AN ICONIC 500-year-old English palace is opening to the public for the first time in history.
St James’s Palace in Westminster, London, including the room where Charles III was proclaimed as king, will be hosting guided tours from next month.
King Charles speaking at a meeting at St James’s Palace in 2022, accompanied by Camilla[/caption]
Wills and Kate posing at the palace for their engagement in 2010[/caption]
The palace has now opened for public tours[/caption]
These will run throughout April and May, at the price of £85 per head, the Royal Collection Trust has confirmed.
Participants will be placed in small groups for their tour of the huge four-floored building, which is the most senior royal palace in London.
It was built between 1531 and 1536, during Henry VIII’s reign, and later became the a royal residence in 1837 – although the reigning monarch no longer lives there.
The red brick Tudor building is the oldest official residence in the capital – even pipping Buckingham Palace to the title.
Many notable historical events have taken place there throughout history – including Mary Tudor signed the treaty surrendering Calais in 1558.
Infamous Henry VIII spent much of his time there with Anne Boleyn during the peak of the marriage – with Boleyn’s daughter, Elizabeth I, later moving in during the threat posed by the Spanish Armada.
More recently, both Prince William and Prince Harry have lived here with their father.
And, the palace has been home to many a royal christening – including those of Prince Louis and Prince George in recent years.
Defending the steep prices, the Royal Collection Trust said prices were “benchmarked across the sector and reflect the unique and special access visitors will experience”.
Tickets for April and May are sold out, but it is hoped that the tours will continue into next year.
Although this is the first time the palace is open to the general public, a select few were allowed in as part of trials held in 2022 and 2023.
Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace have both opened to the public for tours in recent years.
It was rumoured back in 2023 that disgraced Prince Andrew may move into St James’s Palace after being “evicted” from Buckingham Palace.
However, this did not happen and the disgraced royal now lives at the 30-room Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.
It has also been claimed that Prince Harry once accidentally triggered a panic alarm at St James’s Palace after falling down drunk inside a sentry box.
An ex-soldier, who did not want to be named, told The Sun: “It was around midnight.
“An alarm went off in the guard room, but we’d never heard it before.
“One of the senior lads said it was one of the sentry boxes.
“Within a couple of minutes three of us who were in the QRF were out the door.
“There were two Met Police guys there as well.”
Charles meeting celebs at a reception to celebrate the Commonwealth in 2024[/caption]
Wedding gifts for the Prince and Princess of Wales in the Throne Room of the palace[/caption]
St James’s Palace is the oldest royal residence in London[/caption]
