Thursday May 21st 2026
Palace of Holyroodhouse (credit: Peter Smith)
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
The private apartments used by Queen Elizabeth II when in residence at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of the monarch in Scotland, have opened to visitors for the first time today to mark the centenary of her birth.
Available only this year, the tours run for 100 days and will see small groups taken behind the scenes by expert guides to discover the history of the rooms and learn how they were used by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, during her 70-year reign.
Tours will take visitors through rooms and spaces including the Royal Breakfast Room, where the Queen and Prince Philip would dine privately while in residence. In the Dressing Room, giving a sense of how the Queen would prepare for official engagements, visitors will see three ensembles and accessories from her wardrobe, each worn during a significant occasion in Edinburgh.
The tours will conclude in the Sitting Room where the late Queen would work, reviewing the papers and documents presented in the Government red dispatch boxes, as well as using the room for private audiences or resting between engagements, often while watching horseracing on television.
After their tour of Queen Elizabeth II’s private apartments, visitors can explore the rich history of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, including the magnificent State Apartments and the historic apartments of Mary, Queen of Scots, all included in the ticket price.
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