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The Palace guards, in their familiar red tunics and tall bearskin hats, are changed at 11am each morning (10am on Sundays, and alternate days in winter). The guards march to the Palace from the nearby Wellington Barracks.

On special occasions, the Queen and other members of the Royal Family step on to the Palace balcony to wave to the crowds gathered below.

The newly extended gallery now displays more of the Royal Collection’s masterpieces, including works by Vermeer and Leonardo. Also on show are priceless furniture, porcelain, jewels and books.

The Ambassadors’ Entrance leads into the Grand Hall. From here the magnificent Grand Staircase, with gilded balustrades, rises to the first floor where the State Rooms are found.

This houses the thrones of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip used for the coronation. Designed by John Nash, the room has a highly ornamented ceiling and magnificent chandeliers.

The largest room in the Palace has a barrel-vaulted glass ceiling and contains a number of paintings from the Royal Collection, including works by Rembrandt, Rubens and Van Dyck.

Banquets for visiting heads of state are held here. The most glittering social event of the year is in November, when 1,200 members of the Diplomatic Corps arrive in full court dress.

Caring for 34 horses, including the Windsor Greys, which pull the royal coach on state occasions, these are the finest working stables in Britain. The collection of coaches, landaus and carriages includes the magnificent gold State Coach, which was built in c.1760.

The extensive Palace garden is an oasis for wildlife and includes a four-acre lake. There are three Royal garden parties held here each year, to which over 27,000 guests are invited.

Every day a horse-drawn Brougham carriage sets out to collect and deliver royal packages around London, including the Palace’s weekly copy ofCountry Life .