Welcome to Buckingham Palace, the London residence and office of Queen Elizabeth II.
Most of the year, visitors to the Palace aren't permitted inside, but they gather outside its gates to watch the Changing of the Guard — an elaborate ceremony in which the Palace's Old Guard passes his duties on to the New Guard. Guards perform the drill to music performed by a band. During the Christmas season, musicians play festive songs.
Each summer, the Palace's State Rooms open to the public. Visitors enter the State Rooms via the Grand Staircase, which was designed by the architect John Nash. The exquisite entrance is lined with portraits and full of natural light, illuminated by a skylight above.
The State Rooms have multiple drawing rooms. This is the White Drawing Room, which serves as a royal reception room for the Queen and royal family members. They often meet here before official events.
This is the Blue Drawing Room. Though there isn't admittedly much blue in this room, the furniture and ornaments are different shades of blue. There is also a lovely view out of the windows, which overlook the Palace gardens.
The Ballroom is the largest space, used for banquets and other large-scale events.
The chandeliers hanging in the Ballroom are among the biggest in the State Rooms. The glamorous light fixtures weigh half a tonne and are made up of 9,000 pieces of lead crystal, according to the Press Association.
This year, the ballroom is being used as an exhibition space for "Fashioning a Reign: 90 years of style from the Queen's wardrobe" — a display of notable outfits Her Majesty has worn throughout her reign that are made by British designers.
The Queen's signature hats are also on view, showcasing the range of styles, colours, and sizes of hats she has worn over the years, and celebrating the workmanship of her milliners.
After walking through the Ballroom, visitors traipsed through The Picture Gallery, a large, narrow room with a vaulted skylight that lets in plenty of natural light — the best kind for admiring the artworks lining the walls. Highlights of the royal art collection can be found here, with paintings by big-name artists including Canaletto and Van Dyck.
Yet another picturesque drawing room, The Green Drawing Room leads to the Throne Room — the climax of a visit to the Palace's State Rooms.
The centrepiece of the State Rooms, the Throne Room is where the Queen receives loyal addresses on important occasions. It was also where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge posed for their formal wedding photos after they were married on April 29, 2011.
