The site at 145 Piccadilly—now home to InterContinental London Park Lane—holds a distinguished place in British royal history. From 1927 to 1936, it served as the private residence of the Duke and Duchess of York, later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (The Queen Mother), and their daughters, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret. For over a decade, this was a cherished family home, where both princesses spent their earliest years, and where the future Queen developed the values, discipline, and deep sense of duty that would come to define her reign.
It was within these very walls that the Duke of York received the news of his brother’s abdication—a moment that would change the course of British history and place him unexpectedly on the throne as King George VI. Although his reign was relatively short, his leadership during a time of national upheaval, and his family’s quiet life at 145 Piccadilly, laid the foundations for a new era of monarchy.
This building, though no longer standing in its original form, holds a lasting legacy as the early home of not just one, but two future monarchs— and a young princess who would later become a steadfast public figure in her own right. Upon the appointment of King George IV as King, the family moved to Buckingham Palace, however, they were known to come back and visit their former home on occasion. This building was damaged in WWII and subsequently sold for the development of the current hotel.
Built between 1968 and 1975, InterContinental London Park Lane was designed by Sir Frederick Gibberd, whose other notable developments include Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral and London Central Mosque in Regent’s Park.
