King Charles Opened ‘Little-Known’ Part of Buckingham Palace to the Public — and It’s Breaking Records
In July 2024, the monarch reopened the East Wing of Buckingham Palace to the public following a five-year renovation.
King Charles has a major milestone to celebrate with his family as he spends the summer holidaying in Scotland. In July 2024, the monarch reopened the East Wing of Buckingham Palace to the public following a five-year renovation. Now, his decision is being hailed as a success, with the Royal Collection Trust's report showcasing the highest number of visitors in 30 years to explore the newly restored wing. The report also noted that the expert-led tours inside the Palace sold out shortly after going on sale.
Last month, the annual Sovereign Grant report mentioned that a record number of visitors visited the doors of the East Wing. Confirming the same, the Royal Collection Trust said, "The opening of rooms in the Palace's East Wing for the first time – following the completion of over five years of essential works as part of the Buckingham Palace Reservicing Programme – further captured the public’s imagination, with expert‑led tours of this iconic, yet little‑known, wing of the Palace selling out within hours of going on sale." As reported by HELLO!, the renovation of the East Wing is part of a larger project to upgrade and modernize Buckingham Palace. The project began in 2017, during Queen Elizabeth’s reign, and is expected to be completed by 2027.
Royal Correspondent Danielle Stacey highlighted several reasons why the East Wing became an instant success with the public. She said, "I think the Coronation certainly created a new buzz around the monarchy, and seeing the King and Queen's robes up close at the special display they organized in 2023 is one of my royal highlights." She continued, "Since then, the RCT has organised a number of photography and art displays, which allow members of the public to view archive images up close, which is a really unique, personal, and touching addition to the history around the Palace and each individual room."
The same annual report by the Royal Collection Trust highlights another record-breaking milestone Charles can celebrate. According to The Mirror, Windsor Castle welcomed an unprecedented number of visitors last year, surpassing even Buckingham Palace. The 2024–2025 yearly review recorded 1,367,000 visitors to Windsor Castle, while Buckingham Palace, located in the heart of London, attracted 683,000 visitors during the same period. Additionally, the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh welcomed 440,000 guests, and the Royal Mews received 165,000 visitors over the year. The Prince and Princess of Wales reside close to Windsor Castle in Adelaide Cottage with their three children, making it a major tourist attraction.
As per ITV News, one of the late Queen Elizabeth’s favorite royal residences was Windsor Castle, where she spent most weekends in private and eventually made her main home in her final years. It served as both a personal retreat and a venue for state affairs, unlike Buckingham Palace, which functioned primarily as her working headquarters in London. As for Charles, he now resides at Clarence House but prefers to unwind at Highgrove House in Gloucestershire, a private country retreat close to his heart since the 1980s.
