This weekend, staff from the Royal Collection Trust will spend more than 40 hours changing clocks across the official residences of The Queen.
British Summer Time comes to an end in the early hours of Sunday morning, meaning everyone gets an extra hour in bed!
A Horological Conservator adjusts the gallery clock in St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle. Painted with the Cross of St George, the clock face features Roman numerals in a gothic style and a gilded Tudor rose at the centre. The ceiling above is studded with the coats of arms of all the Knights of the Garter since the foundation of the Order in 1348. After the roof was entirely destroyed in the 1992 fire, the oak ceiling and balcony were reconstructed using medieval carpentry techniques. It is the largest timber roof built in England since the 16th century. (© RCT/Queen Elizabeth II 2020)
A team of Horological Conservators, however, will work through the weekend to adjust the clocks, including 450 timepieces at Windsor Castle, another 600 at Buckingham Palace, and 50 at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh.
The clocks at Windsor will take 17 hours to move.
The Royal Collection contains some of the finest historic clocks in existence, many of which are on display to visitors.
The time is changed on a late 19th-century gilt-bronze clock in the Grand Reception Room at Windsor Castle. Designed as the principal ballroom of the Castle, this room displays George IV’s love of French interiors and is decorated with richly gilded rococo panelling. (© RCT/Queen Elizabeth II 2020)
A member of Royal Collection Trust staff adjusts a late 17th-century walnut veneered clock by Joseph Windmills in the King’s Bedchamber at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. Lavishly decorated, the King’s Bedchamber was designed for Charles II and intended to be seen by only the most privileged visitors to the Palace. (© RCT/Queen Elizabeth II 2020)
The Crimson Drawing Room at Windsor Castle has its Apollo clock changed (@RCT)
The largest clock in the Collection is the Quadrangle Clock at #WindsorCastle. https://t.co/JJz30EDwWu #clocksgoback pic.twitter.com/lIsOvavjLP
— RoyalCollectionTrust (@RCT) October 24, 2020
Visitors are still welcome at the palaces, but prebooking is necessary. See here.
