 52 principal bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices, and 78 bathrooms. The principal rooms are contained on the piano nobile behind the west-facing garden façade at the rear of the palace. The centre of this ornate suite of state rooms is the Music Room, its large bow the dominant feature of the façade. Flanking the Music Room are the Blue and the White Drawing Rooms. At the centre of the suite, serving as a corridor to link the state rooms, is the Picture Gallery, which is top-lit and 55 yards (50 m) long. The Gallery is hung with numerous works including some by Rembrandt, van Dyck, Rubens and Vermeer; other rooms leading from the Picture Gallery are the Throne Room and the Green Drawing Room. The Green Drawing Room serves as a huge anteroom to the Throne Room, and is part of the ceremonial route to the throne from the Guard Room at the top of the Grand Staircase. The Guard Room contains white marble statues of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, in Roman costume, set in a tribune lined with tapestries. These very formal rooms are used only for ceremonial and official entertaining, but are open to the public every summer.
qas: answers: text: 52
question: How many principle bedrooms does the palace have?

answers: text: 78
question: How many bathrooms are there?

answers: text: the Music Room
question: A large bow is a large feature of the facade in which stateroom?

answers: text: 55 yards
question: How long is the Picture Gallery in yards?

answers: text: The Guard Room
question: Which rooms has large white marble statues of Prince Albert and Queen Victoria?

answers: text: 77,000 m2 (830,000 sq ft)
question: What is the floor space of the palace?

answers: text: 19 state rooms
question: How many staterooms does the palace have?

answers: text: 78 bathrooms
question: How many bathrooms does the palace have?

answers: text: 92 offices
question: How many offices does the palace have?

context: Directly underneath the State Apartments is a suite of slightly less grand rooms known as the semi-state apartments. Opening from the Marble Hall, these rooms are used for less formal entertaining, such as luncheon parties and private audiences. Some of the rooms are named and decorated for particular visitors, such as the 1844 Room, decorated in that year for the State visit of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia, and, on the other side of the Bow Room, the 1855 Room, in honour of the visit of Emperor Napoleon III of France. At the centre of this suite is the Bow Room, through which thousands of guests pass annually to the Queen's Garden Parties in the Gardens. The Queen and Prince Philip use a smaller suite of rooms in the north wing.
qas: answers: text: Emperor Napoleon III of France
question: The 1855 Room is name for which European emperor?

answers: text: 1844 Room
question: Which room is named for visit of Tsar Nicolas I of Russia?

answers: text: Bow Room
question: Guests attending the Queen's Garden Parties will mostly likely see which room?

answers: text: the north wing
question: Where are the suites located that the Queen and Prince Phillip use?

answers: text: the semi-state apartments
question: Which rooms are used for less formal entertaining such as luncheons or private audiences?

answers: text: semi-state apartments
question: What is the name of the slightly less luxurious staterooms located underneath the State Apartments?

answers: text: less formal entertaining
question: What type of entertaining are the semi-state apartments used for?

answers: text: Tsar Nicholas I of Russia
question: Who is the 1844 Room named after?

answers: text: Emperor Napoleon III of France
question: Who is the 1855 Room named after?

answers: text: the north wing
question: Where are the Queen and Prince Phillip's apartments located?

context: Between 1847 and 1850, when Blore was building the new east wing, the Brighton Pavilion was once again plundered of its fittings. As a result, many of the rooms in the new wing have a distinctly oriental atmosphere. The red and blue Chinese Luncheon Room is made up from parts of the Brighton Banqueting and Music Rooms with a large oriental chimney piece sculpted by Richard Westmacott. The Yellow Drawing Room has wallpaper supplied in 1817 for the Brighton Saloon, and a chimney piece which is a European vision of how the Chinese chimney piece may appear. It has nodding mandarins in niches and fearsome winged dragons, designed by Robert Jones.
qas: answers: text: Brighton Pavilion
question: Where did many of the fittings for the new east wing come from?

answers: text: Between 1847 and 1850
question: When was the new east wing built?

answers: text: oriental
question: What is the theme for the new east wing?

answers: text: large oriental chimney piece
question: The red and blue Chinese Luncheon Room has what as a main feature?

answers: text: Robert Jones
question: Who designed the chimney piece in The Yellow Drawing Room?

answers: text: the new east wing
question: What was Blore building between 1847 and 1850?

answers: text: oriental
question: Many rooms in the new east wing are in what style?

answers: text: The red and blue Chinese Luncheon Room
question: Parts of the Brighton Banqueting and Music Rooms from Brighton Pavilion make up which Buckingham Room?

context: At the centre of this wing is the famous balcony with the Centre Room behind its glass doors. This is a Chinese-style saloon enhanced by Queen Mary, who, working with the designer Sir Charles Allom, created a more "binding" Chinese theme in the late 1920s, although the lacquer doors were brought from Brighton in 1873. Running the length of the piano nobile of the east wing is the great gallery, modestly known as the Principal Corridor, which runs the length of the eastern side of the quadrangle. It has mirrored doors, and mirrored cross walls reflecting porcelain pagodas and other oriental furniture from Brighton. The Chinese Luncheon Room and Yellow Drawing Room are situated at each end of this gallery, with the Centre Room obviously placed in the centre.
qas: answers: text: Centre Room
question: Which room has the famous balcony used by the royals?

answers: text: Chinese
question: What is the main theme of the Centre Room?

answers: text: Queen Mary
question: Which Queen enhanced the Chinese theme of the Centre Room in the 1920s?

answers: text: 1873
question: The lacquer doors in the Centre Room were brought from Brighton in which year?

answers: text: mirrored doors
question: The Principle Corridor features which type of doors?

answers: text: Centre Room
question: Which room feature the famous balcony?

answers: text: Sir Charles Allom
question: Which designer did Queen Mary work with to enhance the Centre Room?

answers: text: mirrored doors
question: The Principle Corridor has which type of doors?

answers: text: 1873
question: What year were the lacquer doors brought from Brighton?

context: When paying a state visit to Britain, foreign heads of state are usually entertained by the Queen at Buckingham Palace. They are allocated a large suite of rooms known as the Belgian Suite, situated at the foot of the Minister's Staircase, on the ground floor of the north-facing Garden Wing. The rooms of the suite are linked by narrow corridors, one of them is given extra height and perspective by saucer domes designed by Nash in the style of Soane. A second corridor in the suite has Gothic influenced cross over vaulting. The Belgian Rooms themselves were decorated in their present style and named after Prince Albert's uncle Léopold I, first King of the Belgians. In 1936, the suite briefly became the private apartments of the palace when they were occupied by King Edward VIII.
qas: answers: text: the Belgian Suite
question: Where do foreign heads of stay usually stay in Buckingham Palace?

answers: text: ground floor
question: What floor are the Belgian Suites located?

answers: text: the Minister's Staircase
question: The Belgian Suite is located at the foot of which staircase?

answers: text: by narrow corridors
question: How are the rooms of the Belgian Suites linked?

answers: text: the style of Soane
question: What is the style of the saucer domes in the Belgian Suite?

answers: text: the Belgian Suite
question: Where do foreign heads of stay at Buckingham Palace?

answers: text: Minister's Staircase
question: The Belgian Suite is located at the bottom of which staircase?

answers: text: the ground floor
question: On which floor is the Belgian Suite located?

answers: text: by narrow corridors
question: How are the rooms in the Belgian Suite connected?

answers: text: the style of Soane
question: The saucer domes are in whose style?

context: Thus, Buckingham Palace is a symbol and home of the British monarchy, an art gallery and a tourist attraction. Behind the gilded railings and gates which were completed by the Bromsgrove Guild in 1911 and Webb's famous façade, which has been described in a book published by the Royal Collection as looking "like everybody's idea of a palace", is not only a weekday home of the Queen and Prince Philip but also the London residence of the Duke of York and the Earl and Countess of Wessex. The palace also houses the offices of the Queen, Prince Philip, Duke of York, Earl and Countess of Wessex, Princess Royal, and Princess Alexandra, and is the workplace of more than 800 people.
qas: answers: text: art gallery
question: Aside from being the home of the monarchy and a tourist attraction, what else is Buckingham Palace known for?

answers: text: Bromsgrove Guild
question: Who made the palaces gilded railings and gates?

answers: text: more than 800
question: How many people work at Buckingham Palace?

answers: text: Duke of York
question: Buckingham Palace is also the London Residence for which Duke?

answers: text: the British monarchy
question: Who is Buckingham palace home to?

answers: text: Bromsgrove Guild
question: Who completed the palaces gilded railing and gates?

answers: text: 1911
question: In what year were the railings and gates completed?

answers: text: 800 people
question: How many people work at Buckingham Palace?

context: The palace, like Windsor Castle, is owned by the Crown Estate. It is not the monarch's personal property, unlike Sandringham House and Balmoral Castle. Many of the contents from Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Kensington Palace, and St James's Palace are part of the Royal Collection, held in trust by the Sovereign; they can, on occasion, be viewed by the public at the Queen's Gallery, near the Royal Mews. Unlike the palace and the castle, the purpose-built gallery is open continually and displays a changing selection of items from the collection. It occupies the site of the chapel destroyed by an air raid in World War II. The palace's state rooms have been open to the public during August and September and on selected dates throughout the year since 1993. The money raised in entry fees was originally put towards the rebuilding of Windsor Castle after the 1992 fire devastated many of its state rooms. 476,000 people visited the palace in the 2014–15 financial year.
qas: answers: text: Crown Estate
question: Buckingham Palace is actually owned by whom?

answers: text: Queen's Gallery
question: Where can the public view items from the Royal Collection?

answers: text: chapel
question: What was located on the site that is now the Queen's Gallery?

answers: text: The palace's state rooms
question: What part of the palace has been open to the public every August and September and other select dates since 1993?

answers: text: Crown Estate
question: Who owns Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle?

answers: text: at the Queen's Gallery
question: Where can the public view the Royal Collection?

answers: text: since 1993
question: Since when have the palaces rooms been opened to the public?

answers: text: 476,000 people
question: How many people visited the palace in the 2014.2015 fiscal year?

context: Formerly, men not wearing military uniform wore knee breeches of an 18th-century design. Women's evening dress included obligatory trains and tiaras or feathers in their hair (or both). The dress code governing formal court uniform and dress has progressively relaxed. After World War I, when Queen Mary wished to follow fashion by raising her skirts a few inches from the ground, she requested a lady-in-waiting to shorten her own skirt first to gauge the king's reaction. King George V was horrified, so the queen kept her hemline unfashionably low. Following their accession in 1936, King George VI and his consort, Queen Elizabeth, allowed the hemline of daytime skirts to rise. Today, there is no official dress code. Most men invited to Buckingham Palace in the daytime choose to wear service uniform or lounge suits; a minority wear morning coats, and in the evening, depending on the formality of the occasion, black tie or white tie.
qas: answers: text: there is no official dress code
question: What is the official dress code today at Buckingham Palace?

answers: text: Queen Mary
question: Which Queen tried and failed to raise the hemline of her dress after WWI?

answers: text: King George V
question: Which King was horrified to see the Queen's hemline raised a few inches?

answers: text: 1936
question: The hemline of daytime skirts were allowed to rise after which year?

answers: text: 18th-century design
question: The knee breeches men formerly wore to the palace were of what era's design?

answers: text: 18th-century design
question: From what century were men's knee breeches worn at Buckingham designed in?

answers: text: tiaras or feathers
question: What were women obliged to wear in their hair?

answers: text: Queen Mary
question: Which queen wanted to shorten her skirt's hemline?

answers: text: George V
question: Which King was horrified to see the raised hemline on the Queen?

answers: text: there is no official dress code
question: What is the dress code today at Buckingham?

context: Court presentations of aristocratic young ladies to the monarch took place at the palace from the reign of Edward VII. These young women were known as débutantes, and the occasion—termed their "coming out"—represented their first entrée into society. Débutantes wore full court dress, with three tall ostrich feathers in their hair. They entered, curtsied, and performed a choreographed backwards walk and a further curtsy, while manoeuvring a dress train of prescribed length. (The ceremony, known as an evening court, corresponded to the "court drawing rooms" of Victoria's reign.) After World War II, the ceremony was replaced by less formal afternoon receptions, usually without choreographed curtsies and court dress.
qas: answers: text: Edward VII
question: Under whose reign did court presentations of young aristocratic ladies take place?

answers: text: coming out
question: What was the name for the ceremony where debutantes had their first introduction into society?

answers: text: ostrich feathers
question: Debutantes wore the feather of which bird in their hair?

answers: text: less formal afternoon receptions
question: After WWII "coming out" ceremonies were replaces with what event?

answers: text: Edward VII
question: Under whose reign were young debutantes presented to society at Court?

answers: text: ostrich feathers
question: What types of feathers did debutantes wear in their hair?

answers: text: "coming out"
question: What was the occasion where debutantes were presented to society called?

answers: text: less formal afternoon receptions
question: After WWII what was the coming out ceremony replaced with?

context: Investitures, which include the conferring of knighthoods by dubbing with a sword, and other awards take place in the palace's Ballroom, built in 1854. At 36.6 m (120 ft) long, 18 m (59 ft) wide and 13.5 m (44 ft) high, it is the largest room in the palace. It has replaced the throne room in importance and use. During investitures, the Queen stands on the throne dais beneath a giant, domed velvet canopy, known as a shamiana or a baldachin, that was used at the Delhi Durbar in 1911. A military band plays in the musicians' gallery as award recipients approach the Queen and receive their honours, watched by their families and friends.
qas: answers: text: in the palace's Ballroom
question: Where do Investitures take place?

answers: text: 1854
question: What year was The Ballroom built?

answers: text: the throne room
question: Which room has The Ballroom replaced in terms of both use and importance?

answers: text: the palace's Ballroom
question: What is the largest room in the palace?

answers: text: the throne dais
question: What does the Queen stand on during Investitures?

answers: text: a sword
question: Knighthood is given by being dubbed with what object?

answers: text: Ballroom
question: What is the largest room in the palace?

answers: text: the throne room
question: The Ballroom replaced which other room in terms of importance and use?

context: State banquets also take place in the Ballroom; these formal dinners are held on the first evening of a state visit by a foreign head of state. On these occasions, for up to 170 guests in formal "white tie and decorations", including tiaras, the dining table is laid with the Grand Service, a collection of silver-gilt plate made in 1811 for the Prince of Wales, later George IV. The largest and most formal reception at Buckingham Palace takes place every November when the Queen entertains members of the diplomatic corps. On this grand occasion, all the state rooms are in use, as the royal family proceed through them, beginning at the great north doors of the Picture Gallery. As Nash had envisaged, all the large, double-mirrored doors stand open, reflecting the numerous crystal chandeliers and sconces, creating a deliberate optical illusion of space and light.
qas: answers: text: the Ballroom
question: Where do State Banquets take place?

answers: text: November
question: In what month does the Queen entertain the diplomatic corps?

answers: text: the Grand Service
question: What is used to set the dining table for formal dinners?

answers: text: 1811
question: When was the Grand Service made?

answers: text: the Prince of Wales
question: For whom was the Grand Service made?

answers: text: in the Ballroom
question: Where do state banquets take place?

answers: text: the first evening of a state visit by a foreign head of state
question: When are state banquets held?

answers: text: the Grand Service
question: What is the dining table laid with for state banquets?

answers: text: Prince of Wales
question: Who was the Grand Service originally made for?

context: Adjacent to the palace is the Royal Mews, also designed by Nash, where the royal carriages, including the Gold State Coach, are housed. This rococo gilt coach, designed by Sir William Chambers in 1760, has painted panels by G. B. Cipriani. It was first used for the State Opening of Parliament by George III in 1762 and has been used by the monarch for every coronation since George IV. It was last used for the Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II. Also housed in the mews are the coach horses used at royal ceremonial processions.
qas: answers: text: Nash
question: Who designed the Royal Mews?

answers: text: the Royal Mews
question: Where is the Gold State Coach housed?

answers: text: Sir William Chambers
question: Who designed the Gold State Coach?

answers: text: 1762
question: When was the Gold State Coach first used?

answers: text: horses
question: The Royal Mews houses which type of animal?

answers: text: Nash
question: Who designed the Royal Mews?

answers: text: the Royal Mews
question: Where is the Gold State Coach kept?

answers: text: Sir William Chambers
question: Who designed the Gold State Coach?

answers: text: 1762
question: In what year was the Gold State Coach first used?

answers: text: horses
question: What animals are kept in the mews?

context: In 1901 the accession of Edward VII saw new life breathed into the palace. The new King and his wife Queen Alexandra had always been at the forefront of London high society, and their friends, known as "the Marlborough House Set", were considered to be the most eminent and fashionable of the age. Buckingham Palace—the Ballroom, Grand Entrance, Marble Hall, Grand Staircase, vestibules and galleries redecorated in the Belle époque cream and gold colour scheme they retain today—once again became a setting for entertaining on a majestic scale but leaving some to feel King Edward's heavy redecorations were at odds with Nash's original work.
qas: answers: text: 1901
question: In what year did Edward VII ascend to the throne?

answers: text: "the Marlborough House Set"
question: Kind Edward VII and Queen Alexandra's friends were know as what?

answers: text: Nash's
question: Some thought that King Edward VII's redecoration choices were at odds with whose prior work?

answers: text: King Edward
question: Which king commissioned massive redecoration in the Belle Epoque cream and gold color scheme?

answers: text: the Marlborough House Set
question: What were the group of friends of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra called?

answers: text: King Edward's heavy redecorations
question: What was at odds with Nash's original work in the palace?

answers: text: 1901
question: When did King Edward VII take the throne?

answers: text: Belle époque cream and gold
question: What colors were used in the redecorations overseen by King Edward VII?

context: The last major building work took place during the reign of King George V when, in 1913, Sir Aston Webb redesigned Blore's 1850 East Front to resemble in part Giacomo Leoni's Lyme Park in Cheshire. This new, refaced principal façade (of Portland stone) was designed to be the backdrop to the Victoria Memorial, a large memorial statue of Queen Victoria, placed outside the main gates. George V, who had succeeded Edward VII in 1910, had a more serious personality than his father; greater emphasis was now placed on official entertaining and royal duties than on lavish parties. He arranged a series of command performances featuring jazz musicians such as the Original Dixieland Jazz Band (1919) – the first jazz performance for a head of state, Sidney Bechet, and Louis Armstrong (1932), which earned the palace a nomination in 2009 for a (Kind of) Blue Plaque by the Brecon Jazz Festival as one of the venues making the greatest contribution to jazz music in the United Kingdom. George V's wife Queen Mary was a connoisseur of the arts, and took a keen interest in the Royal Collection of furniture and art, both restoring and adding to it. Queen Mary also had many new fixtures and fittings installed, such as the pair of marble Empire-style chimneypieces by Benjamin Vulliamy, dating from 1810, which the Queen had installed in the ground floor Bow Room, the huge low room at the centre of the garden façade. Queen Mary was also responsible for the decoration of the Blue Drawing Room. This room, 69 feet (21 metres) long, previously known as the South Drawing Room, has a ceiling designed specially by Nash, coffered with huge gilt console brackets.
qas: answers: text: King George V
question: Under whose reign did the last major building works take place?

answers: text: Portland stone
question: The principle facade of the East Front is made from what type of stone?

answers: text: George V
question: Which king preferred official entertaining and royal duties to lavish parties?

answers: text: Queen Mary
question: Who added and restored furniture to The Royal Collection?

answers: text: Queen Mary
question: Who was responsible for decorating The Blue Drawing Room?

answers: text: Sir Aston Webb
question: Who redesigned Blore's 1850 East Front?

answers: text: Portland stone
question: The refaced facade was made from what type of stone?

answers: text: George V
question: Which king placed more emphasis on official entertaining and royal duties instead of lavish parties?

answers: text: Royal Collection of furniture and art
question: What collection did Queen Mary take an interest in by adding and restoring pieces?

answers: text: Queen Mary
question: Who decorated the Blue Drawing Room?

context: During World War I, the palace, then the home of King George V and Queen Mary, escaped unscathed. Its more valuable contents were evacuated to Windsor but the royal family remained in situ. The King imposed rationing at the palace, much to the dismay of his guests and household. To the King's later regret, David Lloyd George persuaded him to go further by ostentatiously locking the wine cellars and refraining from alcohol, to set a good example to the supposedly inebriated working class. The workers continued to imbibe and the King was left unhappy at his enforced abstinence. In 1938, the north-west pavilion, designed by Nash as a conservatory, was converted into a swimming pool.
qas: answers: text: King George V and Queen Mary
question: Who lived at Buckingham Palace during WWI?

answers: text: Windsor
question: Where were valuable items from Buckingham Palace taken during WWI?

answers: text: alcohol
question: The king refrained from doing what during the war?

answers: text: 1938
question: In what year was the north-west pavilion turned into a swimming pool?

answers: text: David Lloyd George
question: Who persuaded the king to lock the wine cellars during WWI?

answers: text: World War I
question: Buckingham Palace was untouched during which war?

answers: text: Windsor
question: Where were valuables evacuated to during the war?

answers: text: alcohol
question: What did the King give up during the war?

answers: text: David Lloyd George
question: Who convinced the king to lock the wine cellars?

answers: text: swimming pool
question: What was the north-west pavilion converted into in 1938?

context: During World War II, the palace was bombed nine times, the most serious and publicised of which resulted in the destruction of the palace chapel in 1940. Coverage of this event was played in cinemas all over the UK to show the common suffering of rich and poor. One bomb fell in the palace quadrangle while King George VI and Queen Elizabeth were in residence, and many windows were blown in and the chapel destroyed. War-time coverage of such incidents was severely restricted, however. The King and Queen were filmed inspecting their bombed home, the smiling Queen, as always, immaculately dressed in a hat and matching coat seemingly unbothered by the damage around her. It was at this time the Queen famously declared: "I'm glad we have been bombed. Now I can look the East End in the face". The royal family were seen as sharing their subjects' hardship, as The Sunday Graphic reported:
qas: answers: text: nine times
question: How many times was the palace bombed in WWII?

answers: text: the palace chapel
question: What was destroyed in 1940?

answers: text: King George VI and Queen Elizabeth
question: Which monarchs were in residence at Buckingham Palace during WWII?

answers: text: the common suffering of rich and poor
question: The bombing of Buckingham Palace showed what to the public?

answers: text: the chapel
question: What was destroyed in one of the bombing that hit the palace in WWII?

answers: text: inspecting their bombed home
question: The King and Queen were filmed doing what after a bombing?

answers: text: their subjects' hardship
question: The royal family was seen as sharing what with their subjects after the bombings?

context: On 15 September 1940, known as the Battle of Britain Day, an RAF pilot, Ray Holmes of No. 504 Squadron RAF rammed a German bomber he believed was going to bomb the Palace. Holmes had run out of ammunition and made the quick decision to ram it. Holmes bailed out. Both aircraft crashed. In fact the Dornier Do 17 bomber was empty. It had already been damaged, two of its crew had been killed and the remainder bailed out. Its pilot, Feldwebel Robert Zehbe, landed, only to die later of wounds suffered during the attack. During the Dornier's descent, it somehow unloaded its bombs, one of which hit the Palace. It then crashed into the forecourt of London Victoria station. The bomber's engine was later exhibited at the Imperial War Museum in London. The British pilot became a King's Messenger after the war, and died at the age of 90 in 2005.
qas: answers: text: 15 September 1940
question: What is the date of the Battle of Britain Day?

answers: text: the Palace
question: What did Ray Holmes think the German pilot was going to bomb?

answers: text: Dornier Do 17 bomber
question: What type of airplane was the German craft Holmes rammed into?

answers: text: King's Messenger
question: After the war what did Holmes become?

answers: text: 2005
question: What year did Ray Holmes die?

answers: text: the Battle of Britain Day
question: What is September 15, 1940 known as?

answers: text: the Palace
question: What did Ray Holmes believe the German pilot was targeting?

answers: text: ram it
question: What did Holmes do to stop the German Plane?

answers: text: Dornier Do 17 bomber
question: What type of aircraft was the German Plane?

answers: text: 2005
question: When did Holmes die?