The Room Behind Buckingham Palace's Famous Balcony Opens to the Public for the First Time

A historic moment awaits as the room behind Buckingham Palace's iconic balcony opens its doors to the public next week. 

Summarized Insights:

• Historic room opens to public.

• Significant royal events backdrop.

• Tours include east wing, state rooms.

• Showcases 19th-century Chinese art.

This room, shrouded in mystery for decades, has been the backdrop for countless significant events, with the royal family emerging from it during coronations, weddings, and other landmark occasions.

From Winston Churchill's appearance alongside the royal family in 1945 after World War II to the wedding of King Charles III and Princess Diana in 1981, the balcony has been a silent witness to history. 

Despite the countless images of the balcony, the room itself has remained concealed, holding its secrets closely.

Recently, King Charles made an appearance on this balcony following his birthday parade, accompanied by his daughter-in-law, Catherine, Princess of Wales. 

Her presence attracted significant attention as it was her first official royal event since announcing her cancer treatment earlier this year.

Visitors will now have the opportunity to explore this historic room as part of a tour of the palace's east wing. 

This marks the first time the east wing has been opened to the public since its creation around 175 years ago. 

Tickets for this exclusive tour were quickly snapped up, with nearly 6,000 sold within hours of going on sale in April.

The east wing, added between 1847-1849 to accommodate Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's growing family, was Prince Albert's brainchild. 

He envisioned the balcony as a means for the royal family to connect with the public, a tradition that continues to this day. 

Caroline de Guitaut, the surveyor of the king's works of art, noted that the earliest uses of the balcony included waving off troops to the Crimean War and welcoming them back.

The tour will also showcase the palace's state rooms, which have been open to the public during the summer since 1993. 

Visitors will traverse the 73-meter (240-feet) long principal corridor, including the yellow drawing room and the center room behind the balcony. 

The yellow drawing room boasts a Chinese-style fireplace from George IV's seaside pleasure palace in Brighton, as well as wallpaper from the pavilion discovered in storage by Queen Elizabeth II's grandmother.

The Brighton Royal Pavilion was sold to finance the Buckingham Palace extension, with its contents moved to the east wing's principal rooms. 

Victoria and Albert adorned the corridor with chairs, side tables, large pagodas, and Chinese porcelain, including an incense burner shaped like a Buddha.

Among the highlights in the room behind the balcony are a newly restored glass chandelier, designed to resemble a lotus flower, and two Chinese 18th-century imperial silk wall hangings, presented to Victoria by Emperor Guangxu to mark her Diamond Jubilee in 1897. 

While visitors will enjoy views down the Mall, they won't be able to step onto the balcony itself. 

They will, however, have the chance to admire Jonathan Yeo's new portrait of King Charles, painted almost entirely in red.

This rare glimpse into one of Buckingham Palace's inner sanctums offers a unique opportunity to step into history and experience the grandeur of a room that has silently witnessed the unfolding of many pivotal moments.