State Banquet at Buckingham Palace

Enjoy the sumptuous and lavish display of a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace this summer as the Queen lays on all her best silver for members of the public. Sadly, there won't be any food on the plates or wine in the glasses, but unless you a member of a foriegn royal famaily or a visiting dignitary, this is as close as you will get to attending a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace.

With all the splendour and pomp that you would expect of a dinner laid on for another Head of State, the State Banquet at Buckingham Palace really is a sight to behold. Set on a massive horse shoe shaped table, the surface is covered with amazing floral displays, silver gilt ware, tureens, ornamental cups and dishes, and fine bone china.

Films will be showing exactly what goes on behind the scenes at the State Banquet and so you will be able to enjoy the sight of chefs, footmen, housemaids, pages and florists all scurrying to get the table laid with all its decadent toppings before the important guests and royalty arrive. The Queen has hosted 97 State Banquets during her reign, with the most recent being the vist from French President M. Sarkozy on 26th March, so the Royal Household have had plenty of practise at getting it right.

During the 2008 summer opening, the State Banquet at Buckingham Palace will be set out with the Grand Service which was created in part by George IV when he was still the Prince of Wales. Used for the first time to celebrate the 75th birthday of George III, George IV continued to add to the service until it stood at approximately 4,000 pieces. Renowned for his flamboyant nature, he famously gave a party where 3,000 people were invited and the single table ran the length of Carlton House. The table, apart from being lavishly set with his spectacular gilt tableware, ran with a stream of live goldfish and there was a fountain incorporated at one end.

Today George IV's Grand Service forms the core of the tableware used for any State Banquet at Buckingham Palace, and you will be able to see the splendour of the silver and marvel at the grandeur of the whole collection when you visit during the summer opening.

The State Banquet at Buckingham Palace is part of the summer opening of the Royal Collection and is open until the 29th September 2008. A book celebrating the Grand Service and the State Banquet is published to accompany the exhibition entitled For the Royal Table, published by the Royal Collection Publications.

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