State visits are reportedly set to move from Buckingham Palace to Windsor Castle for the next few years, whilst the central-London Palace undergoes major refurbishments.
Most visits are currently held at Buckingham Palace and feature a Guard of Honour at Horseguards Parade as welcome, and a State Banquet on the first evening. But according to The Sunday Times, to accommodate the necessary closure of state rooms, all foreign leaders will be welcomed at the ancient Berkshire castle for the next three years.
State Visits will move from Buckingham Palace to Windsor Castle. (© Royal Collection Enterprises Limited
2024 | Royal Collection Trust. Photographer: Andrew Holt)
The incoming State Visit by the Emir of Qatar will take place at Windsor, and the arrangement will reportedly remain in effect until 2027, to ensure the continuity of diplomatic engagements while the Palace undergoes its extensive restoration.
As part of the renovations, Buckingham Palace’s grandest rooms often seen during such visits will be closed in phases. The initial phase will focus on the White Drawing Room, Music Room, Blue Drawing Room, and State Dining Room on the garden (or rear) side, followed by the Ballroom and state rooms on the Quadrangle side (facing into the courtyard) including the Throne Room and Green Drawing Room.
Naturally, the ballroom is where state banquets are held, as the biggest room of the residence, with few other rooms able to fulfil this role.
State Banquets take place in the Ballroom at Buckingham Palace; this is the Japanese visit of 2023 (UK in Japan)
Renovation and construction work is being funded by a temporary increase in the Sovereign Grant, being calculated at 25% of the income from the Crown Estate instead of 10%. However, next year, a further increase is being given of around 53% – this equates to a Sovereign Grant of £86.3 million in 2024-25 to £132 million in 2025-26.
However, the Palace will temporarily pause construction work during the summer months for public access to allow for the traditional summer opening and themed exhibition, such as the special Platinum Jubilee event in 2022. It will also allow for the tours of Buckingham Palace to continue, after the East Wing of the Palace was open for the first time this summer.
State Visits will take place at Windsor Castle for three years until 2027. (© Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024 | Royal Collection Trust. Photographer: Peter Packer)
What do State Visits at Windsor Castle look like?
During the reign of Elizabeth II, there were a number of State Visits that took place at Windsor Castle, such as King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan’s visit in 2001. The last full State Visit to take place at the Castle was in 2014 with President of Ireland Michael Higgins and Sabina Higgins (though President Trump was given a Guard of Honour here in 2019).
These have usually begun with a welcome at Datchet train station from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, and its band, followed by a Carriage Procession to the castle, a tradition which is expected to continue.
Members of the public have previously been able watch the ceremonial welcome and procession along Thames Street and the High Street, showing off many of the traditional buildings in Windsor en route.
Carriage-riding guests then enter the castle through the George IV Gateway into the quadrangle in the Upper Ward, where the private apartments are located.
In the quadrangle, a military guard of honour is formed, usually provided from one of the regiments of Household divisions: Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards, Scots Guards, Irish Guards and the Welsh Guards. The incoming Head of State will then inspect the guard of honour.
This is followed by the Royals and their guests standing on the dais to view march past of the guard, before heading inside for a private lunch, and the exchanging of official gifts. The exhibition of items relating to the incoming country accompanies this.
Similar to visits held at Buckingham Palace, there is a State Banquet. The traditional dinner is held in St George’s Hall, with a long table in the middle seating up to 160 guests. The Monarch and Head of State sit in the centre and musicians play from the balcony at the end of the Hall.
The Hall had to be rebuilt following the fire at Windsor Castle in 1992. The ceiling features the coats of arms of every single Knight of the Garter since the order was founded in 1348, as well as a number of carved wood panels on the walls, which depict various historical events and scenes related to the Order of the Garter.
There is an armoured figure on horseback at the east end, which is known as ‘The King’s Champion’. Historically, the Champion used to ride into the Coronation banquet held in Westminster Hall, throw his gauntlet three times and challenge anyone to deny the authority of the new Monarch.
