Buckingham Palace serves as both the office and London residence of Her Majesty The Queen, as well as the administrative headquarters of the Royal Household. It is one of the few working royal palaces remaining in the world today.

Today the State Rooms are used extensively by The Queen and Members of the Royal Family to receive and entertain their guests on State, ceremonial and official occasions. During August and September when The Queen makes her annual visit to Scotland, the Palace's nineteen state rooms are open to visitors.

Special Exhibition 2013

An exhibition by the Royal Collection will showcase the opulence of proceedings on June 2, 1953, in Westminster Abbey and the glamour of the celebrations and state banquets at the palace that followed.

Queen Elizabeth’s white satin coronation gown, by Norman Hartnell, 21ft-long robe and jewels will be shown alongside uniforms worn by the principal royal party.

Also on display will be the outfits made for Prince Charles, then four, and two-year-old Princess Anne. Charles watched the service alongside the Queen Mother.

The exhibition’s curator, Caroline de Guitaut, said: “This show, because it is such an auspicious anniversary, will be on an unprecedented scale. It will be the first time that these outfits have been brought together since 1953.

“They are all in really good condition in spite of their age. The children’s outfits are charming. Princess Anne’s dress is of Queen’s silk with lace. The Prince’s outfit was a silk shirt with lace jabot [a scarf]. He also wore page boy shoes.”

Visitors will see the rooms used by Cecil Beaton for his photographs of the newly-crowned Queen. All the portraits were taken at the palace, with a theatrical backdrop giving the appearance of the abbey. Footage of the day and objects from the service will help tell the story of the Coronation.

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