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INSTITUTE MATTERS PHOTO BY DAVID ILIFF. LICENSE: CC-BY-SA 3.0 DIVISIONS & SOCIETIES An invitation to the palace BPG DIVISION MEMBERS WERE AWED BY A PRIVATE TOUR OF BUCKINGHAM PALACE, SAYS KEVIN BRIDGE After taking in one of the most widely photographed vistas in the world, BPG Division members gathered at the Visitors' Entrance to Buckingham Palace for an out-of-hours tour in September. After the rigours of airport-style security, we were led past the East Wing and the Quadrangle behind the Palace balcony, famous for appearances by members of the Royal Family. Designed by John Nash, the building was developed from Buckingham House, built by the Duke of Buckingham. The Quadrangle is flanked by the Queen's private apartments to the left and palace offices to the right. Our knowledgeable guide took us to the Grand Hall, with its elaborate chimneypiece carved by Joseph Theakston, and on to the red and gold Grand Staircase, whose magnificent glass dome, with intricate engravings of angels, survived the Blitz. Also worthy of note are the portraits of Queen Victoria's family, including her grandparents George III and Queen Charlotte. The staircase leads to the Guard Chamber, decorated in ivory and gold, with its chandelier lighting and marble columns. Life-size statues of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were placed here in 1849. All the State Rooms adjoin one another, providing some magnificent views as you move from room to room. Of interest are the individual pieces of furniture and ornaments, including figurines, inlaid cabinets and porcelain vases. Nash was experienced in theatre architecture, and in the Throne Room, three crimson steps lead up to the focal point of the thrones, although I couldn't help marvelling at the intricate ceiling. It was in this room that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge came for official photographs on their wedding day in 2011. George IV's art collection is exhibited in the Picture Gallery, including masterpieces by Canaletto, Rubens and Rembrandt. The partially curved ceiling of the 47 metre-long room is made of engraved glass. Titian and Leonardo da Vinci are at one end; Albrecht Durer and Van Dyck at the other. The official artist during the coronation was Terence Cuneo, whose portrait of Queen Elizabeth II features his trademark mouse looking on – perhaps the smallest of her subjects. 32 The Linguist DECEMBER 2013/JANUARY 2014 LANDMARK VIEW The famous façade (top left); and BPG members pose for a group photograph with the palace lawn behind (above) The tour coincided with 'The Queen's Coronation 1953' exhibition, featuring film coverage of the event narrated by Sir Laurence Olivier. The centrepiece was the exquisite coronation dress, made in secret by couturier Norman Hartnell. The four symbols of the union – rose, thistle, leek and shamrock – are woven in silk and silver thread, and encrusted with amethysts, diamante and pearls. We then visited the ballroom, which is remarkable for its height; the chandeliers alone are 11ft tall. It also boasts an organ originally made for the Brighton Pavilion in 1817. Our guide then took us into the State Dining Room, which is used for the Queen's garden parties. The reproduction grand service is placed with such precision that a ruler is used to check spacing: each guest is given 18 inches and the Queen personally checks the fine details. The Blue Dining Room has a ceiling of roses and scrolls, and among its portraits is the so-called 'Table of the Grand Commanders', made from porcelain. Originally commissioned by Napoleon in 1806, it was presented to George IV by Louis XVIII in 1817 to commemorate Napoleon's defeat. The final room on the tour was the White Drawing Room, from which the Queen gives her Christmas Day address, occasionally standing next to a Christmas tree in the far corner. Of note are the mirrors at one end, which hide an open palace secret: a hidden door with a passageway leading back to the Queen's private apartments. The Queen uses this route to arrive at official events: Her Majesty literally comes through the wall. The tour was topped off with a glass of champagne, overlooking the palace lawn, and a chance for a group photograph in the fading evening light. We also received a complimentary guidebook. The final pièce de résistance was the walk across the Quadrangle to emerge at the front of the palace as dusk fell. It was a highly entertaining and informative tour and one that is certainly recommended. www.iol.org.uk