The centrepiece of the exhibition is the state banquet: a table is set up just as it was for a state visit by the President of Singapore in October 2014. For the first time, tourists will be allowed to enter the State rooms through the Grand Entrance, following in the footsteps of kings, queens and presidents.
While in their current incarnation state banquets are largely a 20th-century innovation, Queen Victoria wrote in her diary about entertaining Napoleon III of France in 1855, ‘in the usual dining room’. The following year, after vast renovations, she added a new Ballroom, having appealed to Prime Minister Robert Peel for ‘a room capable of containing a larger number of persons whom the Queen has to invite in the course of a season’. State banquets have been held here since 1914.
At Alfies we came across a few beautifully ornate antiques that wouldn't look out of place in the Royal residence...
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| Limoges Porcelain Centre-Piece & Stand, offered by Nadine Okker |
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| 1893 Fruit cutlery set, Sheffield silver plate with pearl handles by Charles James Allen & Sidney Darwin, offered by Goldsmith & Perris |
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| Italian Capodimonte vase with cover, classical scene, c1920, offered by Gloria Sinclair |
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| A beautiful early 20th century silver horse riding trophy by D & M Davies. Birmingham 1921, offered by Goldsmith & Perris |
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| A pair of W. Adams & Co. Cattle Scenery vegetable dishes. 1891-1903, offered by Horner Antiques |
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| Overmantle mirror with semi-reflective glass. Probably mid 20th century European. Offered by Matt Mitchell London |
A Royal Welcome will run until 27 September, 2015.
Opening times
25 July - 31 August 2015
Open daily, 09:30-19:30
1-27 September 2015
Open daily, 09:30-18:30
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