Buckingham Palace was bombed on 13 September 1940, less than a week after the sustained German bombing of London known as the Blitz began. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth were inside the Palace when the attack started.

The King recorded the incident in his diary that day. He and the Queen heard an aircraft above them and saw two bombs falling past the opposite side of the Palace. Seconds later, explosions struck the quadrangle about 30 yards from where they had been.

Six bombs were dropped during the attack. Two fell in the quadrangle, and another struck the Royal Chapel in the south wing. Others landed in the forecourt, the garden and near the Palace gates and Victoria Memorial.

The explosions caused substantial damage. Windows were blown out, and the Royal Chapel was badly damaged. The King and Queen were unhurt.

The attack came as German aircraft were repeatedly bombing London. Buckingham Palace was a symbol of the British state, but it was also a working royal residence. George VI and Queen Elizabeth had remained in London rather than withdraw permanently from the capital.

The raid brought the bombing directly into the Palace grounds. The King and Queen’s experience differed from that of Londoners who lost homes or family members. However, now, Buckingham Palace itself was clearly within reach of German aircraft.

The Palace was struck several times during the war. The raid of 13 September 1940 became the best-known of these attacks because both the King and Queen were there when the bombs fell.