Buckingham Palace tour: Royal Collection on display to public until end of summer

Fans of the Royals and the merely curious alike can now enjoy a wander around Buckingham Palace without an official invitation or the risk of arrest.

The Queen’s Westminster residence is now open to the public and will remain so until the end of September. While visitors unfortunately won’t have free reign across the entire 830,000 sq ft of the palace, the State rooms have been opened with the intention of giving a sense what Royal functions are like, both for guests and for those behind the scenes.

The State rooms are where the Queen and other Royals receive guests on state, ceremonial and official occasions. Designed by seminal architect John Nash, the rooms themselves are almost as magnificent as the treasure they display, so be sure to look up and admire the ceilings.

The galleries are home to some gems from the Royal Collection, both literally and figuratively, and highlights include the 1858 Coronation necklace and Coronation earrings, which have been worn by Queen Victoria, Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth and Her Majesty The Queen. The eye-catching Kokoshnik Tiara, which has 488 diamonds set into 61 platinum bars, is also on display. It was worn by the Her Majesty this year to honour the President of Mexico when he visited.

The displays are surrounded by stunning hand-carved furniture, much of which made for George IV when he was the Prince of Wales, and the walls are adorned with paintings by the likes of Van Dyck, Canaletto, Rembrandt, Ruben and Vermeer. Most of the priceless pieces are, unsurprisingly, behind screens. To make the most of it all, linger in the Music Room and the Picture Gallery – but if the sun’s shining, head outside for the walk alongside the west side of the palace garden.

Until Sept 27, Buckingham Palace, royalcollection.org.uk

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