But not every moment in the room has been quite so joyous. Indeed, it was the site of the late Queen’s historic address to the nation during the Coronavirus lockdown of 2020, when she and Prince Philip were both in joint isolation at Windsor Castle. The varnished desk, traditionally laden with grinning family photographs, was nearly laid bare, decorated with only a silver pen pot, a vase of red roses, and a white ceramic table lamp that has been in the White Drawing Room for over 35 years – previously seen in a photograph marking Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s ruby wedding anniversary in 1987.
Prince Philip entertained Australian songstress Kylie Minogue in the White Drawing Room in 2016
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But the White Drawing Room has survived many a disaster. The Axminster Carpets rug, which dates back to at least 1890, was originally housed in the Green Drawing Room. It suffered smoke damage during the Great Fire of Windsor Castle of 1992, however, and had to undergo significant repairs before it could be fitted in the White Drawing Room, where it decorates the floors to this day.
It’s clear that the White Drawing Room will be the glamorous heart of British diplomacy for years – perhaps centuries – to come.
Queen Elizabeth II records her annual Christmas broadcast in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle in 2021. It was the first following the death of her husband, Prince Philip, earlier that year
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