King Charles III is offering the public an unprecedented opportunity to explore two of the most iconic royal residences, Buckingham Palace and Balmoral Castle.
For the first time ever, visitors will have access to the East Wing of Buckingham Palace, with special guided tours of the Principal Floor offered during July and August.
The East Wing encompasses the front façade of the historic building and features the famous central balcony, where the Monarch and members of the Royal Family have gathered for public appearances during special occasions or historic moments since 1851.
Led by expert guides, small groups of visitors will be able to visit spectacular rooms on the Principal Floor, furnished with highlights from the Royal Collection. Visitors will discover the history of the Wing, first occupied by Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and their children and still used by the Royal Family today for official meetings and events.
Tours will take visitors through rooms and spaces including the Principal Corridor, which runs the length of the Wing, where paintings by artists such as Thomas Gainsborough, Sir Thomas Lawrence and Franz Xaver Winterhalter are on display. In the Yellow Drawing Room, decorated with recently restored Chinese hand-painted wallpaper from the 18th century, visitors will see two hexagonal, nine-tiered Chinese porcelain pagodas and the Kylin Clock, which incorporates two turquoise Chinese lions. Tours will conclude in the Centre Room, which leads on to the balcony, where highlights include a newly restored glass chandelier, shaped to resemble a lotus flower, and two Chinese 18th-century Imperial Silk wall hangings, presented to Queen Victoria by Guangxu, Emperor of China on the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee in 1897.
A limited number of East Wing Highlights Tours will run daily in July and August, from Monday, 15 July. Tours must be booked in addition to the standard admission ticket to the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace. The Palace will be open for seven days a week during July and August for the first time since 2019, returning to five days a week during September.
Meanwhile, Balmoral Castle, the beloved Scottish estate of the royal family, will also be opening its doors to guided tours of the interior for the very first time, starting on July 1. This initiative allows visitors to explore the castle’s interior, steeped in history and tradition, where they will learn about its origins and its significance to generations of the royal family.
For those interested in experiencing the grandeur of Balmoral Castle, tickets for the Castle Interior Tour, accommodating only 10 people at a time, will be available for purchase, offering an intimate and immersive experience. Additionally, a special Castle Interior Tour with Afternoon Tea will be offered exclusively to adults, providing a luxurious way to enjoy the castle’s splendor.
Furthermore, visitors will have the opportunity to explore the castle’s gardens, exhibitions, and grounds, which will be open daily from early May through mid-August. Tickets for these tours can be purchased online, with prices varying based on group size, age, and tour experience.
As both Buckingham Palace and Balmoral Castle welcome visitors with open arms, these initiatives mark a significant step towards sharing the rich history and cultural heritage of the royal residences with the public, offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to step into the world of royalty and witness history come to life.
