WHAT TO SEE

The State Rooms form the heart of the working palace and are lavishly furnished with some of the finest treasures from the Royal Collection - paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Vermeer, Poussin, Canaletto; sculpture by Canova; exquisite examples of Sèvres porcelain, and some of the finest English and French furniture in the world. The Palace's 42-acre garden is an oasis for wildlife, and visitors can enjoy a garden walk that offers superb views of the Garden Front of the Palace and the 19th-century lake.

CEREMONY AND CELEBRATION:: Coronation Day 1953

An Exhibition at The Summer Opening of the State Rooms, Buckingham Palace 1 August - 28 September 2003 The 50th anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II will be celebrated at this year's Summer Opening of Buckingham Palace's State Rooms with the display of Her Majesty's magnificent Coronation Dress and Robe of Estate, and with the first public showing of the entire Coronation frieze by Feliks Topolski (1909-1989), commissioned by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in 1960. The exhibition will use contemporary television footage to evoke the atmosphere of Coronation Day, 2 June 1953 - the day that heralded the dawn of a 'New Elizabeth Era'.

VISITOR INFORMATION

Ticket Sales and Information Office The Official Residences of The Queen London SW1A 1AA Credit card booking line: (+44) (0) 20 7321 2233

Group credit card booking line: (+44) (0) 20 7799 2331 Fax: (+44) (0) 20 7930 9625 E-mail: information@royalcollection.org.uk

WHEN TO COME IN 2005

The State Rooms will be open 1 August - 28 September 2005

OPENING HOURS FOR 2005 - SUMMER OPPENING OF THE STATE ROOMS

09:30 - last admission 16:15 every day 1 August - 28 September Buckingham Palace operates a timed-ticket system, with admission every 15 minutes throughout the day.

CHANGING OF THE GUARD

The Guard Change takes place at 11:30 daily from April until the end of July and on alternate days for the rest of the year, weather permitting. Provisional Schedule for 2005 (Subject to change)

September 2005 Even numbered dates (2, 4, 6, etc.)

October 2005 Even numbered dates (2, 4, 6, etc.)

November 2005 Odd numbered dates (1, 3, 5, etc.)

1-23 December 2005 Odd numbered dates (1, 3, 5, etc.)

26-31 December 2005 Even numbered dates (26, 28, 30)

The new guards arrive at the forecourt of the Palace at 11:30 from Wellington Barracks. The journey takes about 5 minutes and the soldiers are accompanied by a band. The ceremony is conducted on the Palace forecourt and takes approximately forty minutes to complete.

APPROXIMATE ADMISSION PRICES FOR 2005

Adult £12.00

Over 60 £10.00

Student £10.00 (with valid ID)

Under 17 £6.00 Under 5 Free

Family £30.00 (2 adults and 3 under 17s)

BUYING TICKET IN ADVANCE

Book online or telephone (+44) (0) 20 7321 2233. A booking fee of £1.00 per ticket applies. All major credit cards accepted.