During the Second World War, which broke out in 1939, the palace was bombed nine times. The most serious and publicised incident destroyed the palace chapel in 1940. This event was shown in cinemas throughout the United Kingdom to show the common suffering of the rich and poor.

Yes, Buckingham Palace was hit by bombs nine times during World War II, with the most famous incident occurring on September 13, 1940. During this raid, five high-explosive bombs were dropped by a German raider while King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (the future Queen Mother) were in residence. The bombs destroyed the Royal Chapel and damaged the inner quadrangle and the palace gates. Rather than fleeing, the Royal Family chose to remain in London as a show of solidarity with the citizens suffering through the Blitz. Queen Elizabeth famously remarked after the bombing, "I’m glad we’ve been bombed. It makes me feel I can look the East End in the face." This stance significantly boosted British morale. In 2026, visitors to the palace can still see where repairs were made to the stonework, and the history of these raids is a central part of the Royal Collection Trust’s wartime archives, symbolizing the palace’s role as a target of the Luftwaffe.