UNITED KINGDOM: Buckingham Palace For Free

In November last year, Jumeirah created a virtual inside tour of the iconic Burj Al Arab. It offered those who haven’t been there a glimpse of what they’re missing. Now an even more popular global landmark has followed suit.

You can now take a virtual tour of Buckingham Palace, the London residence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Although the history of the site dates back to the Middle Ages, the palace as we know it today started life as a townhouse for the Duke of Buckingham, which was built in 1703.

King George III gave the palace to his wife, Queen Charlotte, in the middle of the 18th Century. However it wasn’t until midway through the 19th Century when the palace was refitted and extended into what we recognise today. It became the official residence of Queen Victoria when she ascended to the throne in 1837.

The Throne Room. The Queen sits on the left, while Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, sits on the right as we look at it. Note the initials

The tour starts off at the foot of the Grand Staircase, before taking you through to the Throne Room – and yes, it is as pick and as opulent as you could imagine. The third stop on the tour is the Blue Drawing Room before finishing in the White Drawing Room.

If you have ever wondered what the expressionless Queen’s Guards have been guarding all these years, you can take the tour for yourself to find out.