In which countries is it (still) possible for members of the public to walk right up to the door of the official residence of the head of state or head of government? To be clear, I’m talking about the actual door to the building, not to some gate in a wall or fence that surrounds the property. And I mean approaching the door on an typical day and without prior arrangement, so invited visits, guided tours, and special open-house days don’t count. Of course, most of the doors in question still have armed guards, so let’s say that getting within spitting distance counts.
Here’s a survey of the countries I know about:
USA: Formerly yes; today no. I understand that the White House grounds were generally open to the public until the late 19th century, when presidents began restricting access (sometimes only to the north grounds or the south grounds, and sometimes only at specific times). By World War II, the grounds were permanently closed, so the public had no chance of getting anywhere near the building on an ad-hoc basis.
UK: Formerly yes for head of government; today no. The head of state has over a dozen official residences, all of which I imagine are and always have been permanently blocked off by fences, walls, or other checkpoints. The head of government’s official residence is 10 Downing Street. You could walk right up to the (guarded) façade until 1989, when the whole street was gated off.
Vatican: Yes. The pope’s official residence in Rome is the Apostolic Palace, whose imposing main door, the Portone di Bronzo, faces a public square. There’s also the official summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, though I understand that it’s no longer used as a residence and has been opened to the public as a museum.
Austria: Yes. The head of government is the chancellor, and his official residence abuts Ballhausplatz, a normal square with public access. Directly across the street is the official residence of the president, who serves as head of state. I walk or bike past these buildings every day on my way to work and can confirm that there’s nothing preventing you from walking up to the front doors. (However, as I understand it, the current chancellor has elected to live in a private residence in the Viennese district Meidling rather than in the chancellery. I have no idea how accessible that private building is.)
I remember that joggers used to be able to jog through the grounds of Rideau Hall, but GovGen Sauvé directed that the gates be closed. Then GovGen Hnatyshyn directed that they be opened again. That was in the late 80s. Don’t know what the current status is.
I don’t think 24 Sussex is accessible. My recollection is that it’s set well back from a wall and gate.
Iceland, at least as of a couple years ago. The official residence of the head of state is a house downtown. We could easily have knocked to see what would happen. My wife and I took a selfie on the porch. There were video cameras everywhere, I assume we were being observed, but we had no trouble.
You are quite correct. I used to walk to a job I had at Old City Hall, which was within spitting distance of 24 Sussex. It has always had a wall and gate.
Previously, I had walked up to the gate in the middle of a summer night during the Chretien era, shouting and carrying on, and I looked quite reprehensible at that stage of my youth. Nobody did anything so the security was either pretty lax or pretty chill. (Since this was before the infamous knife incident, history bears out that it was lax.)
If memory serves, one has daylight access to it these days. I’ll have to make a point of looking at some point soon.
A quick trip to their website backs me up on this point, though. It’s open to the public during daylight hours. One can even take in a cricket game on the grounds.
The Australia Governor General’s residence Yarralumla does not allow public access. Nor is there public access to the PM’s Canberra residence “The Lodge”. Similarly with Admiralty House (GG) and Kirribilli House (PM) in Sydney
The NSW Governor’s residence is sited in the Botanic Gardens, so there is public access.
