Summer Opening at Buckingham Palace

The summer opening at Buckingham Palace for 2008 sees the State Rooms spread out in a glorious display for a State Banquet. With the enormous horse shoe shaped table laid with dazzling silver ware and magnificent flower arrangements, you really will be able to see how the other half live during the summer opening.

Buckingham Palace is usually associated with vibrant displays of wealth and grandeur, and this summer opening will be no different. Lavish arrangements of tureens, dishes, ornamental cups, and fine porcelain will adorn the table as of the palace were awaiting the arrival of another Head of State. Truly a sight for sore eyes, this summer opening of Buckingham Palace demonstrates sheer splendour the likes of which you will never have seen before.

Having held 77 State Banquets at Buckingham Palace during her 56 years reign, the Queen has now laid on the Grand Service for ordinary members of the public to enjoy during the summer opening. Dating mostly from the time of Queen Victoria, the tableware and style of the State Banquet has been mostly unchanged since the end of the 19th century.

Keen to see exactly how a State Banquet is run? This year the summer opening at Buckingham Palace gives you the chance to see the staff in action as video footage will be played of behind the scenes work carried out by the Royal Household. Chefs, footmen, pages, florsits and housemaids are all involved in presenting the table with the highest level of meticulous detail.

There is plenty of stunning silverware on display at the palace this summer, as the magnificent silver gilt made for George VI when he was Prince of Wales is out on the State Banquet table. First used to celebrate the 75th birthday of George III, the service collection was added to by George VI throughout his lifetime and now forms the core of the items regularly used in State Banquets. With Medieval, Egyptian, Greek and Roman designs all shown on the silver, there will be plenty of historical interest to see over the summer opening at Buckingham Palace.

Along with the lavish State Banquet you can enjoy some fantastic artwork with paintings by Renbrandt, Reubens, Poussin and Canaletto on display in the Royal Collection, and several examples of some of the finest French and English furniture too.

The summer opening at Buckingham Palace takes place from the Tuesday 29th July to Monday 29th September 2008. To book advance tickets for the opening, phone 020 7766 7300 for more information.

Other London events

Kings Place Opening Festival Tickets

Dorian Gray Tickets

O2 Opera Tickets

MPH Classic Tickets

Clothes Show London Tickets

Summer in London

Amazing Rare Things London

House of Viktor and Rolf Exhibition

Body Worlds at O2

Regent Street Festival

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