Summer Opening of Buckingham Palace

Monday July 13, 2009

Buckingham Palace is Queen Elizabeth II's official residence, and has been the official London residence of Britain's sovereign since 1837. The State Rooms at Buckingham Palace have been opening to the public for the Annual Summer opening, in August and September, since 1993, after the fire at Windsor Castle in November 1992. Initially the Summer Opening was considered a way to pay for the damage at Windsor Castle, but it became so popular The Queen has continued to allow visitors every summer. The Queen is not at Buckingham Palace when it is open to the public, she goes to one of her country residences.

2009 Special Exhibition
2009 marks the 60th anniversary of the formation of the modern Commonwealth. In 1949 the London Declaration recognized the British Monarch as the symbol of the free association of independent member nations and as Head of the Commonwealth. In celebration of this event, a special exhibition at this year's Summer Opening of Buckingham Palace will evoke some of the most important Commonwealth tours undertaken by The Queen during her reign and show the close links maintained by Her Majesty with this remarkable international organization and its 1.8 billion inhabitants.

Find out all you need to know to plan a visit to the Summer Opening of Buckingham Palace by clicking on the links below.