Author Topic: Royal Interiors, Part II  (Read 198288 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Eric_Lowe

  • Guest
Re: Royal Interiors, Part II
« Reply #15 on: January 09, 2010, 07:24:12 PM »
Thanks for the information. According to my source, in one of the living rooms ajactioned to the guest room hung the portait of Princess Louise Margaret, Duchess of Connaught by Sargent. It was there Princess Sofie of Hannover tried to peep at the view outside before her big sister Margarita called her back.

PAVLOV

  • Guest
Re: Royal Interiors, Part II
« Reply #16 on: January 12, 2010, 04:01:12 AM »
I know I should be looking at the floor plan to get this answer. What room exits onto the balcony overlooking the Mall ?
Are there any other balconies in Buckingham Palace ?.   

CHRISinUSA

  • Guest
Re: Royal Interiors, Part II
« Reply #17 on: January 12, 2010, 07:29:31 AM »
The Center Room opens onto the main balcony facing the Mall.  It is a large Chinese-style saloon enhanced by Queen Mary, although the lacquer doors were brought from Brighton in 1873.  When looking at the palace's East Facade from the Mall, left to right the rooms are:  The Yellow Drawing Room (southeast corner), three guest bedroom suites, the Center Room, three more guest bedroom suites, and finally the Chinese Dining (or Chinese Luncheon) Room.

There are many balconies at Buckingham Palace - although aside from the large Main Balcony, most are Juliet-type balconies which are not very deep, but run the length of the north facade (outside the Queen's private rooms), as well as outside the large French doors opening from various rooms on the west facade (ie.  The Blue Drawing Room, the Royal Closet).

Offline Learning

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 69
    • View Profile
Re: Royal Interiors, Part II
« Reply #18 on: January 12, 2010, 08:27:57 AM »
There is a balcony outside the Queen's private rooms? I wonder if one can look up and see her sitting outside with the paper?

About the guest rooms, I assume they are simply a bed room with bath attached or do some guests have to share a bath?

PAVLOV

  • Guest
Re: Royal Interiors, Part II
« Reply #19 on: January 12, 2010, 09:04:59 AM »
Thank you. I never realised that. Perhaps she pops out occasionally for a breath of fresh air. I would imagine that it is quite private on that side of the palace. One never really sees close up shots of the back or sides of the building.

Eric_Lowe

  • Guest
Re: Royal Interiors, Part II
« Reply #20 on: January 12, 2010, 11:29:23 AM »
One of the few "private" places in the palace that some privacy can be expected. However even the Queen's bedroom was invaded once...

CHRISinUSA

  • Guest
Re: Royal Interiors, Part II
« Reply #21 on: January 12, 2010, 04:32:08 PM »
Well as I mentioned, the ones in the Queen's apartments are more like "Juliet balconies" - ie.  French doors open and there's a shallow space to step outside, but not a "proper balcony".  I'm looking at the floor plans right now, and see that quite a shallow one runs the length from the Queen's Bedroom, past the Anteroom, Sitting Room, and the adjacent two rooms (which in my old plans are labeled "Audience Chamber" and something else).  Another, wider balcony runs the length of the Duke of Edinburgh's apartments further east along that range.

There are four somewhat more "proper" balconies along the west front, from the Sheraton Room (at the northwest corner), the Royal Closet, The Blue Drawing Room, and a small staircase room just south of the State Dining Room. 

As far as the guest rooms on the East range, I just looked at my plans and see that my earlier post was incorrect - I said there were 3 bedrooms in between the Yellow Drawing Room and Center Room, and another 3 rooms between the Center Room and the Chinese Dining Room.  I now notice that (at least, at the time of my Victorian era plans), there are actually more rooms than that.

Just north of the "Yellow Drawing Room" the plans show a small "Writing Room" (with an attached bathroom), then 4 connecting bedrooms without baths (two labeled just bedroom, one called "Green Bedroom" and one "Red Bedroom").  Then a small "Dressing Room" (with another attached bathroom) before you reach the Center Room.  Two water closets are also shown at either end of this section of the principal corridor (on the Quadrangle side across the corridor from the bedrooms).

North of the Center Room it shows another small "Bedroom" (with attached bath), followed by two larger "Bedrooms", then a "Sitting Room", and finally another small "Bedroom" with a attached bathroom.  Another pair of water closets are across the corridor.  Past this is a staircase, and finally the Chinese Dining Room at the northeast corner.

But I wouldn't be surprised if these rooms were reconfigured in the 20th century to add bathrooms.

PAVLOV

  • Guest
Re: Royal Interiors, Part II
« Reply #22 on: January 13, 2010, 11:02:54 AM »
Thank you Chris. One can look at that facade and imagine what is behind all those windows. One automatically expects that there is one long enfilade of grand rooms.

I really must look at the floorplans before asking these questions. But now we know. Thanks

Eric_Lowe

  • Guest
Re: Royal Interiors, Part II
« Reply #23 on: January 13, 2010, 03:13:39 PM »
Yes. They were of course renovated for the 21st Century. They do seem to keep the appearance very much the same feel though.

CHRISinUSA

  • Guest
Re: Royal Interiors, Part II
« Reply #24 on: January 13, 2010, 03:28:45 PM »
Thank you Chris. One can look at that facade and imagine what is behind all those windows. One automatically expects that there is one long enfilade of grand rooms. I really must look at the floorplans before asking these questions. But now we know. Thanks

I wouldn't say your image of a long enfilade of grand rooms is incorrect Pavlov!  I mean, I've never personally been inside Buckingham Palace, but from the floor plans and various photos I've seen, the rooms behind those windows certainly are grand....(at least on the State Floor).  The bedrooms / writing rooms and so forth I described in the East Range are certainly of substantial scale - and probably very finely furnished as well.

Eric_Lowe

  • Guest
Re: Royal Interiors, Part II
« Reply #25 on: January 13, 2010, 04:38:39 PM »
I am not sure about the bedrooms, but the State bedrooms are definitely grand.

CHRISinUSA

  • Guest
Re: Royal Interiors, Part II
« Reply #26 on: January 15, 2010, 08:05:54 AM »
If you refer to the royal families' bedrooms Eric, I'd say it's a mixed bag.  You can tell from the plans and photos posted elsewhere on this forum that basically all of the principal royal rooms are of substantial scale /size. 

But as far as how they are decorated?  That's entirely another story.  We've probably all seen various photos published (in particular those a few years back by that reporter/ fake footman who published them in the Mirror).  The Belgian Suite was extremely elegant and of excellent quality, but the colors not exactly to my taste.  The Queen's Sitting Room and Dining Room are grandly appointed and furnished (despite the Tupperware and old radio on the breakfast table).  The Private (North) Corridor and Principal (East) Corridors are also very grand.

But remember the pics of Edward / Sophie's bedroom?  Ack!  Spacious true, but cheap looking light oak veneered bookcases and headboards!?!  Andrew's sitting room was better - but not by much!  On the other side of the coin, later photos of Diana's apartment at KP (post divorce) reveal them to be spacious, elegant and grand, while still comfortable.  And Chuck's redo at Clarence House resulted in rooms far more appropriate for a senor royal than those of his younger brothers' down the street at BP.  I wonder what Anne's private quarters would look like? 

Eric_Lowe

  • Guest
Re: Royal Interiors, Part II
« Reply #27 on: January 15, 2010, 11:42:20 AM »
Spartan is what I expect of Anne's taste. I guess apart from Prince Charles, the rest of the family did not care a toss about interior decoration. Princess Margaret & The Queen Mum used to be the one who cared about this sort of thing. Another person would be Viscount Linley (who studied cabinet making at the Coltwords) and of course Prince & Princess Michael of Kent.

PAVLOV

  • Guest
Re: Royal Interiors, Part II
« Reply #28 on: January 16, 2010, 07:49:13 AM »
Yes I would not imagine that The Princess Royal would be wildly enthusiastic about interior decorating. She does'nt care very much for clothes, so I dont think her surroundings would be very important to her.
David Hicks did her house in the 70's, and I expect that it has not been touched at all since then.

 

Eric_Lowe

  • Guest
Re: Royal Interiors, Part II
« Reply #29 on: January 16, 2010, 11:40:05 AM »
I tried to find Anne's place in David Hick's recently published book but cannot find it in there.