Experience history of the Palace’s East Wing
ROYAL fans are set to catch a glimpse behind Buckingham Palace’s famous balcony and impressive East Wing facade for the first time
Special guided tours of the newlyrestored wing will be available to the public in July and August, with tickets going on sale next week.
The tour will cost adult visitors £75 as tickets to the State Rooms must be purchased as well.
But visitors can see the ornately decorated rooms on the principal floor, furnished with impressive artworks from the Royal Collection.
The tour also boasts a behind-thescenes peek at the Palace’s famous central balcony, where monarchs and their families have gathered for public appearances since 1851.
Iconic photographs of members of the Royal Family have been taken there, including Royal Weddings and Coronations such as King Charles’s last May. But visitors will not be able to go on to the balcony itself – just glimpse it from inside the room.
Plans for the EastWing were drawn up at the request of Queen Victoria, who wanted to accommodate her growing family. Works took place between 1847 and 1849 and saw the previously open horseshoe-shaped courtyard enclosed by the extension.
The build was financed by the sale of George IV’s seaside retreat in Brighton and saw much of its interiors – inspired by the King’s love of Asian art – reflected in the Chinesethemed decor of the new wing.
Small groups of visitors will be led by expert guides through the spectacular rooms on the principal floor.
This includes the main corridor, running the length of the wing, featuring paintings by artists such asThomas Gainsborough, Sir Thomas Lawrence and Franz Xaver Winterhalter.
In the Yellow Drawing Room, visitors will see two hexagonal, ninetiered Chinese porcelain pagodas and the Kylin Clock, which incorporates two turquoise Chinese lions.
● Tickets start at £75 for adults, £59 children aged five to 17 and disabled (access companion free) from July 15.