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Top Treasures at Buckingham PalaceJuly 5, 2010
Malcolm Hendry
Don’t miss the rare opportunity to visit the magnificent State Rooms of Buckingham Palace , open from the 27 July – 1 October 2010, when Her Majesty is on her annual visit to Scotland.
Expect to be stunned – Buckingham Palace has been used by the British Monarchy to instil shock and awe in subjects and visiting dignitaries alike. As the heart of the working palace, the State Rooms are lavishly furnished with some of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection. These include paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Poussin and Canaletto, sculpture by Canova, exquisite examples of Sèvres porcelain and the finest English and French furniture.
Thousands of visitors each year make their way up the curving marble steps of the Grand Staircase to the State Rooms when attending a Reception or Investiture. The white walls, red carpets and lavish gilding are an impressive foretaste of what’s to come.
In the spectacular Palace Ballroom you’ll see the traditional horseshoe-shaped table lavishly decorated for a State Banquet, including the silver gilt from the Grand service, first used to celebrate the birthday of George III in 1811, as well as jewelled cups, ivory tankards, chased dishes, sconces, shields and basins. At 36.6m long, 18m wide and 13.5m high, the Ballroom is the largest multi-purpose room in Buckingham Palace. It was opened in 1856 with a ball to celebrate the end of the Crimean War.
The Throne Room, sometimes used during Queen Victoria’s reign for Court gatherings and as a second dancing room, is dominated by a proscenium arch supported by a pair of winged figures of ‘victory’ holding garlands above the ‘chairs of state’. It is in the Throne Room that The Queen, on very special occasions like Jubilees, receives loyal addresses. Another use of the Throne Room has been for formal wedding photographs.
The State Dining Room is one of the principal State Rooms on the West side of the Palace. Many distinguished people have dined in this room including the 24 holders of the Order of Merit as well as presidents and prime ministers. The red silk damask on the walls makes a fitting background to the state portraits of Kings and Queens from George III to George IV. The regency dining chairs were purchased by the Prince Regent in 1813 for his home at Carlton House.
Buckingham Palace gates
Before the Ballroom was added to the Palace in the 1850s, the first State Ball was held in the Blue Drawing Room in May 1838 as part of the celebrations leading up to Queen Victoria’s Coronation. Note the thirty fake onyx columns and the Sevres porcelain table which was made for Napoleon.
The Music Room was originally known as the Bow Drawing Room. Four Royal babies – The Prince of Wales, The Princess Royal, The Duke of York and Prince William – were all christened by the Archbishop of Canterbury in the Music Room.
The Marble Hall, clad in Italian marble, contains fine sculptures, including three groups by Antonio Canova.
The White Drawing Room. Originally called the North Drawing Room, it is perhaps the grandest of all the State Rooms. The Room also serves as a Royal reception room for The Queen and members of the Royal Family to gather before State and official occasions. Furnished with French antiques and English cut glass chandeliers suspended from the beautiful ceiling, the delicate colours of the furnishings standing out against the gold walls.
To make the most of this extraordinary experience The Rubens at the Palace, the nearest hotel to the royal residence, is offering a special Royal Day Out Package that includes accommodation and breakfast, tickets to the State Rooms, to the Queen’s Gallery and to the Royal Mews, plus traditional afternoon tea in the Palace Lounge.
(4 votes, average: 4.75 out of 5)
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1 Stephanie Lawrence wrote on June 4, 2011 at 12:11 am
Staying at 41, which overlooks the Queen’s back yard, is an absolute joy and experience nearly beyond imagination. It’s well-trained and perfectly groomed gracious, attentive, friendly and professional staff definitely earns 11 stars, out of 10. The decor is stately, comfortable and appropriate. And, now, they have sweetened their clients’ stay with a grand bonus. Adding a tour of the Palace is the icing on an incredible cake! Brilliant!!
2 The Dugel family wrote on June 19, 2011 at 6:45 pm
The warm friendliness and attention we received upon our stay at Ruben’s in February 2011 was well beyond our expectations! My wife and young daughter, neither of whom had traveled abroad, were so delighted with every aspect of your exceptional hospitality that we still reminisce with enthusiasm, promising to return soon! Thank you, everyone at Ruben’s, for making our visit so memorable!
3 Red Carnation Hotels wrote on June 20, 2011 at 10:59 am
Dear The Dugel Family,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience at The Rubens. We are thrilled that you had a such an enjoyable stay and hope this will be the start of many trips abroad for your wife and daughter. We look forward to welcoming you all back to The Rubens and any of our other hotels.
Best wishes,
The team at Red Carnation Hotels
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