Inside the Queen’s Private Rooms: Rare Tours Announced at Holyroodhouse

Members of the public will have the opportunity to step inside the private rooms used by Queen Elizabeth II at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, her official residence in Scotland, for the first time in 2026. The special access is being offered to mark the centenary of the late Queen’s birth.

Running exclusively throughout 2026, the experience will be available for a limited period of 100 days. Small groups will be guided through the rooms by specialist guides, who will share stories about their history and explain how Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, used these spaces during her 70-year reign.

Subscribers to the Royal Collection Trust email newsletter will receive priority booking access from Monday 9 March, with tickets offered at a reduced introductory price. Any remaining places will be released for general sale from Thursday 12 March.

Throughout Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, the Palace of Holyroodhouse provided the backdrop for many important royal occasions. When the Queen visited Edinburgh to meet people from across Scottish communities, she and Prince Philip stayed in a private suite located on the eastern side of the palace. The rooms overlook both the palace gardens and Holyrood Park, offering impressive views.

Although these rooms served an official purpose, they were decorated relatively simply and used as everyday living spaces when the royal couple were in residence. Opening them to visitors offers a rare insight into the more personal areas of the palace where the Queen and Prince Philip spent time away from public engagements.

The apartments themselves date back to the 17th century and have been used by successive members of the Royal Family since the reign of Queen Victoria. Today, they contain a mix of historic furnishings from the Royal Collection alongside items from the personal collections of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Many of these pieces reflect the couple’s longstanding affection for Scotland.

During the guided experience, visitors will be taken through several rooms within the suite, including the Royal Breakfast Room. This is where the Queen and Prince Philip would often enjoy private meals while staying at the palace.

The room is decorated with striking Flemish tapestries that were woven around 1650. Their design features a pergola framing an elaborate vase overflowing with flowers. These impressive textiles were installed in the room in the 1920s at the request of King George V and Queen Mary, the grandparents of Queen Elizabeth II.

Another stop on the tour is the Dressing Room, which provides an impression of how the Queen prepared for official events. Three outfits from her wardrobe will be on display, each connected to an important occasion that took place in Edinburgh.

One ensemble was worn during the opening of the Scottish Parliament on 1 July 1999. For the historic event, the Queen chose a purple coat made from a silk and wool blend, paired with a green silk crepe and lace dress. The outfit was completed with a shawl woven in purple and green Isle of Skye tartan, produced on the Isle of Lewis. Inspired by Scotland’s landscape, the design reflected the Scottish heritage of designer Sandra Murray. A coordinating hat by milliner Philip Somerville finished the look, trimmed with a bow made from the coat fabric and dark green curled feathers.

Another gown displayed in the room was worn by the Queen at a Commonwealth Heads of Government reception held at the palace in 1997. The evening dress, designed by John Anderson, is crafted from silk and covered entirely with delicate beadwork and sequins in shades of white, pink, gold and cream. The embellishments are embroidered onto the fabric with gold thread, creating a striking and intricate design.

Each year in late June or early July, Queen Elizabeth II travelled to the Palace of Holyroodhouse for what became known as Holyrood Week. During this annual visit she carried out a programme of engagements recognising Scotland’s culture, achievements and communities.

One of the highlights of Holyrood Week was the traditional Garden Party held at the palace, which welcomed around 8,000 guests. An outfit worn by the Queen to the event in 2017 will also feature in the exhibition. The look includes a white tweed coat woven with subtle pink, yellow and green threads, paired with a pink wool crepe dress. Both pieces were created by designer Karl Ludwig van Rehse. The outfit was completed with a hat by Angela Kelly, which incorporated matching tweed fabric, a curved straw brim and decorative floral details.

The tour finishes in the Sitting Room, a space where the late Queen would often work. Here she would review official papers contained in the well known Government red dispatch boxes. The room was also used for private meetings or simply as a place to relax between engagements. On quieter moments, the Queen was known to spend time here watching horse racing on television.

Prince Philip’s interests are also reflected throughout the rooms. A keen supporter of contemporary Scottish art, he served as Patron of the Royal Scottish Academy of Art. Visitors will see several works from his personal art collection displayed throughout the apartments. Many were acquired during visits to the Royal Scottish Academy’s annual exhibitions and demonstrate his admiration for Scotland’s wildlife and landscapes.

The suite is also furnished with an exceptional group of pieces created by the Edinburgh furniture makers Young, Trotter and Hamilton. These items were originally supplied to the palace in 1796 in preparation for the arrival of Charles Philippe, Comte d’Artois. The French royal, who later became King Charles X of France, took refuge at Holyroodhouse during the upheaval of the French Revolution. He was also the brother in law of Marie Antoinette.

Emma Stead, Curator at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, explained that the new tours provide a fresh way to understand the late Queen’s relationship with Scotland.

She said the opening of the apartments offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore these private spaces and gain a deeper appreciation of both the formal and everyday life that took place within Edinburgh’s royal palace.

After completing the guided experience, visitors will also be able to explore the wider palace as part of their ticket. This includes access to the grand State Apartments as well as the historic rooms associated with Mary, Queen of Scots.

Visitor Information

The Queen Elizabeth II Private Apartment Tours will take place exclusively during 2026. Tours will run daily for 100 days between Thursday 21 May and 10 September.

Places are limited and must be booked alongside a standard admission ticket to the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Royal Collection Trust email subscribers will receive early access to bookings from Monday 9 March, with tickets offered at a discounted price of £61 during the priority booking period. Any remaining tickets will be released for general sale at the full price from Thursday 12 March.

The private apartment tour can only be purchased in combination with entry to the palace. The combined ticket price is £71 when booked in advance or £75 when purchased on the day.

Standard admission to the Palace of Holyroodhouse alone costs £22 when booked in advance or £26 on the day.

Visitors receiving Universal Credit and certain other benefits can purchase £1 tickets for entry to the palace. Additional concession rates are also available, including discounted tickets for young people, half price admission for children, and free entry for children under five. Guests who buy tickets directly through Royal Collection Trust can also upgrade them to a 1 Year Pass, allowing unlimited return visits for the following twelve months.