<P> The palace was restored by Charles II following the demise of the Commonwealth, laying out St James's Park at the same time . It became the principal residence of the monarch in London in 1698, during the reign of William III and Mary II after Whitehall Palace was destroyed by fire, and became the administrative centre of the monarchy, a role it retains . </P> <P> The first two monarchs of the House of Hanover used St James's Palace as their principal London residence . George I and George II both housed their mistresses, the Duchess of Kendal and the Countess of Suffolk respectively, at the palace . In 1757, George II donated the Palace library to the British Museum; this gift was the first part of what later became the Royal Collection . In 1809, a fire destroyed part of the palace, including the monarch's private apartments at the south east corner . These apartments were not replaced, leaving the Queen's Chapel in isolation, and Marlborough Road now runs between the two buildings . </P> <P> George III found St James's increasingly unsuitable . The Tudor palace was regarded as uncomfortable and too cramped for his ever - growing family . In 1762 George purchased Buckingham House--the predecessor to Buckingham Palace--for his queen, Charlotte of Mecklenburg - Strelitz The royal family began to spend the majority of their time at Buckingham House, with St James's being used for only the most formal of occasions; thrice - weekly levées and public audiences were still held there . In the late 18th century, George III refurbished the state apartments but neglected the living quarters . Queen Victoria formalised the move in 1837, ending St James's status as the primary residence of the monarch . It was nevertheless where Victoria married her husband, Prince Albert, in 1840, and where, eighteen years later, Victoria and Albert's eldest child, Princess Victoria, married her husband, Prince Frederick of Prussia . </P> <P> For most of the time of the personal union between Great Britain (later the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland) and the Electorate of Hanover from 1714 until 1837 the ministers of the German Chancery were working in two small rooms within St James's Palace . </P>

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