Queen Victoria may be famous for the phrase "We are not amused", but the same cannot be said of her great-granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II.
British comedian Sir Norman Wisdom not only made the Queen smile, he made her laugh when, after his investiture at Buckingham Palace, he stepped back, bowed, turned and as he was walking away made one of his famous "trips". The Queen laughed as can be seen on a video shown in the Ballroom at Buckingham Palace.
The other place where Her Majesty has been seen to laugh is on the famous balcony at the front of the Palace. We cannot visit the balcony, but each year the public has the opportunity to visit the State Rooms including the Ballroom.
This is also the first opportunity to have a short sit down and rest between seeing some of the most opulent rooms in the world.
The Ballroom was the last room that Queen Victoria had added to the Palace and to pay for it she sold the Brighton Pavilion to Brighton Corporation.
 |  | | Queen Elizabeth II and the late Princess Margaret wave from balcony at Buckingham Palace | |
The interior was originally Renaissance but her son, King Edward VII, had it remodelled on the French style which is where the white and gold color scheme and the fluted Ionic pillars came in.
Sitting at one end of the Ballroom and looking across a sea of crimson and gold chairs you can see the arched alcove containing a pair of elaborate crimson and gold thrones under a crimson canopy.
The thrones were made for the coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra and the unusual canopy was made from the Imperial shamiana beneath which King George V and Queen Mary were crowned King-Emperor and Queen-Empress of Indian in Delhi in 1911.
It is in this beautiful room that the 21 annual Investitures are held when the Queen (as the "Fountain of Honour") presents the insignia and decorations of the various Orders. Mostly they are given to people but sometimes to groups and are in recognition of service to the nation and the community.
After a brief rest it is time to walk along the red carpet towards the thrones and exit the ballroom, but before doing so turn and look back. Opposite the dais is a matching arch and balcony with a great organ.
Although Queen Victoria sold Brighton Pavilion she didn't sell the furniture and fittings and one of the items she retained was this organ.
Every year a special exhibition is staged. For example, in 2003 as it was the 50th Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's Coronation, and was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the gorgeous hand embroidered silk gown that she wore on that important day.
Before reaching the Ballroom we will have ambled through several of the State rooms including the Guard Room, the Green Drawing Room, the Throne Room and picture galleries.
In the Guard Room are two magnificent statues of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and pretty etched windows above.
 | | | The grand staircase at Buckingham Palace | |
The Green Drawing Room, or ante-room to the Throne Room, is where people gather before being presented to the Queen. The walls are covered in green silk to match the upholstery of the lion chairs.
Gold and white pilasters draw the eye up to a magnificent gold and white domed ceiling, and enormous crystal chandeliers. At either side of the doorway is a pair of 18th century French cabinets.
Lots of drawers and a cupboard all inlaid with tortoiseshell, ebony and pewter. The six-octave piano, like the organ, was originally in the Music Room of the Brighton Pavilion.
It is difficult to miss the unique ship vase that was made in about 1758, and was once owned by Madame de Pompadour. It stands on what is probably the most elaborate and colourful piece of furniture in the collection. A late 18th century French cabinet, inlaid with panels of semi-precious stones in the form of fruit and flowers.
The Throne Room has a richly ornamented ceiling displaying the coats of arms of England, Scotland, Ireland and Hanover. The carved frieze depicts scenes from the Wars of the Roses and the room is lit by seven early 19th century glass and gilt chandeliers.
The proscenium arch to the dais has winged Victories holding gilt garlands. The throne chairs are, of course, those of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Other throne chairs nearby were those of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother and the throne chair of Queen Victoria.
The Picture Gallery has paintings by Rubens, van Dyck, Rembrandt, Canaletto, Poussin, Wouwermans and Guyp - among others, but as paintings are often loaned out to exhibitions some of the paintings may have changed. Nevertheless you will see paintings there you recognize and have probably only ever before seen in books or on television.
In the Picture Gallery Lobby is a beautiful sculpture group of Mrs. Jordan and two children, the baby asleep on her lap and a toddler leaning against her knee.
 | | | the state dining room at Buckingham Palace | |
For those who don't know it, Mrs. J. was the mistress of William IV. And yet more paintings in the East Gallery, including that wonderful one by Sir George Hayter of Queen Victoria's Coronation. For a really three-D effect take time to stand and look at the Christiansborg Palace (Copenhagen) by Hansen.
After the Ballroom come three of the most opulent rooms - the State Dining Room, the Blue Drawing Room and the White Drawing Room.
The Dining Room is far from restful with red carpet, red drapes and red walls. On the side tables are some Chinese celadon porcelain vases with French and English gilt mounts. Again, items from the Brighton Pavilion.
But the piece de resistance (as in all three rooms) is the ceiling. It has an intricate design in white and gold with three saucer domes.
The ceiling in the Blue Drawing Room must be one of John Nash's most sumptuous. It is of gold and white coffering with beautiful carvings and sculptures. As you look at the gold centers you can imagine they are the sun with rays spreading over the room. Truly magnificent.
While the upholstery, drapes and walls are blue, the walls are broken up by twenty-four imitation onyx pillars with gold Corinthian capitals, which support the ceiling.
Loads of French furniture and Sevres vases, an astronomical clock, and the fabulous Table of the Grand Commanders which Napoleon ordered in 1806. Made of Sevres porcelain it took six years to complete and was given to George IV two years after the Battle of Waterloo.
The Music Room has a bow window, columns of imitation lapis lazuli and beautiful two-part ceiling: a complete dome and a half dome - covering the bay in which there is a grand piano.
 | | | Throne Room at Buckingham Palace | |
The White Drawing Room surprisingly has yellow upholstery and drapes, and even a yellow piano. There is an exquisite white and gold ceiling with a beautifully sculptured frieze and crystal chandeliers set off the whole room.
The most important piece of furniture in here is a roll-top desk, veneered with fret marquetry and inlaid with trophies and flowers. It is thought to have been made for one of Louis XV's daughters.
Beyond the desk is a secret door. A tall mirror on the wall with a cabinet in front of it - on which are two candelabra and a piece of Sevres porcelain - is the door through which the Royal Family enter on formal occasions.
We haven't quite finished yet, but almost. Now it is time to go downstairs to the Marble Hall lined with paintings and statues two of which are by Canova. One is of "Mars and Venus" and the other, "Fountain nymph with putto" - which is a nymph being serenaded by a cherub.
From the hall it is into the Bow Room where, in corner display cases can be seen the beautiful Mecklenburg Strelitz Chelsea porcelain table-service. This was commissioned by King George III and Queen Charlotte and completed in 1763.
The way out is from the Bow Room onto the Terrace and along the Garden Walk to look at the gardens and get a splendid view of the rear of Buckingham Palace.
Sorry, although we can go to the Ballroom, unfortunately, we cannot go onto the famous Balcony - that is in a totally different part of the Palace.
There is a gift shop in the garden where, each year there are limited editions at reasonable prices available, some of which will become collectors items.
For more information:
Ticket Sales and Information Office,
The Official Residences of The Queen,
London, SW1A 1AA, England.
Credit card bookings: (44)20-7321 2233
Fax: (44)20-7930 9625
Email: information@royalcollection.org.uk
Web: www.royal.gov.uk/
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