Guided tours of Buckingham Palace - Balcony room can be viewed for the first time
Fans of the British Royal Family can soon experience how King Charles III. (75) and his family might feel as they look down on the masses of people from the balcony of Buckingham Palace. For the first time this summer, the middle room behind the famous balcony will be made accessible to the public - and then visitors can look through the window onto The Mall.
Tickets for the East Wing Tour were quickly sold out
On the 11th of July, the traditional summer opening of the Palace takes place. For more than 30 years, there have been guided tours through the large residence in London. New this year is the tour of the East Wing - including the Balcony Room. Visitors are not allowed on the balcony itself, but they can look through the net curtains at The Mall and explore the room.
Approximately 6,000 tickets were made available in April, and they were sold out within a few hours. In this room, the royal family members gather for major events before they step out onto the balcony to face the crowds. The last time this happened was on the 15th of June for the Trooping the Colour birthday parade for the King. Princess Kate (42) attracted particular attention that day, as she made her first public appearance since the announcement of her cancer diagnosis.
For visitors, the doors remain closed, but they have the opportunity to enjoy the view of The Mall through the net curtains and to look around the room. Highlights include a newly restored glass chandelier that resembles a lotus flower, and two silk wall hangings from the 18th century that Queen Victoria (1819-1901) received as a gift from the Emperor of China on the occasion of her diamond jubilee in 1897. Under the guidance of knowledgeable guides, groups of approximately 20 visitors are led through the main corridor and the rooms.
It is said to have been the idea of King Charles to open the East Wing. It was built between 1847 and 1849 to house the growing family of Queen Victoria. In the past five years, renovation work has been carried out there. Over 3,500 works of art had to be removed and securely stored. Around 47,000 panels were removed and reinstalled.
Palace open until 29. September
Although tickets for the new East Wing tour are already sold out, visitors with a standard ticket can still visit the 19 rooms used by the royal family for official engagements. In the Ballroom, the new portrait of the King by artist Jonathan Yeo (53) with his striking red background can be seen. The summer opening runs from the 11th of July to the 29th of September. For the first time, the Palace will be open seven days a week in July and August, and five days a week in September. Tickets cost around 89 Euro.
- Visitors eager to gain insight into the lives of King Charles III. and Queen Camilla can join guided tours of Buckingham Palace, a tradition that has been ongoing for over 30 years in London.
- The highlight of this year's summer opening of Buckingham Palace is the opportunity to explore the East Wing, including the Balcony Room, where the Royal Family gathers before addressing the crowds on the balcony.
- In fact, it was King Charles' idea to open the East Wing, which was constructed between 1847 and 1849 to accommodate Queen Victoria's growing family and recently underwent extensive renovation work.
- During these guided tours, visitors can admire the newly restored glass chandelier in the Balcony Room, a gift from the Emperor of China to Queen Victoria on the occasion of her diamond jubilee in 1897.
- Fans of the British Royal Family, especially those who idolize Prince Charles, Queen Victoria, and Princess Kate, should make their way to Buckingham Palace this summer for an unforgettable experience.
