Access to the State Apartments is via The King’s Staircase, built by Sir Christopher Wren. It has black marble steps and murals on the walls and ceiling. Do stop and admire the paintings.
The King’s State Apartments
The rooms you could enter depended on your rank and status. Being dressed in appropriate court attire would gain you entrance to the first room: The King’s Presence Chamber. This is the most colorful room.
The Privy ChamberThis is the second audience room but was not private as the name would suggest. William Kent painted the ceiling.
The Cupola RoomThe clock in the center of the room is a musical clock with a mechanical organ in the base. It was made in 1743 by Charles Clay and was called ‘The temple of the four grand monarchies of the world’. Queen Victoria was christened in this room.
The King’s Drawing RoomAnother William Kent ceiling to admire, Kent also designed the fireplace and the picture frames. This room gives you a great view of the Round Pond. Beyond this room was only for the King’s friends or senior courtiers.
The King’s GalleryThis is a huge room at nearly 30 meters long. It has been restored to William Kent’s original colors and design.
The Passage RoomThis small room is covered in pictures of courtiers of the day.
The Queen's State Apartments
Queen Mary’s Drawing Room and Queen Mary’s Bed ChamberYou are immediately struck by how much more intimate these rooms are compared to the King’s Rooms.
Queen Mary's Dining RoomWilliam and Mary did not enjoy dining in public but preferred to dine here in the small private dining room. They often enjoyed a fish supper with a beer!
Queen Mary's GalleryThis was a private space for Mary to indulge her hobbies. She had songbirds in cages in the windows. She also had a large collection of Chinese and Japanese porcelain, some of which is on display.
