Buckingham Palace to Unveil East Wing and Balcony to Visitors This Summer

This summer presents a unique opportunity for the public to explore previously inaccessible parts of royal residences, including a significant section of Buckingham Palace and a cherished estate in Scotland.

For those who have dreamed of emulating the royals by greeting the masses from the Buckingham Palace balcony, the upcoming months offer an exciting prospect. The Royal Collection Trust has announced that the palace’s East Wing, which includes the iconic balcony scene of numerous historic royal moments, will be accessible through guided tours in July and August. While visitors won’t be able to step onto the balcony itself, they will have the chance to explore the Principal Floor’s unseen rooms, adorned with exquisite art from the Royal Collection, and delve into the wing’s history, which dates back to Queen Victoria’s era, by “BBC“.

Originally designed to accommodate Queen Victoria’s expanding family, the East Wing has remained off-limits to the public until now. Its opening follows extensive “improvement works” aimed at upgrading the palace’s infrastructure and ensuring its preservation for future generations.

In addition to Buckingham Palace, Balmoral Castle, the beloved Scottish retreat of the Royal Family, will also introduce guided indoor tours for the first time. These tours will provide insights into the castle’s history, its significance to the Royal Family over the years, and its current use.

Balmoral Castle, a favorite of Queen Elizabeth, holds a special place in royal history, being the site of her passing in 2022. The castle tours are scheduled from July 1 through August 4, with several dates already fully booked.

While Balmoral Castle offers general admission for grounds and exhibitions tours, visiting Buckingham Palace’s East Wing requires a separate ticket in addition to the standard State Room entry. The palace will extend its tour schedule to seven days a week for the first time since 2019, starting in July and reverting to a five-day schedule in September.