Buckingham Palace Special Exhibitions
As part of the Summer Opening of the State Rooms, an exhibition of dresses, jewels, photographs, and gifts presented to Her Majesty by the people of the Commonwealth is on display at Buckingham Palace. Queen & Commonwealth: The Royal Tour celebrates the 60th anniversary of the London Declaration of 1949, which recognized the British Sovereign as Head of the Commonwealth.
The Queen has travelled further than any other monarch in history and has made over 170 official visits to Commonwealth countries during her reign.
The exhibition represents six regions of the Commonwealth: Africa, Australia and New Zealand, Canada, The Caribbean and Central America, Asia (including India), Island Peoples and Pacific Realms.
It highlights The Queen’s role at the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government meetings, of which she has attended 32, and some particularly important inward State Visits from Commonwealth countries.
A visit can last up to approximately two and a half hours. From April to October it is possible to visit the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace, the working stables for the royalty. You will see displays of carriages and cars used for ceremonial and state occasions there.
From Buckingham Palace you can easily walk to other great London sights such as the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Piccadilly Circus, St James' Palace, 10 Downing Street, The Thames, Trafalgar Square and even Hard Rock Cafe, to name just a few of the great London sights that are a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace.