King Charles is set to unveil additional sections of Buckingham Palace to visitors this summer, marking a historic first. Royal enthusiasts have eagerly seized the opportunity to explore previously inaccessible rooms.
Tickets for tours of the newly refurbished East Wing have swiftly sold out, as per the Royal Collection Trust’s website, following their release to the public on Wednesday morning.
Lucky ticket holders, priced at £75 each, will receive guided tours of the front façade of the monarch’s London residence, including the central room leading to the balcony where the royal family has gathered for significant occasions over the years, although access to the iconic open-air space will not be granted.
Among the highlights in the central room are a meticulously restored glass chandelier, designed to resemble a lotus flower, and two 18th-century Chinese imperial silk wall hangings gifted to Queen Victoria by Guangxu, the emperor of China, in honor of her Diamond Jubilee in 1897.
The construction of the palace’s east wing took place from 1847 to 1849 to accommodate Queen Victoria’s expanding family, enclosing the former open horseshoe-shaped royal residence. Following over five years of enhancements, the principal floor of the wing will be open to visitors in July and August. These improvements are part of the ongoing £369 million reservicing program aimed at modernizing the palace’s electrical cabling, plumbing, and heating system over a decade.
Guests will have the opportunity to stroll through the main corridor, adorned with paintings by notable artists like Thomas Gainsborough. This follows the rapid sell-out of tours for Balmoral Castle within 24 hours of their release earlier this month.
For the inaugural time, individuals will gain access to the interior of the King’s Scottish abode from July 1st to August 4th, preceding Charles and Camilla’s summer retreat at the Aberdeenshire castle. The fully booked castle tour, including access to its interior, was priced at £100, with an option to add afternoon tea for £150.
Balmoral was reportedly the beloved residence of the late Queen Elizabeth II and served as the location where she passed away on September 8, 2022.
Since its acquisition for Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1852, it has been the Scottish abode of the royal family, initially leased in 1848.
Privately commemorating their 19th wedding anniversary on Monday, the King and Queen observed the occasion.
Charles also attended a brief engagement at Buckingham Palace, during which he was presented with the first banknotes bearing his portrait by the Governor of the Bank of England.
