Visit to Buckingham Palace and Afternoon Tea

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Visit Buckingham Palace and enjoy a traditional afternoon tea

  • Step inside Buckingham Palace
  • Admire the State Rooms
  • Enjoy a traditional afternoon tea in London’
  • Admission to Buckingham Palace with audio guide
  • Afternoon Tea on The English Bus Tea Bus or Browns Victoria after your Palace entry
  • Hotel transfers

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visit to buckingham palace and afternoon tea for two

Afternoon Tea overlooking Buckingham Palace

  • Dining and drinks
  • Afternoon Tea

Royal Afternoon Tea

Indulge in the epitome of a quintessential English Afternoon Tea experience at The Rubens at the Palace, where refinement meets tradition. Immerse yourself in the charming ambiance of our Palace Lounge, offering panoramic views of the Royal Mews of Buckingham Palace, or enjoy your tea within the opulent surroundings of our exquisitely designed English Grill.  

At the helm of our pastry kitchen is the exceptionally talented Sarah Houghting, a pastry chef of distinction who has showcased her skills on Bake Off: The Professionals on Channel 4. Sarah takes pride in crafting the freshest pastries and cakes, ensuring a delightful feast for our discerning guests.  

Renowned as one of London's finest Afternoon Teas, we honour the classic British tradition while infusing innovative twists to captivate your palate. Our commitment extends to catering for diverse dietary preferences, with thoughtfully curated menus that include vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and halal choices. Join us for our splendid Royal Afternoon Tea, where every moment is steeped in elegance and culinary excellence.

visit to buckingham palace and afternoon tea for two

Savour our classic Royal Afternoon Tea: a delectable assortment of freshly baked scones, delicate finger sandwiches and delicate pastries. Our pastries include our signature crown, made with Alpaco dark chocolate mousse, grapefruit confit and chocolate brownie.

Price: £70 per person

visit to buckingham palace and afternoon tea for two

Opening hours

Monday to Friday: 12pm to 5pm  

Saturdays: 12pm to 6pm  

Sunday: 12pm to 5pm

visit to buckingham palace and afternoon tea for two

Takeaway Afternoon Tea

With the option to have our Afternoon Tea either delivered or collected, you can enjoy our delectable pastries, cakes, and mini finger sandwiches from the comfort of your own home or bring a takeaway tea to a London park. Simply visit the link below to order the most decadent of treats. If you are ordering less than 48-hours' in advance, please contact us directly.

The High Tea In The Palace Lounge

Golden Tips Tea

Enjoy our Royal Afternoon Tea for two alongside Ceylon Golden Tips, in partnership with specialist tea merchants PMD Tea. This rare tea is produced in the highlands of Sri Lanka and is skillfully handpicked at sunset. With white-glove service, this delicate tea is weighed with precision at The Rubens using golden scales; each tip is placed into the silver teapot individually with golden tweezers. The tea, which is showcased in a mahogany box lined with velvet, is infused with still mineral water to produce an extraordinary liquor and a smooth, light and mellow texture, with hints of fruity notes.

Price: £500 for two people, including a bottle of Lanson Champagne sabred at your table

visit to buckingham palace and afternoon tea for two

Seasonal Chai Gift Tin

Enjoy our exclusive winter chai tea blend infused with harmonious notes of spice and sweet cinnamon; the perfect warming beverage for a cold winter's day. You can purchase the winter chai tea blend when dining with us in The Palace Lounge. Limited stock is available.

Price: £15 per tin

Afternoon Tea At The Rubens At The Palace

Gift vouchers

Treat your loved ones to a truly indulgent experience by gifting them one of our Afternoon Tea gift vouchers, valid for up to one year. Perched across from the Royal Mews of Buckingham Palace, sip on champagne or tea whilst enjoying a menu specially curated with royal inspiration.

Do you cater for special dietary restrictions?

How can i let you know about dietary requirements, how far in advance do i need to let you know about dietary requirements, can you accommodate me if i have more than one dietary requirement, do you cater for nut allergies, what is the dress code for afternoon tea at the rubens, do i need to order for collection in advance, when can i book an afternoon tea, what champagne is served for the bottomless champagne afternoon tea, share your #rubenshotel experience.

We are always delighted to discover our guests' photos and we love to share their stories and connect in a meaningful way. Nothing makes us happier than when our guests become part of our world.  

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Buckingham Palace State Rooms and Royal Afternoon Tea at Rubens at The Palace for Two

Buckingham Palace State Rooms and Royal Afternoon Tea at Rubens at The Palace for Two

A unique tour of the King’s residence, Buckingham Palace, offers royalists a fascinating insight into royal life. Tour through the 19 magnificent State Rooms which are used by the Royal Family for official ceremonial occasions, including the Throne Room, Music Room, Picture Gallery and State Dining Room. Complete the day with a very royal affair with an afternoon tea at The Rubens at the Palace, a 5-star hotel that overlooks the Royal Mews. Delve into their famous royal afternoon tea which showcases excellent pastry craft, including dainty finger sandwiches, moreish cakes and pastries and traditional scones with clotted cream.

  • Enjoy entry to the State Rooms of Buckingham Palace
  • Tuck into a royal afternoon tea for two at The Rubens at the Palace
  • Delight in fluffy scones, a selection of scrumptious sandwiches, fresh cakes and a variety of teas or coffee
  • Availability Description Receive two vouchers, both are valid for two people. These experiences can be used on the same or on different days. Buckingham Palace State Rooms: Available Thursday–Monday from 15th July – 29th September. Entrance to the State Rooms is at 1.15pm. Bookings must be made at least seven days in advance. The Rubens at the Palace Afternoon Tea: Afternoon tea is available week round, year round, excluding December. All dates are subject to availability.
  • Participant Guidelines Minimum age: 18 years.
  • Duration Entrance to the State Rooms is at 1.15pm only. Afternoon tea is served from 12pm–2pm and 4.30pm–5.30pm.
  • Dress Code Comfortable shoes are advisable as the visitor route includes a half mile walk from the left side of the garden to the exit. The dress code for The Rubens is smart casual and they respectfully ask guests to refrain from wearing sportswear, flip-flops and non-tailored shorts – guests not adhering to the dress code policy will not be permitted entry into the restaurants and bars.
  • Other Info All our vouchers are fully flexible and can be redeemed against our huge range of experiences. Bookings must be made in advance, walk-ups will not be accepted. A discretionary 12.5% service charge will be added to the bill. Please take the voucher on the day. Menus are subject to availability and change without notice. The Royal Collection Trust sites include airport-style security checks as part of admission. Please assist in reducing the time taken for security procedures at venues, by arriving with as few bags and bulky items as possible. Images courtesy of Royal Collection Trust / © His Majesty King Charles III 2023.
  • Victoria - West London (London)
  • St. James - West London (London)

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visit to buckingham palace and afternoon tea for two

Buckingham Palace Tour and Afternoon Tea

Tour start time: 14 july to 24 september – mondays, thursdays, fridays, saturdays & sundays 10:45am, what we will see & where we will be.

This is a combo experience with entry to Buckingham Place and a relaxing afternoon tea bus tour going through London’s iconic landmarks.

Buckingham Palace

The grand and iconic London residence of His Majesty the King is an absolute must-see on any visit to London. A fully working royal palace, housing not only The King, but serving as the administrative headquarters of the Royal Household.

The 19 State Rooms are exquisitely furnished with fine examples of French and English antique furniture and display some of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection, including works by Rubens, Canaletto and Rembrandt, sculpture by Canova and porcelain by Sèvres.

The Gardens of Buckingham Palace, often called the ‘walled oasis in the middle of London’, are a true sight to behold. They are home to 30 different species of bird and over 350 different wild flowers – there is plenty to see and enjoy.

Afternoon Tea Bus

This tour is unescorted and after your visit to Buckingham Palace, you will make your own way to Waterloo at about 3pm for a unique afternoon tea bus experience.

You will be greeted with a glass of Prosecco wine or soft drink at the beginning of the bus tour. The afternoon tea consists of a choice of tea, together with a selection of finger sandwiches, scones served with clotted cream and preserves, and small tea cakes.

While indulging in delicious tea and treats, you will also admire London’s iconic landmarks from the bus.

Know before you go

What’s included :

  • Admission to Buckingham Palace with audio guide
  • A fternoon tea bus tour
  • A choice of tea
  • A selection of delightful savouries and sweets 

What’s excluded :

Please bring with you

  • Comfy walking shoes
  • Bottled water

Please note :

  • In 2023, Buckingham Palace opens to visitors from 14 July to 24 September only.
  • Children under 5 are not allowed on this tour.
  • As this tour is unescorted, after visiting Buckingham Palace you will need to make your own way to Bullied Way for afternoon tea.
  • Once booked, tour cannot be cancelled.
  • Departure time of Afternoon Tea Bus 3:15pm , d uration approx. 90 mins.
  • The bus route is subject to change due to road closures and traffic conditions.
  • Tables will be shared with other guests.
  • Some of the dishes on the menus may be subject to change.
  • We cannot guarantee that all foods are not in contact with nuts.
  • Alcohol will only be served to those aged 18 and over – valid ID will be required.
  • Dietary requirements such as Vegan and Gluten Free meals must be requested at least 96 hours before the whole experience starts. If no requests are made, the traditional (non-vegetarian) option will be provided.

Where we meet

Once you have booked, we will send you a confirmation email with all the details of how, where and who to meet on the day of your tour.

TripAdvisor

Tour Highlights

  • Explore the royal residence Buckingham Palace including the Garden
  • Venture inside exquisitely furnished State Rooms
  • Admire works of art from Royal Collection
  • Multimedia audio guides included in the admission
  • Relaxing afternoon tea bus tour
  • Selection of delicious savouries and sweets
  • Take in London’s iconic landmarks from the bus

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Buckingham Palace State Rooms and The Rubens at the Palace Afternoon Tea for Two

A visit to the State Rooms and Buckingham Palace is a real treat for any royalist. This fascinating experience grants access to the 19 majestic rooms still used by The Queen and members of the Royal Family for ceremonial, State and official occasions. Explore the rooms at your leisure with a complimentary audio guide and marvel at the grandeur of the Throne Room, Music Room, Picture Gallery, State Dining Room and so much more!

After a few hours of history and culture, head over to the nearby Rubens at the Palace, a 5-star hotel overlooking the Royal Mews, and delight in their royal afternoon tea. You’ll be served a spread fit for royalty with a selection of dainty fingers sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, melt-in-the-mouth pastries and the finest selection of teas on offer.

visit to buckingham palace and afternoon tea for two

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Buckingham Palace State Rooms and Royal Afternoon Tea at Rubens at The Palace for Two 118108119

If you love the royals, British history and culture, this is just the experience for you. Discover the regal State Rooms of Buckingham Palace which contain the most impressive treasures from the Royal Collection. Along with an expert guide and audio commentary, you’ll explore the 19 rooms still used by The King and members of the Royal Family for ceremonial, State and official occasions. Marvel at the grandeur of the Throne Room, Music Room, Picture Gallery, State Dining Room, the gardens and see areas of the Palace like never before. After your history fix, delight in a royal afternoon tea at The Rubens at the Palace. Overlooking the Royal Mews, you’re promised a spread fit for royalty at this grand 5-star hotel. Savour the finest treat for two, which includes dainty finger sandwiches, moreish cakes and pastries and traditional scones with clotted cream and homemade seasonal fruit preserve. A regal day in London awaits.

  • Entry to the State Rooms of Buckingham Palace
  • Royal afternoon tea for two at The Rubens at the Palace
  • Delight in fluffy scones, a selection of scrumptious sandwiches, fresh cakes and a variety of teas or coffee
  • All our vouchers are fully flexible and can be redeemed against our huge range of experiences
  • You will receive two vouchers, both are valid for two people
  • These experiences can be used on the same or on different days
  • Buckingham Palace State Rooms: - Available Thursday–Monday from 15th July – 29th September 2024 - Entrance to the State Rooms is at 1.15pm - Minimum age: 18 years - Bookings must be made seven days prior to requested visit date, walk-ups will not be accepted - Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable - Please allow between two and two and half hours for your visit - Comfortable shoes are advisable as the visitor route includes a half mile walk from the left side of the garden to the exit - The Royal Collection Trust sites include airport-style security checks as part of admission. Please could you assist in reducing the time taken for security procedures at venues, by arriving with as few bags and bulky items as possible - Images courtesy of Royal Collection Trust / © His Majesty King Charles III 2023
  • The Rubens at the Palace Afternoon Tea: - Afternoon tea is available week round, year round, excluding December - Afternoon tea is served from 12pm–2pm and 4.30pm–5.30pm - A discretionary 12.5% service charge will be added to the bill - Bookings must be made in advance, walk-ups will not be accepted. Please take your voucher with you to the experience - Please note that menus are subject to availability and change without notice - The dress code for The Rubens is smart casual and we respectfully ask guests to refrain from wearing sportswear, flip-flops and non-tailored shorts – guests not adhering to the dress code policy will not be permitted entry into the restaurants and bars - All dates are subject to availability
  • Victoria - West London (London)
  • St. James - West London (London)

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Buckingham Palace Tour With Changing Of The Guard And Afternoon Tea - London - With Ratings

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  • Buckingham Palace Tour With Changing Of The Guard And Afternoon Tea

Buckingham Palace Tour With Changing Of The Guard And Afternoon Tea - London

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Tour Information

Key Details

  • Free Cancellation
  • Duration: 3 Hrs
  • Language: English
  • Departure Details : 10:00am (Sunday)Meeting Point - Duke of York Column. Details at Booking 10:45am (Mon to Sat)Meeting Point - Duke of York Column. Details at Booking

Experience the novelty of this exclusive two month only opportunity to witness the Changing of the Guard and the Buckingham Palace in this specifically curated tour of London . Get the quintessential British experience in a swanky hotel, with high tea and soft scones to go with. Witness the lavish and extravagant life of the Royals and get a sneak peek into their daily lives with this tour. 

  • See Buckingham Palace and the ceremonial Changing of the Guard.
  • Get an actual taste of British culture with a traditional afternoon high tea with scones at a hotel.
  • See How the Royal Family Lives.
  • Experience the tradition of the changing of the Guard.

Note: Starting point of the tour is at 10:00am (Sunday), with the meeting point at Duke of York Column. Details will be provided at the time of booking at 10:45am (Mon to Sat).

Depending on the day you will see either the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace or Horse Guards Parade. On some occasions, the Changing of the Guard may be cancelled at short notice.

Know More about this tour

In such a cosmopolitan city as London , it can be hard to get a sense of tradition and local culture, but there are a few standout experiences that every visitor should have – experiences that are uniquely British. Guaranteed Timed Entry to Buckingham Palace offers you a chance to escape the bustle of modern life to explore the age-old traditions, unchanged for hundred of years.

We start our journey with one show in London that you really shouldn’t miss. The Changing of the Guard, either at Buckingham Palace or Horse Guards Parade, is an event that every visitor should be lining up to see. Dressed in their traditional uniform of red jackets and tall, fluffy back hats, the Palace Guards march alongside the Palace Band, with perfectly trained horses leading the charge. With an expert local guide on hand you’ll secure the best spot possible from which to witness this event and get some background that will help you to appreciate this strange custom*.

Then it’s on to the highlight of the day – Buckingham Palace. Open to the public for only two months a year (and the busiest two months for visitors at that), Buckingham Palace tours are very much in demand, with tickets selling out far in advance. Not to worry, we’ve pre-booked tickets so you don’t risk disappointment or waste time waiting in long ticket lines.

Inside the Palace you’ll use the official audio guide to explore the State Rooms, decorated in the sumptuous Belle Époque style of creams, reds and golds so popular in the late 19th century. Some parts of the Palace date from long before this, as far back as the early 1700s, but as a living, breathing home for Britain’s monarchy, Buckingham Palace has grown and adapted over the centuries. You’ll get a sense of this as you explore, seeing a mixture of the old and the new. The sections of Buckingham Palace that open to the public during the summer months, and which you’ll have a chance to explore, are the State Rooms, used for entertaining.

Every year one of the State Rooms hosts a special exhibition. Previous exhibitions have included the Queen’s wedding dress, the Queen’s evening gowns and jewels, and a room fully prepared for an official Royal banquet, complete with endless tables and extravagant place settings.

With heads full of coronations, Royal weddings and banquets, we’ll leave Buckingham Palace for a short walk to a nearby hotel – one of the most prestigious in London. You’ll still have your expert guide on hand so you’ll hear more tales about the monarchy as you travel, from the tragic story of Princess Diana to the much-celebrated wedding of her son Prince William.

We’ll round off our afternoon of British traditions with a delicious afternoon tea. Soak up your luxurious surroundings while you sip on English tea and enjoy a full serving of freshly baked scones with cream and jam and traditional finger sandwiches. Your local guide will take this chance to teach you a little more about local culture, to answer any questions you may have and to provide you with some advice and recommendations for the rest of your visit.

Small group sizes of only 25 people or fewer mean that your afternoon of traditional British indulgence will be relaxed and your guide easy to interact with. Meanwhile we’ve taken the hassle out of one of London’s most popular visitor experiences. So you can rest assured that on our Buckingham Palace tour, you really are getting the royal treatment.

  • Pre-Arranged Access to Buckingham Palace
  • Official audio guide for Buckingham Palace tours
  • Visit timed to see the Changing of the Guard*
  • Afternoon tea at a luxurious London Hotel
  • Expert local guide
  • Small groups of only 25 people or fewer
  • NOTE: Depending on the day you will see either the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace or Horse Guards Parade. On some occasions, the Changing of the Guard may be cancelled at short notice.

Cancellation Policy

  • If you cancel between 0 hrs To 24 hrs before scheduled tour departure, the cancellation charge will be 100%
  • If you cancel between 1 days To 180 days before scheduled tour departure, the cancellation charge will be 0%
  • Please note that in case of No show, the cancellation charge will be 100% of the listed tour fare.
  • Please note tours booked using discount coupon codes will be non refundable.

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Buckingham Palace Entrance Ticket With Royal London Walking Tour

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How To Visit Buckingham Palace In 2024: Tickets, Hours, Tours, And More

Eddie Saint-Jean Last Updated: January 18, 2024

Don’t just stand outside and look for the full-mast flag that means the monarch is home — go in! Buckingham Palace is the British Royal Family’s official residence and even you can visit. That said, it can be tricky and you’ll need to plan ahead. To help you out, I’ve put together this guide with info on tickets, tours, what to see, and the palace’s history. Here’s how to visit Buckingham Palace.

Pro Tip:  Planning what to do on your trip to London? Bookmark this post in your browser so you can easily find it when you’re in the city. Check out our  guide to London  for more planning resources, our best Buckingham Palace tours  for a memorable trip, and the top things to do in London .

Visiting Buckingham Palace: What We’ll Cover

Witnessing the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace is one of the most iconic things you can do in London—after visiting the palace itself, of course.

As the official London residence of the British monarch since 1837, it is replete with all the opulence you would expect of kings and queens. If it’s on your bucket list, you’ll find out what you need to know about how to visit Buckingham Palace in this guide. Here’s what we’ll cover:

  • Opening hours and tickets
  • How much time to budget for your visit
  • What to see in Buckingham Palace
  • Guided tour options
  • Facts and history of Buckingham Palace
  • Places to eat nearby

The Royal Palaces of LONDON

Not ready to book a tour? Find out if London tours are worth it .

Buckingham Palace Opening Hours and Tickets

visit to buckingham palace and afternoon tea for two

Opening Hours:

Visitors have access to the Buckingham Palace State Rooms and the Palace Garden for several weeks throughout the year. But for obvious security reasons, these can only be palace guided tours. Available dates vary based on the tours that the palace offers, but here’s what’s happening in 2023.

Palace-guided tours: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from November to May. Tours usually start at 4:00 pm on Fridays, and 11:00 am through 2:30 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Summer tickets: July 14 – September 24, with State Rooms closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Tickets have a timed entry so you’ll want to book ahead , but the palace is open from 9:30 am to the last admission at 5:15 in July and August, and 4:15 in September.

The Changing of the Guard ceremony takes place outside the palace building but within its gates. The public can view this ceremony without a ticket around 10:40 to 11:00 am every day. This time is not exact and is also dependent on weather. The ceremony only happens everyday in June/July and on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays for the rest of the year.

Tickets and Tours:

Tickets must be booked online or booked here for a guided tour that includes the area around Buckingham Palace.

Palace-guided tours in the winter and spring:

Adults: £90 Family guided tour: ages 5-17 is £49.50, under 5 is free

Summer Buckingham Palace tickets if purchased in advance:

Adults: £30 Young adults (18-24): £19.50 Child (5-17): £16.50 Disabled: £16.50 Under 5: Free Families: automatic discount for 1 adult and 2 children or up to 2 adults and 4 children

Pro Tip: Your tickets can be validated for up to a year if you ask a Warden to stamp it before leaving!

Address: Buckingham Palace

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our article on the best London tours to take and why .

How Long To Spend at Buckingham Palace

Short Answer: 2.5 hours for the State Rooms or 4.5 hours for the Royal Day Out

There are 19 State Rooms (the palace has a total of 775 rooms) so a meaningful visit will take a few hours. You’ll have access to several of the most ornately decorated rooms with treasures from the Royal Collection, paintings by old master artists, expensive sculptures, and elegant English and French furniture.

Also, you get to see the opulent and historic Throne Room. You might agree as I do that the White Drawing Room is even grander than the Throne Room. Find out for yourself!

What To See In Buckingham Palace

white drawing room at buckingham palace

On your visit to the royal residence, make sure you see these incredible rooms and sights. There’s a lot of history and opulence to take in as you see Buckingham Palace. For a more detailed list with history, check out our article on the top things to see at the palace.

  • The Changing Of The Guard
  • The Throne Room
  • The Queen’s Gallery
  • The White Drawing Room 
  • The Palace Garden
  • Treasures Of The Palace
  • The Ballroom
  • The Gold State Coach
  • The Diamond Jubilee State Coach
  • The Grand Staircase

Buckingham Palace Tour Options

Long line of people queueing up outside to visit buckingham palace

Guided tours to see Buckingham Palace, the Changing of the Guard, and other important areas around this royal area are the best way to get to know this historic site. We offer several top-rated tours that you can choose to make your vacation in London the best ever.

The Buckingham Palace Royalty Tour (2.5 hours)

people posing in front of buckingham palace

Anyone can take an audio-guided tour, but if you book this tour, you get the special attention of a tour guide who knows incredible stories you won’t hear on that audio guide. Plus, you’ll first explore the serene St. James Park where you’ll hear about it’s transformation from a swampland to a deer park and a quiet oasis.

You’ll feel like you know the royals even better after exploring the Mall where official processionals and the Changing of the Guard have happened for centuries. Rest assured that your guide will get you to the right door at Buckingham Palace after entertaining you with stories of what you’ll see inside.

See tour itinerary, price, and description

London Walking Tour with Westminster Abbey and Changing of the Guard (3 hours)

people and guide standing in Westminster abbey

Clients love our skip-the-line access to the famous Westminster Abbey where they can enjoy a few minutes of quiet time with their guide in the nave of the abbey before the public enters.

There’s more to see at Westminster than you think, so having a knowledgeable guide to lead you through the Quire, Poet’s Corner, and more, is extremely helpful. And if the Changing of the Guard happens on the day of your tour, they’ll be sure to help you see it from several vantage points.

London in a Day Tour with Westminster Abbey and Tower of London (7 hours)

visit to buckingham palace and afternoon tea for two

Our top-selling London tour is a must-do when you’re traveling to the heart of the United Kingdom. Your local guides are highly qualified and can share an unreal amount of cool facts and stories about London’s iconic sites and history. Starting at Westminster Abbey, you’ll be amazed at just how much of London you can see on foot and on a Thames river cruise.

Your skip-the-line tickets help you maximize your time, and your guides know where the best spots to see the Changing of the Guard are found. Your final stop at the Tower of London brings London’s more grisly history to life. It’s the perfect place to end your busy day tour of London!

Not ready to book a tour? Find out if sightseeing tours in London are worth it .

Buckingham Palace Facts and History 

  • The palace has a total of 775 rooms, 19 of which are state rooms open to the public. 
  • There have been many properties on the site. From 1698, however, it was known as Buckingham House and was the home of the Duke of Buckingham, where it gets its name.
  • In 1761, it became known as the Queen’s House after George III bought it for his wife Queen Charlotte.
  • It became a palace for the first time in the 1820s when George IV had it lavishly restructured fit for a king.
  • The royal family made it their official residence in 1837, and Queen Victoria was the first royal to officially live there as head of state.
  • The palace entertains 50,000 invited guests a year. Also, it averages 578,000 paid visitors a year.
  • The Changing of the Guard ceremony happens daily at 10.45 am. King Henry VII made them the official Royal Body Guard 500 years ago. 
  • During World War II, the palace was repeatedly targeted but survived nine bombing raids. The Royal Family refused to move out despite concerns for their safety.
  • The palace is heavily protected but in 1982 an intruder called Michael Fagan broke into the Queen’s bedroom while she was sleeping. When she awoke, they had a brief chat before she fled the room and raised the alarm.

Places To Eat Nearby

The good news is your dining options are plentiful, but you’ll need to choose wisely. You can dine like royalty on Buckingham Palace Road, very close to the palace. Or, on the same stretch of road, there are sandwich bars with a more laid-back atmosphere and casual dining.

Take your pick of traditional British fare or more exotic cuisines. Here are a few suggestions, but if you’d like more options, also check out our guide to the best restaurants near Buckingham Palace . 

The Laughing Halibut : £ | Takeaway —Grab some old-school fish and chips to take away or take a seat inside. It’s a great place for a quick lunch with good reviews.

Bon Gusto : ££ | Italian Cuisine —Fancy a change from British grub? Try this Italian restaurant with a selection of meat, seafood, and pasta dishes. There are also soups and Mediterranean salads.  

The English Grill : ££££ | Traditional British Fare —This restaurant promises you’ll dine like royalty. Indeed, it is ornately decorated with regal furniture and furnishings. You can enjoy traditional afternoon tea in a garden overlooking the Royal Mews. Also, the range of steak, salad, and dessert dishes (to name a few) are product-sourced from the same Royal suppliers as Buckingham Palace.

visit to buckingham palace and afternoon tea for two

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Reader Interactions

Comments (10).

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June 30, 2022

We Want to visit inside Buckingham Palace either on 13th or 14th July. Can you help us tour and visit it?

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July 5, 2022

We don’t currently offer Buckingham Palace tours, but we’d love to take you around London to see the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, plus even more great locations on our London in a Day tour and Westminster Abbey tour .

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July 1, 2022

Will we be able to turn up at Buckingham Palace and buy a ticket on the day? Shanthi

[email protected]

Not necessarily. Since the royal family uses Buckingham Palace, schedules and public access are subject to changes at short notice. Additionally, tours are not available every day. It’s best to plan ahead and purchase tickets before you arrive to have the best chance of entering the palace.

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September 19, 2022

It’s my 70th birthday august 21 2023 and I would like to bring my children/grandchildren to visit Buckingham Palace. There will be 2 x Oaps, 3 adults, 1 child aged 9 and 1 aged 4. What would you recommend and at what cost? Thank you for your help Best wishes

September 21, 2022

What a fun trip! You can check their website for tickets next season. The palace is only open for 10 weeks in the summer, and it’s closed early this year due to the queen’s death. You can also book a trip out to Windsor Castle and Stonehenge for fun day trip to another royal residence.

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In your ‘blurb’ “It became a palace for the first time in the 1820s when George VI had it lavishly restructured to be fit for a king.” This is incorrect. In actual fact it was ‘King George IV’ who died in 1830 King George VI was Queen Elizabeth II father and died in 1952

Thanks for letting us know about that typo! It makes a difference of generations!

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I purchased four Buckingham Palace tour tickets for Thursday, September 29. I do have my confirmation email, but I don’t have the actual ticket email. If I would email my customer and order numbers to an office or a person, is there some way I could please get the email with the actual tickets.

Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time and assistance with this matter.

You’ll need to check with the company from whom you purchased your ticket as they’ll have the accurate information.

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Royal Afternoon Tea at The Rubens at The Palace Hotel

  • 2223 reviews
  • Visit Website
  • Fine Dining Restaurant

Description

With a proud royal heritage brought to life with warm British hospitality and theatrical dining experiences, The 5-Star Rubens at the Palace has a reputation as one of the best Afternoon Tea venues in London

Afternoon Tea at The Rubens at the Palace Hotel offers a quintessentially English experience. 

A short walk from Victoria Station and the Palace Theatre showing Hamilton, the afternoon tea experience at The Rubens is steeped in royal connections and positions guests directly opposite the Royal Mews of Buckingham Palace. With a rich interior, large windows and 5* service, guests are made to feel like royalty themselves. 

Situated within the hotel, the Royal Afternoon Tea can be accompanied by a fully serviced bar offering Champagne or cocktails. The pastry kitchen at The Rubens is led by the talented pastry chef Sarah Houghting (recently featured on Bake Off: The Professionals) producing the freshest pastries and cakes for guests to enjoy.  The Rubens pays respect to the tradition of Afternoon Tea whilst incorporating fresh twists along the way. The menu features mouth-watering pastries that are influenced by Royal events and dining trends throughout the centuries. 

 Kindly note that, unfortunately, we cannot cater to dietaries that require both gluten-free and dairy-free options for the same person.

======================

Special Occasion: Mother's Day Afternoon Tea - 10th March 

Bookings are now open 

Mother’s Day Champagne Royal Afternoon Tea £105 per person, which includes a special cake for Mum!

Vegetarian, Vegan, Halal and Gluten-Free menus available

Non-alcoholic alternatives are also available

Little Prince and Princess Afternoon Tea £55 for those under 12 years

Afternoon Tea Options

Guests are welcome to experience the Royal Afternoon Tea experience which can be adapted to meet dietary requirements. Vegetarian, vegan, Halal and gluten-free menus are available and the team would be delighted to discuss any additional requirements prior to your booking. *Please note: bookings for Vegetarian, Vegan, Halal and Gluten-Free Afternoon Tea must be made with at least 24 hrs' notice otherwise The Rubens is unable to accommodate reservations. 

Our seating time for afternoon tea is one and a half hours. 

Prices per person: 

Royal Afternoon Tea: £70 (including Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-Free and Halal variations) Champagne Afternoon Tea: £90 Bottomless Champagne Afternoon Tea: £115 Halal Sparkling Afternoon Tea: £87 Vegan Champagne Afternoon Tea: £90 Prince & Princess Afternoon Tea: £35

Bottomless Champagne Afternoon Tea

Price: £115 per person Enjoy an exceptional Bottomless Champagne Afternoon Tea in our Palace Lounge, overlooking the Royal Mews of Buckingham Palace. Maximum seating time: 90 mins

Vegan Afternoon Tea/ Vegan Champagne Afternoon Tea

The Rubens are excited to announce the arrival of a new offering for our Vegan guests: Vegan Royal Afternoon Tea £60 per person/ accompanied by a glass of Lanson Le Green Label £90 per person. Lanson Le Green Label Organic Brut Champagne is the first-ever entirely organic Champagne. Predominantly Pinot Noir, aged on lees for three years, it's pure and fresh with fine notes of citrus and berry fruits weaving through its complex mousse. This is perfectly paired with The Rubens Vegan Royal Afternoon Tea.

Halal Afternoon Tea 

The pastry kitchen at The Rubens is led by their talented pastry chef Sarah Houghting (a contestant recently on Bake Off The Professionals) who has crafted the Royal Afternoon Tea inspired by Royal events and dining trends throughout the centuries. The team is excited to release a brand new addition to their menu – a Halal Afternoon Tea that has been expertly paired with Wild Idol to offer guests a Sparkling Afternoon Tea experience. This sparkling wine is a refreshing and delicious non-alcoholic drink made from premium quality concentrated grape. £70 per person or £87 per person including the Sparkling option

Afternoon Tea Takeaway

Enjoy The Rubens Hotel afternoon tea experience wherever you are in London with a delivery and takeaway option. Perfect for family get-togethers, parties, weekend treats, and birthday or anniversary gifts.

The Rubens Hotel can also prepare afternoon tea for an office location - perfect for team get-togethers. Book online here 

Pre-order by 8pm for collection the next day. Collection is free of charge, deliveries will incur a fee (must be a London address). 

Family Friendly

The Rubens also welcomes children and offers a 'Little Prince and Princess Tea' for those under 12. 

The Rubens Golden Tips Experience: The ultimate in luxury Afternoon Tea. 

This rare tea is produced in the highlands of Sri Lanka and is fully handcrafted and skillfully handpicked by expert tea pluckers at sunset in Sri Lanka. The velvety, silvery tips are then carefully turned into gold and sundried on a velvet cloth. With white-glove service, this delicate tea is weighed with precision at The Rubens using golden scales with each tip placed into a silver teapot individually using golden tweezers. The tea which is showcased in a locked mahogany box lined with velvet is specially infused to produce an extraordinary liquor and a smooth, light and mellow texture with fruity notes.

This truly unique experience includes a Royal Afternoon Tea Stand for two people and a bottle of Lanson Champagne (750ml) which will be sabred at your table.

A Special Occasion? Enjoy Afternoon Tea at The Rubens 

The Rubens Hotel are pleased to welcome groups of between 8 to 120 guests to enjoy an Afternoon Tea experience; an ideal way to celebrate a birthday, hen party, baby shower or investiture. A variety of menus are on offer including Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-Free and Halal alongside a Little Prince and Princess Tea for our younger guests. Drink packages can also be organised along with any decorations you may require.

Groups of up to 8 guests can dine in the Palace Lounge (subject to availability), alternatively, The Rubens Hotel can offer several private rooms including the English Grill which can accommodate up to 120 people. The experienced events team would be happy to discuss your requirements to make this a memorable occasion.

Prices from £70 per person

BABY SHOWER AFTERNOON TEA Celebrate your baby shower at The Rubens with a unique and memorable Baby Shower Afternoon Tea. Share this joyous occasion with your loved ones and enjoy baby shower-themed biscuits alongside our classic Royal Afternoon Tea offering.

BRIDAL AFTERNOON TEA Celebrate your upcoming wedding with an enchanting Bridal Afternoon Tea. Delight in the elegant atmosphere as you savour bridal-themed delicacies, creating unforgettable memories as you toast to the bride-to-be amidst the refined ambience of our distinguished venue.

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Special Offer 2024:

At The Rubens at the Palace, we are dedicated to making your event an extraordinary affair. Discover our selection of new year meeting and event offers, exclusively available to clients hoping to arrange private events in Q1. Our added value options are sure to elevate your event to new heights.

Book a drinks reception or private dining event with the hotel taking place in January or February 2024 and receive a glass of champagne upon arrival for each of your guests with The Rubens compliments.

In addition to this, you'll also benefit from 10% off your event spend.

Available between 2nd Jan - 28th Feb 2024 subject to availability - please make an enquiry now to discuss with a member of our team

Vegan Royal Afternoon Tea accompanied By Lanson Le Green Label

Thu, 7th Mar 2024 - Sun, 5th Jan 2025

Bottomless Champagne Afternoon Tea

Thu, 7th Mar 2024 - Sat, 30th Nov 2024

Halal Sparkling Afternoon Tea

Thu, 7th Mar 2024 - Tue, 31st Dec 2024

Golden Tips Afternoon Tea Experience

  • Fine Dining Restaurant , Restaurant , Event Space
  • Birthday Party , Chatting and Drinking , Drinking and Eating
  • Westminster, Victoria
  • Happily Affordable ££
  • Taking Bookings
  • Wheelchair Access, Disabled Toilets
  • Smart, No sportswear
  • Background Music , Live Music
  • No queues normally

Royal Afternoon Tea at The Rubens at The Palace Hotel, 39 Buckingham Palace Road, SW1W 0PS

Westminster

Nearest Station

Victoria (Tube)

Getting there

visit to buckingham palace and afternoon tea for two

Royal Afternoon Tea Menu 2024

The Rubens Afternoon Tea Party Packages

The New York Bar Menu

The Rubens Hotel floorplan

This venue serves Afternoon Tea food.

Private Hire

* The minimum spends are a guideline only and vary according to the day and time of the year.

Customer Reviews (2223)

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  • Buckingham Palace

Afternoon Tea near Buckingham Palace

10 restaurants available.

Buckingham Palace  is possibly London’s most iconic landmark having been the official London residence of the British Monarch. The Palace was originally known as Buckingham House and dates back to 1705 – first entering the monarchy when George III acquired the site in 1761. Afternoonteaonline.co.uk have selected the very best afternoon tea venues close to Buckingham Palace and all of these are available to book online for free with instant confirmation. Make sure you make the most of your visit to London with afternoon tea near Buckingham Palace.

InterContinental London Park Lane

InterContinental London Park Lane

Afternoon Tea in the Wellington Lounge at the InterContinental London Park Lane.

Brigit's Bakery Bus Tour

Brigit's Bakery Bus Tour

How good does combining afternoon tea with a London bus tour sound?

The Stafford London

The Stafford London

The perfect example of a quintessential afternoon tea in London.

The Rubens at the Palace

The Rubens at the Palace

Enjoy this traditional English occasion overlooking the Royal Mews of Buckingham Palace.

The Clermont Victoria Hotel

The Clermont Victoria Hotel

The new Victorian Lounge commemorates powerful women from the Victorian era.

The Goring

Since opening its doors in 1910, The Goring Hotel has been a symbol of refinery and elegance.

bbar London

bbar London

Experience a full afternoon tea only a few minutes walk from Buckingham Palace for only £20 a head.

St James's Hotel and Club

St James's Hotel and Club

A very special celebration of our most loved English tradition.

Dukes London

Dukes London

Enjoy a traditional Afternoon Tea in this stylish setting.

DoubleTree Hilton Victoria

DoubleTree Hilton Victoria

With Buckingham Palace just a short walk away, an ideal spot for a budget afternoon tea.

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Girls Afternoon Tea

Home » Restaurants » Afternoon Tea in London » Afternoon Tea Victoria and Westminster » Entry to State Rooms at Buckingham Palace 2024 and Cream Tea at Harrods for Two

Entry to State Rooms at Buckingham Palace 2024 and Cream Tea at Harrods for Two

Entry to State Rooms at Buckingham Palace 2024 and Cream Tea at Harrods for Two

Afternoon Tea Deals London , Afternoon Tea London

[Special Offer: 15% Discount code available. Scroll page for details]

For 10 weeks only Buckingham Palace opens its doors to the general public each Summer. Don’t miss out in 2024 and enjoy a fantastic visit to Buckingham Palace State Rooms with a delicious Cream Tea in Harrods iconic tea salon. The ultimate gift – give someone a very special day to remember.

Your Visit to Buckingham Palace State Rooms 2024

Grand Stair case for viewing as part of your visit and tour Buckingham Palace State rooms

Each Summer, Buckingham Palace opens its magnificent State Rooms to the general public. Buckingham Palace is open from 11 July to 29 September 2024.

Built as the public rooms of Buckingham Palace, today the State Rooms are used to entertain and receive guests during State, official and ceremonial occasions. You and your guest will enjoy a complimentary audio tour where you will be able to stroll at your own leisure, taking in the amazing treasures from the Royal Collection and discovering the many rooms which include the Throne Room; the setting for the formal wedding photographs of William and Kate. There are 19 State Rooms to explore.

Buckingham Palace Throne Room. Available to view as part of Buckingham Palace State Rooms 2024 visit.

What’s included:

  • Visit the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace
  • Cream Tea for two at the Harrods Tea Rooms
  • Stunning location on the 4th Floor of the iconic department store
  • Warmed scones served with Harrods preserves and choice of speciality teas

Cream Tea at Harrods

Harrods Cream Tea - scones and clotted cream

After exploring Buckingham Palace, indulge in a truly decadent afternoon tea in Harrod’s renowned Georgian Restaurant. Expertly fashioned by the acclaimed interior designer Christopher Guy Harrison, the space is a sumptuous tribute to the glamour of the 1920s and 1930s. Christopher Guy Harrison’s adept blend of modern and classical elements transforms The Georgian Restaurant into a welcoming dining haven, creating an enchanting atmosphere for guests to savour their cream tea.

Relax with an indulgent cream tea accompanied by your choice of speciality teas.

Treat Someone Special to this Memorable Day Out.

This fantastic visit to Buckingham Palace with  cream tea at Harrods is available to buy as a gift voucher from Buyagift at £124 for TWO. Save a fantastic 15% and get it for £105.40 for TWO by entering Discount Code: GAT2024BAG at check-out. 

Advance booking is essential.

How it works: Once you have bought the gift voucher, Buyagift will send a voucher and booking information to you or directly to the recipient, then you just need to check the info and book your experience.

Have a fabulous experience.

Privacy Overview

visit to buckingham palace and afternoon tea for two

The ultimate royal travel guide to Britain, from Buckingham Palace to Windsor Castle

T he British landscape is awash with royal properties, from stately palaces to historic castles. These include three of the monarch’s official royal residences; Buckingham Palace , Windsor Castle , and Edinburgh’s Palace of Holyroodhouse. 

But while these historic buildings may have the level of grandeur you might imagine when you picture the Royal family at home, in truth, royals are only ‘resident’ in these buildings on occasion. For some, they are even considered business premises – though they rather put the rest of our offices to shame. 

When it comes to days off from official business, members of the Royal family are more likely to be found in their private homes, such as the King and Queen’s Highgrove House in Gloucestershire, or the Prince and Princess of Wales’s family home of Adelaide Cottage in Windsor Home Park. 

While the private homes are exactly that – private – there are plenty of places around Britain where you can walk in the footsteps of the Royal family and get a small glimpse into their lives. Here are some of the best. 

Buckingham Palace, London

Let’s start with the most famous of all royal residences: Buckingham Palace. Elizabeth II largely regarded it as her office, spending weekdays there attending to official business before retreating to Windsor at the weekends.

Now, of course, the palace – whose origins can be traced back to the reign of King James I in the early 17 th century, but which has been the London home of British monarchs since 1837 when Queen Victoria moved in – is the King’s official London residence.

Buckingham Palace is the setting for royal and national celebrations and commemorations; who can forget catching a glimpse of Royal family members from the famous balcony? It’s also where the monarch hosts dignitaries and official banquets – on September 18 2022, the King held a reception for world leaders at the palace on the eve of his mother’s funeral.

As it is a working palace, Buckingham Palace is only open to the public at set times. For 10 weeks each summer, its grand state rooms are opened up. During this time, visitors can see the crimson-and-gold Throne Room, the Royal Mews, and the enormous Ballroom, where all those extravagant state banquets are held. In addition, there are exclusive guided tours at select dates throughout the year.

Those without a ticket or travelling at the wrong time of year can still watch the spectacle of the Changing of the Guard, which takes place outside the palace several days a week at 10.45am (weather dependent but check the schedule ). 

The ceremony has its roots in the reign of King Henry VI and sees the New Guard of soldiers – wearing the customary bearskin hats – march to Buckingham Palace from St James’s Palace and Wellington Barracks accompanied by music. They parade in front of the palace and relieve the ‘Old Guard’ (the soldiers on duty). 

If you are lucky and the King is in residence (the Royal Standard flag will be flying) then there will be an even higher number of sentries than normal taking part in the ceremony.

How to do it

Buckingham Palace (0303 123 7300) is open for 10 weeks each summer (July 14–September 24 2023). The Goring (read our review here ) has double rooms from £710 including breakfast.

Windsor Castle, Windsor

At the start of the Covid pandemic, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip retreated to this castle on the banks of the River Thames to shield with 22 staff members in what became known as ‘HMS Bubble’. After Prince Philip’s death in April 2021, the late Queen remained at Windsor; indeed, she never spent another night at Buckingham Palace.

The castle was originally built for William the Conqueror to defend London from western approaches, but it became a royal palace under King Henry I. Subsequent monarchs extended the palace with its most ambitious makeover undertaken by King Charles II who wanted to emulate the opulence of his cousin Louis XIV’s Palace of Versailles.

As well as seeing the rich interiors of the castle, visitors can pay their respects to the late Queen by visiting her final resting place within the King George VI Memorial Chapel inside St George’s Chapel.

In 2022, the Prince and Princess of Wales moved to nearby Adelaide Cottage in Windsor Home Park with their three children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – who attend school locally. It may well be that they will eventually move into the castle itself.

Windsor Castle (0303 123 7300) is open daily (summer). Castle Hotel Windsor (read our review here ) has double rooms from £132 including breakfast.

Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh

The King’s official residence in Scotland, the Palace of Holyroodhouse is a rather grand building that sits at the opposite end of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile to the castle. The palace has links with many famous figures from Scottish history – including Bonnie Prince Charlie, who set up court here in 1745 – but the person most visitors want to hear about is Mary, Queen of Scots. Her bedroom can be reached via a winding staircase in the north-west tower of the palace, and is a delight to discover with its low doorway (despite Mary being around 6ft-tall), decorative oak ceiling and painted frieze.

The reigning monarch stays at the palace every year during Holyrood Week (or Royal Week) from late June to early July. During this time they take part in the symbolic Ceremony of the Keys in which the monarch is handed the keys to the city of Edinburgh by the Lord Provost amid much pomp and ceremony.

The Palace of Holyroodhouse (0303 123 7306) is open daily July-Sept; it’s closed Tue-Wed in all other months. Cheval Old Town Chambers (read our review here ) has double rooms from £190 including breakfast.

Highgrove House, Gloucestershire

When they are not on official duties, the King and Queen love nothing better than to return to their countryside home of Highgrove in the Cotswolds. As the house is a private home, you can’t peek behind its neoclassical façade, but tours of the exquisite gardens – which Charles has dedicated himself to creating since buying the property in 1980 – are lovely. 

An experienced guide will take you through the gardens, which are a real passion project of His Majesty. You will then be led to the Ante Room, where bespoke Highgrove products – including food and drink made from produce grown here – can be bought and artworks by the King himself admired. This is all followed by cream tea in the Orchard Room, making it an idyllic way to spend an afternoon.

Highgrove is open on select dates for tours between April and September. Calcot & Spa (read the review here ) has double rooms from £364 including breakfast.

Llwynywermod, Llandovery

The Royal family also has a Welsh home. When he was Prince of Wales, Charles bought the 192-acre estate of Llwynywermod in Carmarthenshire, Wales, in 2006. Comprising a farmhouse building, where he and Camilla would regularly holiday, and three cottages, Charles soon set about renovating the house and its adjoining properties in a greener way, using locally sourced materials. 

On Charles’ ascension to the throne, the property was passed on to William, the new Prince of Wales, and Catherine, Princess of Wales, who also have a strong affection for the Welsh countryside, having spent some of the early years of their marriage living in Anglesey.

What’s special about here is that two of the cottages are available for holiday lets – North Range, for instance, is a beautiful whitewashed converted barn that sleeps six guests across three bedrooms and comes with a flagstone floor, open fire, Welsh furniture and lots of character. The smaller West Range sleeps four guests.

North Range and West Range can be booked through the Duchy of Cornwall (01579 346 473) and cost from £1,225 per week.

Balmoral, Aberdeenshire

Elizabeth II spent her final weeks in Balmoral and this palace in the Highlands was reputedly her favourite home. 

She is not the only royal to have felt an affinity for the place. Queen Victoria, who fell in love with the Highlands during her very first visit in 1842, was the first monarch to call it home. She and Albert loved to escape public life here, embarking on expeditions incognito through the Highlands. 

The late Queen spent every summer at Balmoral (August–October) and she would regularly be joined by other members of the Royal family. When the monarch is not in residence, the site is open to visitors. 

Although you can only see a small section of the castle’s interiors – including the ballroom where Ghillies Balls have historically been held – it’s the majestic setting amid acres of greenery with views across to the Cairngorms that makes a visit here worthwhile. 

The Royal family are considered locals in the nearby village of Ballater and are regularly seen attending services at nearby Crathie Kirk. Indeed in April 2023, Charles and Camilla surprised residents by making an unexpected visit to a new fishmongers and restaurant in the village during a pre-Coronation holiday at Balmoral.

Balmoral (01339 742 534) is open for pre-booked self-guided tours every summer (1 April to 16 Aug 2023). The Fife Arms (read the review here ) has double rooms from £250 including breakfast.

Read more about where the Royal family like to holiday here .

Sandringham, Norfolk

The Royal family traditionally spends Christmas at the sprawling estate of Sandringham. The private country retreat has been a popular haunt since 1862, when the Jacobean house was built for King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra while Edward’s mother was still on the throne.

It was also a favourite of King Charles III’s grandfather, King George VI, and great-grandfather, King George V, who both died here. The house and gardens are a joy to explore. Norfolk is also where Anmer Hall, another of William and Catherine’s homes, is located.

Sandringham (01485 544 112) is open Sat-Thu (summer). The Brisley Bell (read the review here ) has double rooms from £133 including breakfast.

Royal Yacht Britannia, Edinburgh

Until 1997 the Royal family would take annual holidays around Scotland’s Western Isles aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia . After the yacht was decommissioned, it was docked in the seaside Edinburgh suburb of Leith in Edinburgh and has since become one of Scotland’s most popular attractions.

A tour of the yacht allows you to peer into the bedroom that Queen Elizabeth II slept in while on board and reveals a glimpse of what life in the Royal family is like when the eyes of the world are not upon them. The late Queen clearly missed her days on board; after the yacht was no longer available to her, she chartered the Hebridean Princess , which offers small-ship cruises, on two separate occasions for special celebrations.

The Royal Yacht Britannia (0131 555 5566) is open daily (summer). Fingal (read the review here ) is a luxurious floating hotel nearby. It has double rooms from £300 including breakfast. The Hebridean Princess (01756 704 704) offers cruises from March to November with prices from £4,420pp for seven nights).

Read more about the travels of Elizabeth II here .

Kensington Palace, London

This west London mansion was the beloved home of Princess Diana and both the Diana Memorial Fountain and the Diana Memorial Playground can be found in its gardens. Apartment 1a is still the London pad of the Prince of Wales and his family. 

For many years, Kensington was known for the magnificent balls that were held across its ornate interconnected rooms and began in the late 17 th century during the era of King William and Mary. The already grandiose interiors were later added to by the Georgians when Kensington became the hub of high society. Elaborate decoration, such as the painted walls around the King’s Staircase which features many characters from George I’s court, were also added. 

As well as standard tours of the palace, regular exhibitions draw on its rich history, telling the stories of past and present royals in new and dynamic ways. Victoria: A Royal Childhood tells the story of one of the palace’s most famous residents. Queen Victoria was born here and the exhibition includes personal items such as her doll house. Other rolling exhibitions let visitors see precious items from the palace’s archive; often including iconic outfits worn by various members of the Royal family.

Kensington Palace (0333 320 6000) is open Wed–Sun (summer).  Baglioni (read the review here ), opposite Kensington Gardens, has double rooms from £494 including breakfast.

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From stately palaces to historic castles, there are plenty of places where you can walk in the footsteps of the Royal family - Getty

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visit to buckingham palace and afternoon tea for two

It’s getting weirder: BuzzFeed News’ former royals reporter on Kate Middleton, Palace PR, and distrust in the media (updated)

Editor’s note: The timeline section of this story was updated on March 14, 2024.

When I realized I was in no fewer than four separate group chats discussing Kate Middleton’s almost complete disappearance from the public eye, I turned to Ellie Hall to help me figure things out.

Ellie, who’s currently a freelance journalist, was senior reporter and official royal correspondent for BuzzFeed News from 2013 until the newsroom shut down in April 2023. The first part of this story is a Q&A, where I spoke with Ellie about royal reporting, social media, Kensington Palace PR strategy, and how a digitally connected world has made the official press apparatus of the royal family and the royal media system somewhat obsolete.

The second part of the story is Ellie’s timeline of the media’s recent coverage of Middleton. Ellie is so knowledgeable and clear-eyed, and I found our conversation and her timeline more interesting than even the most out-there conspiracy theory. — Laura Hazard Owen

Laura Hazard Owen: Tell me a little about your reporting background and the work you did at BuzzFeed News.

Ellie Hall: I started at BuzzFeed News in January 2013 and reported for them until the newsroom shut down in April 2023. Since then, I’ve been freelancing and doing a bit of consulting work.

I’ve been interested in the British monarchy and its history since I was quite young, and I happily volunteered to cover the royal family during my first weeks at the company. From that point on, I was BuzzFeed News’s official royal correspondent. Although I was able to secure accreditation to cover members of the royal family in person during three separate official visits to the United States, BuzzFeed News was not a media outlet on the official press team’s radar for a fair amount of time (the newsroom did get there eventually).

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I always tried to cover the royal family in a way that would interest the hardcore followers as well as casual readers, using my own observations and questions to guide my coverage. My biggest royal story was my January 2020 comparison of U.K. media headlines about Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle , which was actually something I’d been working on and adding examples to since February 2019. Although I had always covered the royal family, the success of that post encouraged my editors to launch a royal newsletter, The Royal Tea , and give me structured time for stories that were more analytical and more in my own voice than straight-up news posts. From that point on, I covered royal news as it broke, but I also wrote a lot of deep dives, analyses, and looks at aspects of the royal media ecosystem that nobody else was really covering.

Owen: Tell me a little bit about Kensington Palace press strategy. What are their strategies, generally? Assume I’m an American who knows nothing about them: Like, can you email them for comment? What kinds of interactions have you had with them?

Hall: One of the first things to know is that the royal family doesn’t have one big press team working together to set the public narrative. The King and Queen have their press team, Buckingham Palace, and the Prince and Princess of Wales have their press team, Kensington Palace. “The Palace” can be used for either royal household when you’re referring to the royal press apparatus in a story. If Prince Harry is to be believed, there is constant infighting, one-upping, and leaking that goes on behind the scenes — staffers for one member of the royal family will give damaging or untrue stories about another member to the press to make their employer look better. He and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, have made allegations about this system in interviews and he goes into it in detail in his memoir Spare .

Royal press offices rarely go on the record . As former Guardian editor-in-chief Alan Rusbridger noted in this great column that I reference all the time in my work, it’s “unusually difficult” to judge the reliability of royal reporting because “it is a world almost devoid of open or named sources.” You almost never see stories with direct attributions to royal spokespersons, which is one of the big reasons why this “Kate Middleton is missing” saga is so interesting. A Palace spokesperson has gone on the record three times — first in response to a Spanish media report that Kate was in a coma, then in response to the widespread social media speculation about her status, and then once again in response to William’s reaction to the social media speculation.

Instead of going on the record, royal press offices will give briefings and in some situations provide information to a core group of royal reporters — with the caveat that these reporters won’t say that the information came from an official spokesperson. Phrases like “this reporter understands” or “this news outlet can confirm” are very common in stories about the royal family. If you follow royal reporters on Twitter, you can always tell when one of these memos is sent, because within minutes of each other, reporters will tweet a similarly worded update or clarification. We saw this happen last week when news of [British financier and husband of royal family member Lady Gabriella] Thomas Kingston’s death was made public . Later that day, royal reporters started tweeting within minutes of each other that William’s absence from the memorial service was not related to the tragedy. (The fact that Kensington Palace wanted this information to get out has, of course, been deemed highly significant by some conspiracy theorists.)

The only method of contacting the press office that is given on the official website is a phone number that connects you to a royal family switchboard. Emailed requests for comment sent to each office’s primary email address don’t always receive responses. Even if you’ve been vetted by the Palace and added to the official press release listserv, sometimes statements will only be sent to certain news outlets — something that leaves a lot of reporters scrambling to get caught up during breaking news situations. I had an interesting back-and-forth with someone in a royal communications office on one of those days. Royal journalists in the U.K. were reporting something important, citing an official statement that hadn’t been posted online or sent out as a press release. I reached out to the royal press office for confirmation and received a response asking why I was contacting them when all of these other outlets had already reported the news. Thus I found myself writing an email explaining that journalists are supposed to independently fact-check information they don’t receive firsthand, which was a weird experience.

The big question about the saga of Kate’s “disappearance” and every royal controversy is how much control the palace press offices have over the media.

We know that the Palace has actively concealed royal news from the press and reportedly even lied to reporters about issues concerning the health of royal family members — in November 2020, we learned that William had contracted a severe case of COVID-19 in April 2020. At the time, veteran royal reporter Robert Jobson tweeted about Kensington Palace’s “appalling” decision to lie about the prince’s health, writing, “KP were asked several times by the media whether Prince William had contracted the virus and were told categorically ‘no.’”

TMZ’s recent publication of the paparazzi photo of Kate and her mother driving in Windsor has added a new dimension to the media control discussion. Kensington Palace has let it be known that the photos were unauthorized and no U.K. media outlets have run the images , even the tabloids (although most have written up the fact that U.S. media outlets have published an image of the princess). On Wednesday, veteran royal reporter Emily Andrews said on Twitter that Kensington Palace “exerted huge pressure on the British media NOT to publish the pic,” which she said was proof that the press team didn’t set up the photo opportunity.

Safe to say that the U.K. media response to the photo’s publication isn’t doing anything to dispel the “Palace controls the media” narrative that’s running rampant on social media.

Owen: Who are the reporters covering the royals? Can you tell me a little more about the tabloids?

Hall: The media ecosystem surrounding the royal family is unique. The core group of reporters covering the royal family are known as the “ royal rota ,” and they’re given access to royal events with the understanding that they’ll share whatever news they get at the event with the other media organizations. The justification for it is space and security — you can’t fit a huge press pack into a small room at a charity or food bank a senior royal happens to visit. All rota reporters are from U.K.-based outlets and, as I mentioned earlier, these reporters will sometimes get information from Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace that other journalists don’t receive (there are the official royal press release email lists and then there are WhatsApp groups).

In this case, the lack of speculative tabloid coverage about Kate’s status is one of the things that people have found suspicious about the current situation. The historically nosy news outlets haven’t theorized about what specific type of surgery she had or the circumstances that led to her medical issue being discovered. Until the TMZ photo was published , there hadn’t been any stories about or photographs of the famously close Middleton family. There’s also a distinct dearth of the fluffy, low-stakes stories about the princess that you usually see in the tabloids (like “What Kate’s doing to relax” or “How Kate’s staying a hands-on mother during her recovery”).

Owen: How does social media play into all this?

Hall: Social media has been the driving force behind this entire saga, and I cannot emphasize enough how out of character it is that a royal press team went on the record in response to what is essentially gossip.

A few years ago, I had an interesting exchange with a press officer when another royal conspiracy theory was trending online. On Feb. 22, 2022, a celebrity gossip blog called Hollywood Unlocked reported that Queen Elizabeth II had died. The post went insanely viral, and by the next day, rumors of the Queen’s death were so widespread that the whole situation in and of itself was newsworthy. I reached out for comment to Buckingham Palace and they refused to give an on-the-record response, telling me on background that they didn’t want to establish a precedent of responding to online speculation.

It’s been really interesting to watch the discussion of Kate’s “disappearance” slowly spread from the toxic hellhole that is so-called “royal internet” into mainstream pop-culture consciousness on social media, especially on Twitter/X. We’ve reached a point where people who don’t normally follow the royal family are invested in this saga.

It’s worth noting that a lot of the conversation was initially driven by pro-Harry and Meghan accounts, and many of the darker conspiracy theories (the ones described as “deeply sinister and highly libelous” by the Daily Mail) seemed to originate from those online spaces. That being said, these speculations are now part of the global conversation, although they’re fortunately balanced by conspiracy theories that are, if not lighthearted, unserious. The BBLs and Glasgow Willy Wonka photoshops , for example.

While tons of people on Twitter are clearly only following this saga for drama, gossip, and memes, over the past week, you’ve been able to observe a growing group of individuals who at least give the impression that they’re genuinely worried about Kate and want to know that she’s okay. That apparent sincerity is rare when it comes to online discussions about the royal family, and I think it’s one of the things keeping Kate in the public eye.

Owen: O.K., so talk to me about how the coverage — or non-coverage — of Kate is different from the coverage of Meghan Markle.

Hall: I don’t think you can talk about what’s currently going on with Kate without talking about Meghan’s history with the U.K. media. It’s one of the points that keeps coming up in the online discourse — the apparent hypocrisy between the Palace and the U.K. media’s treatment of each woman.

People are comparing the hands-off, privacy-first stance that the press is taking toward Kate with their attitude toward Meghan and the stories that were written about her while she was on maternity leave. I’ve seen a lot of posts remarking on how strange it is that the Palace and U.K. media suddenly care about privacy when they didn’t before now. There’s also a definite feeling among some people that Kate should have to go through this social media and press speculation, because Meghan went through it, it was worse for Meghan, and when she complained, people told her to suck it up.

Regardless of your feelings about Meghan or Kate, it’s a fact that over the past month, the Palace has gone on the record three times — first to counter an article about the Princess of Wales and then twice to comment on social media speculation about her well-being. (If you’d like to see more examples of times when the royal family press teams did or didn’t go on the record for stories about these women, I published a deep dive looking into that question at BuzzFeed News.) Meghan and Harry have both said in interviews that this was something the Palace would not do for them. We also know that the Palace “exerted huge pressure on the British media” not to publish a paparazzi photo of Kate — and so far the press has complied.

Owen: In the past, when you were reporting on the royals on a regular basis, what helped you decide whether you should report on something that was a social media rumor? Which other sources do you look at, blogs and things like that?

Hall: I had a very unique position at BuzzFeed News because I’d been there for a long time and had great editors who trusted my instincts when it came to royal stories. A pattern was established pretty early in my time at the company where I would say “I need to write this royal thing up” and the resulting story would do really well. I had a royal newsletter for my last three years in the newsroom, and that was fun because I was able to do some deeper analysis of royal news and royal media coverage and write for a dedicated audience.

I read all the stories written by royal rota reporters and the major royal reporters on the beat at other outlets. I have an almost 11 year-old Twitter list of royal reporters (and official royal social media accounts) that helps me stay updated. I also keep an eye on celebrity gossip and blind gossip websites, because you can often trace some of the wildest royal rumors and theories back to them.

Also, sometimes there’s just some great, clearly fictitious, content. One of my all-time favorites is a Blind Gossip post from July 2019 that claims Meghan freaked out because she couldn’t find avocados in the U.K. and wanted them flown in from California.

Despite its toxicity, royal social media was helpful when it came to stories because it let me get a sense of the sort of questions people were asking about royal news and what misinformation was circulating. I wrote a lot of posts that explained or debunked things that I’d seen trending on Twitter or popping up on Reddit. I also did some reporting on the royal social media networks themselves — I spent a few months going down the rabbit hole of Meghan Markle hate accounts and found evidence that the duchess’s half-sister Samantha was interacting with some of these people and spreading conspiracy theories. I ended up knocking on her door in Florida for that one. She ultimately didn’t talk to me, but it was an interesting trip. That story has actually been cited a few times (by Meghan’s lawyers) in Samantha’s ongoing defamation lawsuit against the duchess. It’s pretty wild.

Owen: What is unusual about the Kate story, besides the fact that people who don’t normally really care about the royals are talking about it?

Hall: I think a big part of this drama is that over the past few years, people have started to really distrust not just the royal family (as an institution/bureaucracy, not necessarily the individual members) but the reporters and outlets that cover the royal family.

I’m not saying this is “The Crown’s” fault, but it doesn’t help matters that for years pop culture has been dominated by a fictionalized narrative that depicts the monarchy and its employees scheming behind the scenes and manipulating the media, happily throwing certain members of the royal family under a bus in service to the overriding goal of preserving the power of the sovereign. Even without the Netflix series, a lot of people still hold a grudge against the royals because of Princess Diana and wonder about the circumstances of her death. I also feel like a lot of this distrust stems from what Harry and Meghan have said since leaving working royal life. Their descriptions of a back-stabbing, Machiavellian organization in interviews and Harry’s memoir Spare have definitely made an impact on the public’s perception of the monarchy and the royal reporting beat.

So when you have a situation like we’re currently in, if people feel that they can’t trust the institution and they can’t trust the reporters, they’re going to go on what they can see — and, as the timeline [below] shows, what they’re seeing is raising questions. The public can’t help but compare how Buckingham Palace is handling the King’s medical crisis with how Kensington Palace is handling Kate’s. People remember how Kate let herself be photographed leaving the hospital the other time she received inpatient treatment (for hyperemesis gravidarum during her first pregnancy in 2012) and how she met the world’s media dressed perfectly and wearing high heels hours after giving birth. Members of the public are also going to make judgments about what’s going on now based on how the Palace has handled similar situations in the past — and there’s a fairly recent example of the royal family press team allowing the widespread publication of paparazzi-style images of one of its off-duty members (Kate was photographed attending a memorial service for a woman killed by a police officer in 2021).

I don’t think we’d be in this position if Kensington Palace had shared something besides two official announcements and one statement to the press. There’s an information void surrounding Kate’s current status, and the royal press team has left a lot of space to speculate about what’s actually going on. It doesn’t seem like it’s going to slow down anytime soon, either. It will be interesting to see if Kensington Palace eventually caves and gives the public something personal from Kate, be that a statement, a photo taken by her, a picture of her and her kids, something along those lines.

Owen: Why is so much coverage about Kate coming from this Spanish journalist, Concha Calleja? Who is she?

Hall: Concha Calleja is a self-described “writer [and] specialist in profiles, criminology and hunting down those who lie,” the host of the Spanish television show “Fiesta” (which has a reported audience of 900,000) and she’s been one of the most interesting bits of this entire saga. She’s the only prominent reporter (so far) to challenge Kensington Palace’s narrative about the Princess of Wales, and her reporting prompted the Waleses’ press team to take the rare step of going on the record to refute a story.

Calleja came onto the scene soon after Kensington Palace announced that Kate had been hospitalized. She first reported that Kate had actually been admitted to the hospital in December and wasn’t doing well, and then claimed that the princess had to be placed in a medically induced coma. Her credibility, at least in Spain, is such that mainstream outlets quickly picked up both reports.

Her stories might have stayed under the radar if Kensington Palace hadn’t gone on the record with the Times of London to refute the report that Kate was in a coma. Royal press teams don’t usually comment at all, let alone on specific stories, and, ironically, by releasing a statement the Palace drew even more attention to Calleja’s reporting.

In a bold move, following the publication of the Times of London story, Calleja doubled down on her reporting , stating that she trusted her source 100% and claiming that Kensington Palace was upset that she had discovered the truth.

Calleja claims to have covered the royal family for 27 years. According to her website, she has written two books about Princess Diana, one of which is an investigation into the conspiracy theory that the beloved royal was murdered. [ Ed. note: Another one of Calleja’s books suggests Michael Jackson was murdered.]

Owen: So, um…any guesses on what’s gonna happen next?

Hall: I think a lot will depend on what happens over these next few weeks before Easter. Right now, questions about what’s going on have been confined to social media, but things could change if the press starts seriously pushing Kensington Palace for more information. I was surprised to see that the cover story of this week’s People magazine (an incredibly sympathetic news outlet as far as royal reporting is concerned) is titled, “Royal Family in Turmoil as Demands Mount for More Transparency: ‘There Is Too Much Uncertainty.’”

I could definitely see a scenario where the Waleses and their press team cave in and post a personal message from Kate or a photo/video of her, but I think the chances of that happening are pretty slim. William’s spokesperson’s comment to People that “his focus is on his work and not on social media” and the belligerent tone of the Daily Beast interview with the couple’s friends indicate to me that the Prince and Princess of Wales themselves are personally very invested in keeping Kate out of the public eye and have no plans to budge on that point.

Then again, there’s always the possibility that one of these conspiracy theories could be true, and if that’s the case, God only knows.

Owen: O.K., and finally…when we were talking about ways to cover this story from a Nieman Lab angle, you thought a timeline could be a good way to do it. Why does this story benefit from a timeline?

Hall: A conspiracy theory is essentially a bunch of people looking at one series of events and drawing drastically different conclusions.

Trying to track a conspiracy theory in narrative form is difficult, because anything and everything can be assigned significance to bolster whatever story a person espouses. The key event that ties one theory together could be meaningless to another. It’s easier to explain what people find important in each detail if you go point by point.

This method also makes it easier to add context and correct misinterpretation. There are a lot of people down this rabbit hole who are unfamiliar with the way the royal family operates and that knowledge definitely changes how you view some of these points.

Timelines also help you see patterns and make informed guesses about what events prompted what actions.

Owen: With that, here’s Ellie’s timeline.

After Kate’s surgery is announced, multiple outlets will report that this Italy trip had to be rescheduled. To some, this is taken as an indication that the princess’s operation wasn’t as “planned” as Kensington Palace might want the public to think. • 2023 • 25 December Kate, William, and their children are seen participating in the royal family’s traditional walk from Sandringham to St Mary Magdalene Church. • 2023 • 28 December An anonymous Twitter account posts video of an apparent royal convoy headed to King Edward VII’s Hospital, allegedly from Sandringham.

If #WhereIsKategate has a smoking gun, it’s this video. No royal institution has commented on it and the uploader hasn’t provided follow-up details. • 2023 • 29 December The official Kensington Palace social media accounts (Twitter and Instagram) share a video montage of the Wales family’s “greatest hits” from the past year. This is the last time that an image of Kate has been shared on Kensington Palace’s official social media. • 2024 • 9 January Kate’s 42nd birthday. Kensington Palace does not make a social media post marking the occasion, neither wishing her a happy birthday nor thanking people for their good wishes.

This is not entirely out of character, as the official accounts did not make posts about her birthday or William’s birthday in 2023 — but her birthdays had been marked by posts from 2018 to 2022. (Also, new pictures of her were released on her birthday in 2020 and 2022.) • 2024 • 16 January Unbeknownst to the world, Kate is admitted to the London Clinic. • 2024 • 17 January Kensington Palace announces that Kate is in the hospital recovering from a successful “planned abdominal surgery.”

A statement from Kensington Palace pic.twitter.com/6h3BCrqj5L — The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) January 17, 2024

Multiple outlets report that William has canceled engagements and “shifted his schedule” to help his wife and care for their children.

Later, multiple outlets and journalists report that this was the only day they were allowed to report on Kate’s health from outside the hospital.

(Following the media circus before and after the birth of Prince George in 2013, the Palace press offices have cracked down on members of the media gathering outside hospitals, so limiting the time networks can camp outside the London Clinic isn’t entirely out of the norm.) • 2024 • 17 January Buckingham Palace announces that King Charles will be hospitalized for treatment for a “benign prostate condition.” According to the statement, he wanted to share his diagnosis to encourage other men with symptoms to get checked.

This is the first of what will be many examples of Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace taking different approaches to how they handle one of their royal “principals” suffering from a medical condition. • 2024 • 18 January William is photographed driving to the London Clinic to visit Kate.

This is the only time he is seen visiting his wife. • 2024 • 20 January Spanish journalist Concha Calleja reports that, despite Kensington Palace’s claims, Kate was hospitalized on December 28. Calleja says that something went wrong during the postoperative period and claims that Kate is not doing well.

Eagle-eyed Kate truthers immediately seize upon the fact that December 28 is the day that the random Twitter user saw a royal convoy heading to a London hospital. Other royal watchers point out that the Waleses’ longtime nanny is Spanish. Calleja’s report is the first real “follow-up” story to the surgery announcement, in the sense that no media outlets have published stories reporting anything besides the official statement. You can normally count on the U.K. tabloids for some sort of wacky speculation when it comes to stories about the royal family, but not this time. • 2024 • 20 January The Sunday Times reports that Kensington Palace aides did not notify Kate’s 30 charities and patronages “to confirm postponing and rescheduling engagements” until one week before her surgery. The paper notes that Kate will be “work[ing] from bed” and “aides insist her work will not stall.”

This claim about working in bed will be brought up later as conspiracy theories start to flourish. During the pandemic, Kate regularly held Zoom calls with these institutions, and screenshots of these meetings were released to the press. Questions will be raised about why any images of Kate or updates/anecdotes from employees of the institutions haven’t leaked, if she’s been working while she recovers. • 2024 • 24 January People magazine’s royal reporter writes that Kate’s hospitalization was unexpected. “The carefully guarded news about Kate’s situation came as a surprise even to those who work closely with the royal family, PEOPLE understands.” (This is later also reported by Page Six.) People also gets an exclusive quote from an unnamed “royal source” saying that Kate’s surgery “does sound serious” but everyone’s “sure she will bounce back.”

These details are seen as more indications that Kate’s health situation was more dire than has been reported. • 2024 • 24 January U.K. tabloid the Mirror publishes a story titled “Kate ‘your best friend one minute and worst enemy the next’, expert claims.” The Mirror sources the story from what it describes as “a recent article for the Daily Mail” written by royal reporter Robert Jobson — but links to a post from 2022. The story alleges that William and Kate have “quite extreme mood swings” and claims that the two “give as good as they get” in fights with each other. Within hours, however, the story is updated and Kate’s name is replaced with Harry’s. The title of the story now live on the Mirror’s website is “ Prince Harry ‘your best friend one minute and worst enemy the next,’ expert claims .” The Mirror adds an editorial note to the bottom of the post reading, “A previous version of this story erroneously referred to Kate, Princess of Wales, instead of Prince Harry” and removes the link to the 2022 Daily Mail story — the link now redirects to the Daily Mail’s homepage.

This is just weird. It’s being seized upon by conspiracy theorists as an apparent example of the royal press offices directing a media outlet to change a story, or a media outlet trying to write a story about a possible conflict in the Waleses’ marriage. In all likelihood this was someone looking to make a story quota who messed up. • 2024 • 25 January The Sun reports that William has visited Kate in the hospital every day, but says her children have not visited (children are not allowed in the London Clinic, per hospital policy ; multiple outlets later report that William and Kate did not want to disrupt their children’s schedules and used FaceTime to stay in touch).

While royal children of the previous generation visited relatives when they were in hospitals, this is the first time we’ve known about either William and Kate needing inpatient treatment. There’s no precedent — there’s a big difference between the children visiting their mother and new sibling at a hospital and children visiting their mother after major surgery. • 2024 • 26 January The King is admitted to the London Clinic for his prostate treatment and members of the press are apparently once again allowed to gather outside the London Clinic. The Queen is photographed leaving the hospital in the afternoon, after apparently arriving with the King for his treatment (the arrival was not photographed) earlier that day. People magazine reports that the King has visited Kate. The Queen is photographed once again visiting the King in the hospital that evening. • 2024 • 27 January The Queen is photographed arriving at and leaving the hospital. • 2024 • 28 January The Queen is once again photographed visiting her husband at the London Clinic.

Whether purposeful or not, the Queen’s public arrivals and departures at the hospital make an obvious contrast to William’s apparent absence. • 2024 • 28 January Spanish journalist Concha Calleja doubles down on her report that Kate is in medical distress and claims that the princess is in a medically induced coma. Prominent Spanish media outlets begin to report her claims.

Although this story has been bubbling under the surface of the discourse about Kate’s condition, it really begins to spread now. • 2024 • 29 January Kensington Palace announces:

A statement from Kensington Palace pic.twitter.com/DW6BOHuuRJ — The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) January 29, 2024

The Daily Mail later reports that William drove her home.

Despite the fact that members of the media were apparently set up around the hospital in order to photograph the King and Queen, her departure is not photographed. • 2024 • 29 January The King leaves the hospital. He and the Queen smile and wave for photographers outside of the London Clinic.

Thank you to all those who have sent their good wishes during The King's hospital stay. His Majesty is delighted that his diagnosis is having a positive impact on public health awareness. pic.twitter.com/qbaCcwQg5a — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) January 29, 2024

Once again, we have a very public contrast between the King and Kate. Obviously they both are experiencing very different issues and have very different responsibilities, but it nonetheless draws attention to the differences. • 2024 • 1 February An unnamed Kensington Palace spokesperson vehemently denies Concha Calleja’s “total nonsense” claim that Kate is in a coma to The Times. “No attempt was made by that journalist to fact-check anything that she said with anyone in the household. It’s fundamentally, totally made-up, and I’ll use polite English here: it’s absolutely not the case.”

Palace spokespeople do not go on the record very often — the fact that someone in the Palace said this and the journalist was allowed to cite it to a spokesperson is significant. For the most part, royal family press offices ignore stories that they consider to be obviously false, because commenting will lend some credibility to the claims and draw more attention to it. • 2024 • 2 February Calleja defends her reporting, claiming that she “touched a nerve” by reporting the truth and stating that she trusts her source “100%.”

The fact that this story is still being covered in the mainstream media after the Palace’s denial is interesting — most of the time, the reporters or outlets pushing these types of stories don’t have the credibility to defend themselves. • 2024 • 5 February Buckingham Palace announces that the King has been diagnosed with cancer, although the statement does not specify which kind of cancer. He will postpone “public-facing duties” but continue to “undertake State business and official paperwork.” The statement pointedly notes that he has chosen to share his diagnosis “to prevent speculation.”

The fact that Buckingham Palace uses the pointed phrase “to prevent speculation” while at the same time declining to specify the King’s cancer is a PR masterstroke. Once again, the King’s press team appears to be drawing a contrast with how Kate’s medical issue is being handled. • 2024 • 6 February The King and Queen are photographed leaving Clarence House in London. • 2024 • 7 February Kate’s brother James shares a video of his family on vacation in the Alps.

This is where one of the weirder side-conspiracies begins. Kate’s family is very close and they’re not very camera-shy. While James’s holiday post is a good indication that Kate is not at death’s door, people begin to realize that Kate’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, haven’t been seen since Kensington Palace announced her surgery. • 2024 • 7 February William participates in his first royal event since Kate’s diagnosis was made public — an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle. He presents medals on behalf of his father to a number of individuals.

Every aspect of William’s appearance at the investiture has been broken down and examined by online sleuths. One video showing the prince weaving back and forth on his feet has been shared hundreds of thousands of times on social media. There is speculation that he is unwell or under the influence of something. • 2024 • 7 February William references his wife’s and father’s health in a speech at a formal event. “I’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you, also, for the kind messages of support for Catherine and for my father, especially in recent days,” he said. “It means a great deal to us all.” • 2024 • 9 February The Daily Mail reports that Kate has left Windsor for her children’s half-term holiday and the entire family has relocated to Anmer Hall, at Sandringham. Kate is apparently “recovering well.” The Sun and Sunday Times later confirm the Daily Mail’s reporting of the family trip to Anmer Hall.

It’s hard to draw a concrete conclusion about the fact that the Waleses’ trip to Sandringham wasn’t photographed. There have been many photographs taken of either William or Kate driving onto and out of the grounds of Windsor park in the past, but it’s definitely not a situation where they’re snapped every day. Furthermore, the Wales children are strictly off-limits when it comes to photographs and they were likely with their parents on the drive. • 2024 • 10 February Buckingham Palace publishes a personal message from the King expressing his “heartfelt thanks” for the messages of support he has received since announcing his diagnosis.

Again, the King’s message calls to attention the fact that Kate has not released a similar personal message and has only expressed her thanks through official statements. • 2024 • 11 February The King and Queen are photographed attending church at St Mary Magdalene in Sandringham. • 2024 • 13 February The King and Queen are photographed arriving at Clarence House in London. • 2024 • 17 February The Daily Mail’s Richard Eden reports that William and Kate have visited a school that they are considering for their oldest son Prince George. He later clarifies on Twitter that the visit happened before Kate’s surgery.

Many people online have raised questions about the timing of this piece, because it was published in a way that indicated it could have been a recent visit (and therefore could have been taken as “proof” that Kate was up and about). • 2024 • 18 February The King and Queen are photographed attending church at St Mary Magdalene in Sandringham. • 2024 • 18 February William attends the British Academy Film Awards. • 2024 • 19 February Term begins again at Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis’s school.

This fact is only noted to indicate that the Waleses have likely returned to Adelaide Cottage by this point. • 2024 • 20 February William issues a personal statement about the crisis in Gaza via social media.

A statement from The Prince of Wales pic.twitter.com/LV2jMx75DC — The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) February 20, 2024

Despite claims from internet sleuths, this is not the first time that one of the Waleses have issued a solo (instead of joint) statement. Kate and William regularly write messages on their own letterhead, and the fact that this statement was just from William should not be taken as a sign of marital trouble in Kensington Palace. • 2024 • 21 February The King meets with U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Buckingham Palace. Photos and videos are released to the media. • 2024 • 21 February Kate’s sister Pippa is photographed with her husband and children on vacation in the Caribbean.

While Pippa’s vacation pictures are a good sign that Kate’s not in serious condition, an update from Kate’s sister calls attention to the fact that the Middleton parents haven’t been seen. • 2024 • 23 February Buckingham Palace shares a video of the King reading cards that have been sent to him by concerned members of the public.

This video immediately prompts questions about why Kate hasn’t done something similar. “Monarchs reading cards” is a tried-and-true format for official royal photos. • 2024 • 27 February At the last minute, William pulls out of attending a memorial service at Windsor for his godfather, the late King Constantine of Greece, where he was scheduled to give a reading. Kensington Palace says his absence is due to “a personal matter.”

This is where the underground conspiracy theories hit the mainstream internet and media. Chaos ensues. Memes ensue. Although the Palace provides guidance that the cause of William’s absence has nothing to do with his wife, this claim is met with great skepticism. • 2024 • 27 February Buckingham Palace announces the death of Thomas Kingston, a member of the extended royal family. Kingston was married to Lady Gabriella Kingston, the daughter of Prince Michael of Kent, the late Queen’s first cousin. Multiple media outlets report that William’s withdrawal from the memorial service was not connected to Kingston’s death.

The fact that Kensington Palace let it be known that William’s absence from the memorial was not connected to Kingston’s death is seized upon by conspiracy theorists, as is the fact that Kingston once dated Kate’s sister Pippa Middleton. • 2024 • 28 February A Kensington Palace spokesperson addresses the “wild conspiracy theories” about Kate in a statement to the Sun: “We were very clear from the outset that the Princess of Wales was out until after Easter and Kensington Palace would only be providing updates when something was significant.” • 2024 • 29 February Kensington Palace spokespersons give similar statements to other media outlets. Page Six quotes a spokesperson as saying, “Kensington Palace made it clear in January the timelines of the princess’ recovery and we’d only be providing significant updates” and emphasizing, “That guidance stands.” • 2024 • 29 February Kensington Palace spokespersons give similar statements to other media outlets. ET quotes a spokesperson as saying, “We gave guidance two days ago that the Princess of Wales continues to be doing well. As we have been clear since our initial statement in January, we shall not be providing a running commentary or providing daily updates.”

It is incredibly rare for a royal press office to officially respond to something like this, let alone respond on the record with quotations attributable to a Kensington Palace spokesperson. This is not standard royal practice. • 2024 • 29 February Daily Beast royal reporter Tom Sykes interviews unnamed Wales friends and a former Palace employee about the global outcry around Kate’s “disappearance.” These anonymous contributors scoff at the idea that public curiosity will force the royal family’s hand. “If William has read any of this stuff, it will only make him more determined to stick to his guns and keep his wife out of the limelight while she recovers. The stuff people are writing is toxic,” one says.

“Friends” of members of the royal family don’t normally talk to reporters unless they’re given permission by somebody (or they wouldn’t stay friends). • 2024 • 29 February William visits a London synagogue, meets a Holocaust survivor, and condemns the wave of anti-semitism that has broken out in the wake of the October 7 Hamas attacks. “Both Catherine and I are extremely concerned about the rise in antisemitism that you guys have talked about so eloquently this morning, and I’m just so sorry you’ve had to experience that,” he says . • 2024 • 1 March William ignores a question about his wife’s health during an official event in Wales. (This news is not reported until March 4). • 2024 • 1 March An inquest reveals that Thomas Kingston’s cause of death was a “catastrophic head injury” and that a gun was found near his body. Multiple outlets report the death as a suicide.

This news being made public only increases speculation by some conspiracy theorists. • 2024 • 2 March Citing a Buckingham Palace source, the Times of London reports that the Queen will be taking a break from royal duties until March 11. The Sun reports that she will be “jetting off on a private flight tomorrow for a sunshine break overseas.” • 2024 • 4 March U.S. news outlet TMZ publishes a paparazzi image of Kate and her mother, Carole Middleton, in a car near Windsor Castle. The website reports that the image, which shows Kate in the passenger seat and her mother driving, was taken that morning, possibly after dropping the Wales children off at school. (The Daily Mail later reports that the photo was taken on the school run.) Several other U.S. media organizations publish the pictures.

The publication of this image only strengthens conspiracy theories about Kate’s health, as many do not believe that it’s actually her in the picture. • 2024 • 4 March Multiple U.K. news outlets report that Kensington Palace did not “authorize” the taking of the paparazzi image and state that they will not be publishing it in order to respect Kate’s privacy.

Two days later, royal reporter Emily Andrews writes on Twitter that Kensington Palace “exerted huge pressure on the British media” to not publish the image. Nonetheless, theories about why no U.K. outlet will publish the photo flourish online. People also point to the use of the word “authorize” — does that mean that other paparazzi photographs of members of the royal family were authorized? • 2024 • 5 March Kate’s uncle Gary Goldsmith, a contestant on reality TV show Celebrity Big Brother , attacks the conspiracy theories about his niece in an interview. “There’s a reason why [the royal family] is not talking about it and they are giving her a little bit of space,” he says . • 2024 • 5 March The media notices that the U.K. Ministry of Defense’s website states that Kate will attend the ceremonial event Trooping the Colour on June 8. This news is quickly picked up by outlets around the world and reported as Kate’s first post-surgery public appearance. • 2024 • 5 March Kensington Palace pushes back on reports that Kate will attend Trooping the Colour, telling reporters that they had not yet confirmed her appearance. The U.K. Ministry of Defense removes its claim that Kate will be at the event and her image from their website. • 2024 • 6 March The King holds a video meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and formally greets two foreign ambassadors at Buckingham Palace. • 2024 • 6 March William’s spokesperson tells People magazine that “his focus is on his work and not on social media.” This story also quotes a “Palace insider” saying that there is complete “radio silence” on Kate’s condition.

The fact that this very pointed quote is sourced not to a “Palace insider” or “royal aide” but to William’s spokesperson is significant. • 2024 • 7 March Hello! reports that William has been taking his children George, Charlotte, and Louis to school (and picking them up) “every day” since Kate’s surgery. No spokesperson is cited, the magazine sources this information as “Hello! has learnt.” This report is picked up by other U.K. news outlets .

People online immediately comment on the timing of this story, which comes three days after the paparazzi image of Kate and her mother was published by TMZ. That photo was allegedly taken after the women dropped the Wales children off at school — so why now is there this story about William exclusively doing the school runs? • 2024 • 7 March Kate’s uncle Gary Goldsmith comments on the princesses’ health again when asked point-blank by fellow Celebrity Big Brother contestant Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu, “Where’s Kate?” Goldsmith responds , “Because she doesn’t want to talk about it, the last thing I’m going to do is [talk about it]. There’s this kind of this code of etiquette. If it’s announced, I’ll give you an opinion.” Goldsmith claims that he has spoken to his sister Carole about Kate’s health and says that she’s getting the “best care in the world” and “She’ll be back, of course she will.”

“All the family has put the wagons down and [are looking] after the family first before anything else,” he said. “They put a statement out, they said, ‘She’s going to take some time to recoup and we’ll see you at Easter.’”

Goldsmith’s apparent uneasiness while answering the question, as well as his cryptic statement, “If it’s announced, I’ll give you an opinion,” raises even more questions. • 2024 • 10 March Kensington Palace shares an image of Kate, George, Charlotte, and Louis to their official social media accounts to mark Mother’s Day in the U.K. The Instagram and Twitter posts include a personal message from the Princess of Wales (signed with a “C” for Catherine) thanking the public for their support. The photo was ostensibly taken by William at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor within the past week. Kensington Palace declines to comment when asked by Town and Country why Kate is not wearing her engagement or wedding rings in the photo.

Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months. Wishing everyone a Happy Mother's Day. C 📸 The Prince of Wales, 2024 pic.twitter.com/6DywGBpLLQ — The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) March 10, 2024

People online begin to raise questions within minutes of the photo’s release. There is a visible discrepancy and apparent editing error visible in the area around Charlotte’s left sleeve , and other online sleuths notice alignment issues with Louis’s sweater . More and more people begin to call out signs of apparent poor Photoshop editing. • 2024 • 10 March The world’s major wire agencies ( Associated Press , Agence France-Presse , Getty , Reuters , and Britain’s Press Association ) alert their clients that the image provided by Kensington Palace should be withheld/withdrawn from publication because the photo has been manipulated beyond each company’s acceptable standards. (Nieman Lab has more on this here .) The Palace declines to comment to all media inquiries, multiple news organizations report.

To say that all hell breaks loose at this point would be an understatement. As ITV royal reporter Chris Ship points out , the photo that was supposed to resolve the confusion and clear up the conspiracy theories has instead made everything worse. People begin theorizing that the image was created by AI or patched together via Photoshop — worries about Kate’s health and current status abound on social media. • 2024 • 11 March Major UK media outlets publish stories breaking down the apparent Photoshop errors in the image released by Kensington Palace. Sky News examines the photo’s metadata and reports that the image “had been saved in photo editing software Adobe Photoshop twice on an Apple Mac.” The photo was first saved at 9:54 PM GMT on Friday night and then saved again at 9:39 AM GMT on Saturday morning. The metadata confirms that the photo was taken at the Waleses’ home, Adelaide Cottage. The Times reports that William took the photo on Friday afternoon. (The Daily Mail later confirms this photo origin date.)

The Telegraph reports that “A reference to ‘document ancestors’ in the photograph’s metadata suggests a copy and paste function was used and that multiple images were merged.” The paper adds that “a clear horizontal line stretching across the princess’s chest appears to indicate that the section of the image featuring her face was cut out and replaced, not exactly in line.” • 2024 • 11 March Kensington Palace releases a personal tweet from Kate (signed with a “C”) saying she “occasionally experiment[s] with editing” and apologizing for “any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused.” (She does not explicitly say that she edited this photo.)

Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing. I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother’s Day. C — The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) March 11, 2024

Despite prompting from many media outlets, the Palace makes it known (via a statement to the Press Association) that the Waleses’ press team will not be releasing the original image of the princess and her children.

By this point, the “Kate Middleton is missing” discourse has taken over the internet. People begin theorizing that the image was actually taken in November or Photoshopped using Kate’s 2016 Vogue magazine cover. Online debate rages about why the Palace is “throwing Kate under the bus” and why the press team will not release the original image. • 2024 • 11 March Photographers capture images of William and Kate leaving Windsor. However, the princess is not facing the cameras — only her profile can be seen. An unnamed source tells the Daily Mail and People magazine that Kate is heading to a “private appointment,” while William is heading to a Commonwealth’s Day service at Westminster Abbey.

Once again, this development has only raised more questions about the Princess of Wales. Why is Kate not facing the cameras? • 2024 • 11 March William, the Queen, and other members of the royal family attend the annual Commonwealth’s Day service at Westminster Abbey. The King does not attend, but a video message from him is played to the congregation. • 2024 • 11 March CNN says that it is reviewing all of the handout images previously provided by Kensington Palace, explaining that the royal press team ​​”wasn’t transparent about the fact [the Mother’s Day photo] had been adjusted,” an action that “damaged the trust between the Palace and media organizations.” CNN specifies that it is “unacceptable to move, change or manipulate the pixels of an image” because doing so “would alter the reality of the situation the image is intended to document.” This news is widely reported in the U.K. • 2024 • 11 March William attends the Earthshot Prize Launchpad to kick off a matchmaking program that connects environmental innovators with investors and philanthropists. The prince founded the Earthshot Prize in 2020 to “search for and scale the most innovative solutions to the world’s greatest environmental challenges.” • 2024 • 12 March The Daily Mail, citing “several well-placed sources in royal ­circles,” reports that Kate is “shellshocked” due to the “public fallout” over the Mother’s Day photo. “She is understood to be ‘disappointed’ about what has resulted after an attempt to ‘just put out a nice picture of her kids,’” writes royal correspondent Rebecca English. The Times reports that Kate was “shaken” by the news agency “kill orders” and decided to “own up” to editing the photo when news of the retractions and the subsequent internet explosion hit Kensington Palace. • 2024 • 12 March New conspiracy theories rage about the photo of William and Kate in the car. Some TikTok and Twitter investigators hypothesize that the prince was alone in the vehicle and a picture of the princess’s head was Photoshopped next to him to make it look as if Kate was there. Others theorize that there was a woman in the car next to William, but it wasn’t his wife — it was Rose Hanbury, otherwise known as the Marchioness of Cholmondeley (pronounced CHUM-lee). Since 2019, there have been (very unsubstantiated) rumors of an affair between William and Rose and many online conspiracy theorists believe that she is a key figure in this entire saga. • 2024 • 12 March The professional photographer, James Bennett, who took the picture of William and Kate in the car refutes all of the conspiracy theories about the image in an interview with the New York Post: “We don’t change our photos in Photoshop other than adjusting the light levels if necessary.”

He tells the paper that he and a partner staked out a spot on a public street to capture an image of William on his way to Westminster Abbey. “The cars left Windsor Castle and I photographed them a short distance away on Datchet High Street — outside No. 39, to be precise!” he said. “Car shots are unpredictable at the best of times and with some reflection on the glass, it can be difficult.” Bennett says he didn’t know that he’d photographed the princess until he reviewed his pictures. “I realized there was someone sitting next to him. It turned out to be Catherine!”

Ellie Hall is a freelance reporter. She was senior reporter and official royal correspondent for BuzzFeed News from 2013 until the newsroom shut down in April 2023.

Photo of Kensington Palace by Kotomi_ being used under a Creative Commons license.

Cite this article Hide citations

Hall, Ellie. "It’s getting weirder: BuzzFeed News’ former royals reporter on Kate Middleton, Palace PR, and distrust in the media (updated)." Nieman Journalism Lab . Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard, 7 Mar. 2024. Web. 14 Mar. 2024.

Hall, E. (2024, Mar. 7). It’s getting weirder: BuzzFeed News’ former royals reporter on Kate Middleton, Palace PR, and distrust in the media (updated). Nieman Journalism Lab . Retrieved March 14, 2024, from https://www.niemanlab.org/2024/03/this-is-just-weird-buzzfeed-news-former-royals-reporter-on-kate-middleton-palace-press-and-distrust-in-the-media/

Hall, Ellie. "It’s getting weirder: BuzzFeed News’ former royals reporter on Kate Middleton, Palace PR, and distrust in the media (updated)." Nieman Journalism Lab . Last modified March 7, 2024. Accessed March 14, 2024. https://www.niemanlab.org/2024/03/this-is-just-weird-buzzfeed-news-former-royals-reporter-on-kate-middleton-palace-press-and-distrust-in-the-media/.

{{cite web     | url = https://www.niemanlab.org/2024/03/this-is-just-weird-buzzfeed-news-former-royals-reporter-on-kate-middleton-palace-press-and-distrust-in-the-media/     | title = It’s getting weirder: BuzzFeed News’ former royals reporter on Kate Middleton, Palace PR, and distrust in the media (updated)     | last = Hall     | first = Ellie     | work = [[Nieman Journalism Lab]]     | date = 7 March 2024     | accessdate = 14 March 2024     | ref = {{harvid|Hall|2024}} }}

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  1. Buckingham Palace Tour and Afternoon Tea

    Combine two London must-dos on a Buckingham Palace and Afternoon Tea this summer.. Visit Buckingham Palace Start the day with a tour of Buckingham Palace, an iconic royal residence and the administrative headquarters of the Royal Household.Explore the 19 State Rooms, each exquisitely decorated and filled with many historical artefacts and treasures.

  2. Visit to Buckingham Palace and Afternoon Tea

    After your visit to Buckingham Palace take the 10 minute walk to the departure point for the Afternoon Tea Bus. Check in: 3.00pm. Departure time: 3:15pm. Location: Bus Stop 1, Bulleid Way, Victoria, London SW1W 9SH. Duration: 90min. Palace Entry Afternoon Tea at Browns Victoria. MEETING TIME: 1:30pm.

  3. Buckingham Palace Admission Ticket and London Food Tour 2024

    Get more from one day in London by combining a guided walk along The Mall route and a visit to Buckingham Palace with a Central London food tour. Enjoy prebooked admission tickets to Buckingham Palace (which is open to the public just eight weeks a year), to explore the lavish interiors and gain insight into the royal family. Then sample traditional British treats on a food tour ending with a ...

  4. Visit to Buckingham Palace and Afternoon Tea at Harrods for Two

    Our guide to Visit to Buckingham Palace and Afternoon Tea at Harrods for Two. Discover the world-famous Buckingham Palace, which serves as the official London residence of His Majesty The King and is one of the few remaining working royal palaces in the world today. Soak up the magnificence and beauty of the Palace as you explore the 19 State ...

  5. Buckingham Palace State Rooms and Traditional Afternoon Tea for Two at

    Receive two vouchers valid for two people. Buckingham Palace State Rooms: Available Thursday-Monday from 15th July - 29th September. Entrance to the State Rooms is at 1.15pm only. Café Rouge Afternoon Tea: This voucher is valid until the 31st December 2024. Available week round, year round, excluding key dates such as Valentine's Day ...

  6. Buckingham Palace Afternoon Tea in Central London, The Rubens at the Palace

    Royal Afternoon Tea. Indulge in the epitome of a quintessential English Afternoon Tea experience at The Rubens at the Palace, where refinement meets tradition. Immerse yourself in the charming ambiance of our Palace Lounge, offering panoramic views of the Royal Mews of Buckingham Palace, or enjoy your tea within the opulent surroundings of our ...

  7. Buckingham Palace State Rooms Visit and Afternoon Tea at Harrods for Two

    Get yourselves to London to enjoy this regal day of treats with a Visit to Buckingham Palace and Afternoon Tea at Harrods for Two. Explore the iconic Buckingham Palace, the official London residence of His Majesty The King. Wander through the 19 State Rooms, including the majestic Throne Room and grand White Drawing Room, showcasing priceless ...

  8. Visit Buckingham Palace

    Buckingham Palace is recognised around the world as the home of the monarch, the focus of national and royal celebrations, as well as the backdrop to the regular Changing the Guard ceremony. Explore the magnificent State Rooms which are open to visitors each summer, and on selected dates for Exclusive Guided Tours during winter and spring.

  9. London: Buckingham Palace Ticket and Afternoon Tea

    The afternoon tea consists of a selection of finger sandwiches, scones served with clotted cream and preserves, small tea cakes and a choice of tea. See the full afternoon tea menu here. This tour is unescorted and after your visit to Buckingham Palace, you will need to make your own way to Waterloo for the afternoon tea.

  10. Westminster Changing of the Guard, Buckingham Palace, Tea Tour ...

    Get a quintessentially London experience during this 8-hour tour including visits to Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace. Additionally, watch the Changing of the Guard and indulge in a traditional English afternoon tea at an elegant venue. This tour includes hard-to-get tickets for a tour of Buckingham Palace's state apartments, accompanied by an official Palace audio guide.

  11. Buckingham Palace State Rooms and Royal Afternoon Tea at Rubens at The

    The Rubens at the Palace Afternoon Tea: Afternoon tea is available week round, year round, excluding December. All dates are subject to availability. Participant Guidelines Minimum age: 18 years. Duration Entrance to the State Rooms is at 1.15pm only. Afternoon tea is served from 12pm-2pm and 4.30pm-5.30pm. Dress Code

  12. Rubens at the Palace

    Royal Afternoon Tea for Two at The Rubens. Celebrate in style with a Champagne Afternoon tea for two at the Rubens Hotel. Only a short walk from Buckingham Palace, this is a great gift for someone special. The exclusive gift voucher will give two people the opportunity to take afternoon tea at the Rubens. £90.00 for two. BUY ONLINE

  13. Buckingham Palace and Sparkling Afternoon Tea for Two

    The palace is open 5 days a week Thursday to Monday (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays) Royal Horseguards Hotel bookings are not available on Bank Holidays, 19th March and 6th May. Afternoon tea is served from 13:00 - 16:30. Vouchers must be booked and redeemed before 24 September 2023. Bookings must be made at least 14 working days in advance and ...

  14. Buckingham Palace Tour and Afternoon Tea

    This tour is unescorted and after your visit to Buckingham Palace, you will make your own way to Waterloo at about 3pm for a unique afternoon tea bus experience. You will be greeted with a glass of Prosecco wine or soft drink at the beginning of the bus tour. The afternoon tea consists of a choice of tea, together with a selection of finger ...

  15. Visit to Buckingham Palace and Afternoon Tea at Harrods for Two

    Get yourselves to London to enjoy this regal day of treats with a self-guided tour of The State Rooms inside Buckingham Palace and Afternoon Tea at Harrods for Two.

  16. Buckingham Palace State Rooms and The Rubens at the Palace Afternoon

    Buckingham Palace State Rooms and The Rubens at the Palace Afternoon Tea for Two. London. A visit to the State Rooms and Buckingham Palace is a real treat for any royalist. This fascinating experience grants access to the 19 majestic rooms still used by The Queen and members of the Royal Family for ceremonial, State and official occasions.

  17. Buckingham Palace State Rooms and Royal Afternoon Tea at ...

    Premium Overnight Murder Mystery Break for Two with Dinner - Special Offer. (255) 41 Locations. £259. Exclusive Bottomless Champagne Afternoon Tea for Two at The Rubens at the Palace. (40) Greater London. £230. Platinum Theatre Tickets to a West End Show for Two.

  18. Buckingham Palace Tour With Afternoon Tea Including Changing Of The

    Overview. Experience the novelty of this exclusive two month only opportunity to witness the Changing of the Guard and the Buckingham Palace in this specifically curated tour of London. Get the quintessential British experience in a swanky hotel, with high tea and soft scones to go with. Witness the lavish and extravagant life of the Royals and ...

  19. The Ultimate Guide on How to Visit Buckingham Palace in 2024

    Tickets must be booked online or booked here for a guided tour that includes the area around Buckingham Palace. Palace-guided tours in the winter and spring: Adults: £90 Family guided tour: ages 5-17 is £49.50, under 5 is free. Summer Buckingham Palace tickets if purchased in advance: Adults: £30 Young adults (18-24): £19.50 Child (5-17 ...

  20. Royal Afternoon Tea at The Rubens at The Palace Hotel

    Our seating time for afternoon tea is one and a half hours. Prices per person: Royal Afternoon Tea: £70 (including Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-Free and Halal variations) Champagne Afternoon Tea: £90. Bottomless Champagne Afternoon Tea: £115. Halal Sparkling Afternoon Tea: £87. Vegan Champagne Afternoon Tea: £90.

  21. Afternoon Tea near Buckingham Palace

    The Palace was originally known as Buckingham House and dates back to 1705 - first entering the monarchy when George III acquired the site in 1761. Afternoonteaonline.co.uk have selected the very best afternoon tea venues close to Buckingham Palace and all of these are available to book online for free with instant confirmation.

  22. Buckingham Palace Tour and Afternoon Tea Tickets and Dates

    The afternoon tea consists of a selection of finger sandwiches, scones served with clotted cream and preserves, small tea cakes and a choice of tea. See the full afternoon tea menu here. This tour is unescorted and after your visit to Buckingham Palace, you will need to make your own way to Bullied way in Victoria for the afternoon tea.

  23. Buckingham Palace State Rooms 2024 & Cream Tea

    Treat Someone Special to this Memorable Day Out. This fantastic visit to Buckingham Palace with cream tea at Harrods is available to buy as a gift voucher from Buyagift at £124 for TWO. Save a fantastic 15% and get it for £105.40 for TWO by entering Discount Code: GAT2024BAG at check-out. Advance booking is essential.

  24. The ultimate royal travel guide to Britain, from Buckingham Palace to

    The British landscape is awash with royal properties, from stately palaces to historic castles. These include three of the monarch's official royal residences; Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle ...

  25. It's getting weirder: BuzzFeed News' former royals reporter on Kate

    The fact that Buckingham Palace uses the pointed phrase "to prevent speculation" while at the same time declining to specify the King's cancer is a PR masterstroke. Once again, the King's press team appears to be drawing a contrast with how Kate's medical issue is being handled.