The State Rooms, Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace serves as the official London residence of His Majesty The King, and is one of the few remaining working royal palaces in the world today.

Each summer when the Palace is not being used in its official capacity, visitors can enjoy the 19 magnificent State Rooms that provide the setting for ceremonial occasions and official entertaining by members of the Royal Family. The rooms are furnished with many of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection, including paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens and Van Dyck, sculpture by Canova, exquisite examples of Sèvres porcelain, and some of the finest English and French furniture in the world.

Visitors to the Summer Opening of Buckingham Palace will see the White Drawing Room, perhaps the most beautiful of all the State Rooms with its spectacular crystal chandelier, the Music Room, where guests are presented on the occasion of a State Visit, and the Throne Room, which was most recently the setting for the official portraits from the Coronation of Their Majesties The King and Queen.

Following a visit, the Palace's Garden Café offers the perfect location to enjoy a selection of light refreshments while taking in panoramic views of the lake across the lawn, before visiting the Garden Shop.

Coronation Display at The State Rooms, Buckingham Palace

14 July – 24 September 2023

The special Coronation display is part of a visit to the Summer Opening of the State Rooms, which this year celebrates its 30th anniversary since the Palace first opened to the public in 1993. Staged in the Ballroom, which was used by Their Majesties as a Coronation rehearsal space, the special display has at its center the outfits, jewelry, and insignia worn by The King and Queen when they appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony following the Coronation Service. Shown alongside these are some of the historic vestments worn by The King as he was crowned, as well as the Anointing Screen, Throne Chairs, and designs for the Coronation invitation. Visitors will see the Diamond Jubilee State Coach in the Palace's State Entrance portico, which conveyed Their Majesties to the Coronation and is usually located in the Royal Mews.

The Garden

Often called the ‘walled oasis in the middle of London', the gardens of Buckingham Palace are a true sight to behold. Home to 30 different species of bird and over 350 different wild flowers, there is plenty to see and enjoy. Visitors finish their tour with a walk along the south side of the garden, taking in views of the famous lake and the west front of the palace.

Extend your day with a visit to the Royal Mews - select either the 10:45am or 1:45pm timeslot

Visit His Majesty The King’s official London residence and see two fascinating parts of Buckingham Palace. First, take a walk around the Royal Mews before entering the State Rooms and exploring the exquisite and historical rooms containing precious pieces from The

Royal Collection.

Begin with a look around the amazing Royal Mews, where you will see iconic vehicles are used for State visits, the State Opening of Parliament, official engagement and, of course, coronations and royal weddings. Get up-close to the Gold State Coach which has been used for every coronation since George IV. The newest addition to the fleet is the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, a beautiful vehicle made especially for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012. The vehicle combines classic style and craftsmanship with more modern technologies – an extraordinary example of modern tradition.

Image credits: Royal Collection Trust / © His Majesty King Charles III