Queen Elizabeth II's Private Rooms at Holyroodhouse to Open
The private rooms used by Queen Elizabeth II at her official Scottish residence, the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, will be accessible to the public for the first time to commemorate the centenary of her birth.
From 21 May, visitors will have the opportunity to tour the late Queen's "personal, lived‑in" apartments in small guided groups during a limited period.
During their stays at the palace, the Queen and her husband, Prince Philip, occupied a suite of private rooms dating back to the 17th century on the east side of the palace. These rooms overlook the gardens and Holyrood Park.
The tour includes the Queen's Dressing Room, where she prepared for official engagements, and the Sitting Room, where the Queen, a lifelong racing enthusiast, would watch horse racing during her leisure time.
Tour Details and Booking Information
The tours will run from 21 May until 10 September. rs to the Royal Collection Trust email list can book early at a special offer price starting Monday, 9 March.
Remaining tickets will be available for general sale from Thursday, 12 March, priced at £75.
Visitors must book the private rooms tour in addition to the standard Palace of Holyroodhouse admission ticket, which costs £22 if purchased in advance and £26 on the day of the visit.
Historical Significance and Tour Highlights
Expert guides will lead the tours, explaining how the rooms were used by monarchs from Queen Victoria onwards, including Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh.
The tour encompasses spaces such as the Royal Breakfast Room, where the Queen and Prince Philip dined privately during their residence.
This room is adorned with striking Flemish tapestries dating from around 1650, which were installed in the 1920s at the request of King George V and Queen Mary.
Holyrood Palace was the setting for many significant moments during the late Queen's reign.
In the Dressing Room, visitors will see outfits worn by the Queen at important events in Edinburgh.
One notable ensemble includes a purple silk-wool coat, a green dress, and an Isle of Skye tartan shawl worn at the opening of the Scottish Parliament in 1999. This outfit was inspired by the Scottish landscape and designed by Sandra Murray.
Also on display is a beaded silk evening gown by John Anderson, worn at the Commonwealth Heads of Government reception in 1997.
Queen Elizabeth II's Connection to Scotland
The Queen traditionally stayed at the palace each summer during "Holyrood Week," when she carried out engagements celebrating Scottish culture and hosted a Garden Party attended by approximately 8,000 guests.
"Queen Elizabeth II's well-known love for Scotland will be given fresh context through this unique and special access to the private apartments, where visitors will enjoy a new perspective into both the formal and more informal use of Edinburgh's royal palace," said palace curator Emma Stead.
The late Queen, the United Kingdom’s longest-serving monarch, passed away at Balmoral in Aberdeenshire in September 2022 after a 70-year reign. The centenary of her birth falls on 21 April this year.
