For the First Time in History, the Late Queen’s Private Scottish Apartments Are Opening to the Public – But Only for 100 Days

For more than seven decades, visitors to the Palace of Holyroodhouse have only ever seen its regal state rooms. However, that's all about to change – for 100 days, at least.

Paying homage to the centenary of Queen Elizabeth II’s birth, the Royal Collection Trust has officially opened the doors to her private Scottish apartments for the first time in history, offering a rare look at how the late Queen lived in private.

Open for a strictly limited 100-day run (in a nod to the centenary), the surprisingly 'lived-in' suite of rooms on the royal residence's east side reveals how the late Queen and Prince Philip shared their lives behind closed doors. And it's notably more homely than you might expect.

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While the main state rooms have everything you can expect from a historic palace (chandeliers and painted ceilings included), the apartments are more understated. There are some nods to the estate's history, including 17th-century tapestries in the breakfast room, but most of the living spaces are more modest.

The private sitting room, for example, is a lesson in symmetrical, cozy design, featuring two plush, terracotta-colored sofas arranged across from a grand fireplace. It's decorated with antiques, such as a writing desk (seen below), and historic objects from the Royal Collection.

This sitting room, along with the other spaces in the apartment, are mostly furnished with a rare collection of pieces from the Royal Collection, crafted by the Edinburgh firm Young, Trotter and Hamilton.

These pieces were commissioned for the Palace in 1796 ahead of the arrival of Charles-Philippe, Comte d’Artois, brother-in-law to Marie Antoinette and the future Charles X of France, who sought refuge there during the French Revolution.

There are also pieces from Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s personal collections, many of which reflect their longstanding affection for Scotland.

In the Dressing Room, visitors will gain an insight into how the Queen prepared for official engagements through the display of three outfits worn at significant occasions in Edinburgh.

Among them is the ensemble worn for the official opening of the Scottish Parliament on 1 July 1999: a purple silk-and-wool coat paired with a green silk-crepe and lace dress, complemented by a purple and green Isle of Skye tartan shawl woven on the Isle of Lewis.

Emma Stead, Curator, Palace of Holyroodhouse comments: 'Queen Elizabeth II’s well-known love for Scotland will be given fresh context through this unique and special access to the private apartments, where visitors will enjoy a new perspective into both the formal and more informal use of Edinburgh’s royal palace.’

After touring the private apartments, visitors can continue exploring the rich history of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, including the magnificent State Apartments (including the paintings below) and the chambers of Mary, Queen of Scots.

The Queen Elizabeth II Private Apartment Tours will take place daily for 100 days from Thursday 21 May to 10 September 2026. Availability is limited, and tours must be booked in addition to a standard admission ticket to the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Or, if you can't make it across the pond in time, this book, available at Amazon, offers a different type of insight into how the Queen lived at The Palace of Holyroodhouse. It's the first official history of the Palace, tracing the history of the building from its origins as a twelfth-century abbey, to its role in the contemporary day.