Many famous films and TV series have been set in Buckingham Palace over the years - whether it is Netflix's The Crown or the King's Speech which saw Colin Firth win an Oscar for portraying The Queen's father, King George VI.
While you could be easily fooled into believing that what you see on screen is the real palace thanks to the almost identical layout, filming inside Buckingham Palace is certainly something which is off-limits for any Hollywood film crew. So what building is used as the interior of the Central London home? It is none other than the palace's next door neighbour, Lancaster House. The incredible building is located very nearby and has starred in everything from Downton Abbey to Young Victoria and from The Crown to The King's Speech.
Lancaster House was formerly known as ‘York House’ when it was commissioned in 1825 by King George III’s son, Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany. It later became a hub of social and political life throughout the 19th century.
It was only a shell at the time of the Duke’s death and was the last great London mansion to be built in a Georgian style.
It was then bought and completed by the 2nd Marquess of Stafford - later the 1st Duke of Sutherland - who renamed it Stafford House.
Being only just a six minute walk from Buckingham Palace and even closer to other royal homes, such as Clarence House and St James’s Palace, royals were no strangers to the house.
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Queen Victoria visited the house when it was owned by her close friend, the 2nd Duchess of Sutherland. Upon entering the Queen is said to have remarked, "I have come from my house to your palace".
The house’s interiors are ornate and are famously similar to Buckingham Palace. It was renamed to its current Lancaster House in 1912. Through the award-winning series, we see rooms such as the Grand Hall, the Long Gallery and the State Drawing Room.
The Long Gallery is a recognisable location throughout The Crown in particular as many notable scenes took place there. Incredibly, the room can hold up to 200 people and can be hired out for parties, shows and dinners.
The Crown was not the first production to use the historic building as Buckingham Palace’s doppelgänger.
In 2009, ‘Young Victoria’, starring Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend, used Lancaster House for their film - which was produced by Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York - about the early reign of Queen Victoria.
Colin Firth and Helena Bonham Carter took to the stage next for their 2010 Oscar-winning picture ‘The King’s Speech’ which chronicles the struggles faced by the stuttering King George VI as he unexpectedly becomes the king.
Other productions to use the building include 'Downton Abbey’ (2013) and 'King Ralph’ (1999). Lancaster House is now owned by the Government and is used for political conferences and garden parties.
The house has been used for many international meetings over the years, including the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers' Meeting in May 2021 .
Lancaster House was also recently the site where several foreign dignitaries signed a book of condolence following the death of Queen Elizabeth ahead of her funeral.
