what is the bow room in buckingham palace
Buckingham Palace 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.[56] 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.[57] The Queen and Prince Philip use a smaller suite of rooms in the north wing.[58]
Windsor Castle Windsor Castle, part of the Occupied Royal Palaces Estate, is owned by Queen ElizabethÂ II in right of the Crown,[239] and day-to-day management is by the Royal Household.[240] In terms of population, Windsor Castle is the largest inhabited castle in the world and the longest-occupied palace in Europe, but it also remains a functioning royal home.[241] As of 2006, around 500 people were living and working in the castle.[242] The Queen has increasingly used the castle as a royal palace as well as her weekend home and it is now as often used for state banquets and official entertaining as Buckingham Palace.[243] In recent years, Windsor Castle has hosted visits from President Mbeki of South Africa, King Abdullah II of Jordan and President Obama of the United States.[244] The castle remains an important ceremonial location. The Waterloo ceremony is carried out in the presence of the Queen each year, and the annual ceremony of the Order of the Garter takes place in St George's Chapel.[245] While the Queen is in residence, the Guard Mounting ceremony occurs on a daily basis.[246] The Royal Ascot procession leaves the castle each year during the annual meeting.[247]