Palace of Holyroodhouse

A visit to the Palace of Holyroodhouse includes the remains of 12th-century Holyrood Abbey, the Palace gardens, the State Apartments of the Palace itself, and stories of its most famous residents from the past and present. A reflection of the changing tastes of successive monarchs, the State Apartments are famous for their beautiful plasterwork ceilings and unrivalled collection of French and Flemish tapestries. As you walk through the Palace, you will notice how the rooms become progressively grander as you approach the King's Bedchamber - the grandest room of all, where historically, only the most important guests would have been granted an audience. Perhaps one of the most famous monarchs to live at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Mary, Queen of Scots' chambers where she lived between 1561-1567 are not to be missed. When you climb the steps up to the north-west tower you enter a world of intrigue, tragedy and murder.

Make sure to also visit the Throne Room which was used for receptions and other State occasions. The centrepiece of the room is the pair of thrones, commissioned by King George V in 1911. His ancestor, George IV visited Scotland in 1822, the first reigning British monarch to do so in almost 200 years.

The King's Gallery, Edinburgh

The King's Gallery in Edinburgh is located at the entrance to the Palace of Holyroodhouse and was built in the shell of a former church and school dating from the 1840s. The project to create an art gallery that would complement the original 19th-century architecture began in 1999, and The King's Gallery was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in November 2002 as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations. Today the Gallery hosts a programme of changing exhibitions from the Royal Collection.

Masterpieces from Buckingham Palace (until 31st October)

A selection of the finest paintings in the Royal Collection have today gone on display at The King's Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse. Masterpieces from Buckingham Palace brings together over 30 spectacular works by artists including Sir Peter Paul Rubens, Claude Lorrain, Artemisia Gentileschi and Sir Anthony van Dyck. Included in the exhibition are four paintings by Rembrandt Van Rijn, the largest group of works by the Dutch artist currently on public display in Scotland.

This exhibition provides an opportunity to view these world-renowned paintings in a modern gallery setting, away from the historic interior of the Picture Gallery at Buckingham Palace, where they can usually be seen as part of the annual Summer Opening of the State Rooms. The more intimate display at The King's Gallery gives audiences the chance to encounter each painting close up and at eye level. Visitors are invited to consider what makes a ‘masterpiece’, from the artists’ use of materials and composition to their evocation of the real world and the expressive quality of their works.