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Queen Elizabeth’s private apartments at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the monarch’s official residence in Scotland, will open to the public for the first time later this year. The exhibition will offer visitors a rare glimpse into the late Queen’s personal living spaces. The temporary showcase is being staged to mark the centenary of Queen Elizabeth’s birth in 1926. The rooms will be accessible for a limited run of 100 days, according to the Royal Collection Trust, which manages the estate.
© Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2026 | Royal Collection Trust | Peter Smith
A front-facing view of the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Holyroodhouse has served as the monarch’s base in Scotland for centuries and remains King Charles’s official residence there. Also sometimes referred to as Holyrood Palace, it shouldn’t be confused with Balmoral Castle, a private royal residence farther north in Aberdeenshire within Scotland’s Cairngorms National Park.
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Queen Elizabeth and then-First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon in the Sitting Room in June 2022.
© Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2026 | Royal Collection Trust | David Cheskin
A look inside the Sitting Room.
Guided tours will take visitors inside the suite of rooms that the Queen shared with her husband, Prince Philip, during their stays in Edinburgh. Among them are the Queen’s Dressing Room, where Elizabeth prepared for official engagements, and the Sitting Room, where she often worked while reviewing government papers delivered in the red dispatch boxes used for official documents. Visitors will also see the Royal Breakfast Room, where the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh dined privately while staying at the palace.
© Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2026 | Royal Collection Trust | David Cheskin
The Royal Breakfast Room, where the late Queen and Prince Philip would dine privately when in residence.
The rooms, located on the east side of the palace, date back to the 17th century and overlook Holyrood Park and the palace gardens. They are furnished with pieces from the Royal Collection, including furniture made by the Scottish cabinetmakers Young, Trotter and Hamilton. At least three outfits worn by Elizabeth during notable engagements in Edinburgh will also be displayed in the Dressing Room.
© Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2026 | Royal Collection Trust
An ensemble worn by Queen Elizabeth for the official opening of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, designed by Sandra Murray.
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Queen Elizabeth, dressed in the Sandra Murray design, outside of Scottish Parliament in 1999
The guided visit to the private apartments will be offered alongside the standard public tour of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, which includes historic spaces such as the Throne Room and the chambers associated with Mary, Queen of Scots.
Tickets will first be offered to Royal Collection Trust email subscribers beginning on Monday, March 9, priced at £61 ($78). Remaining tickets will go on general sale Thursday, March 12, with advance tickets costing £71 ($91) for adults or £75 ($96) if purchased on the day. Tour groups will be limited to 25 visitors per entry time, and availability is expected to be restricted because of the short duration of the exhibition.
Rachel King (she/her) is a news writer at Town & Country. Before joining T&C, she spent nearly a decade as an editor at Fortune. Her work covering travel and lifestyle has appeared in Forbes, Observer, Robb Report, Cruise Critic, and Cool Hunting, among others. Originally from San Francisco, she lives in New York with her wife, their daughter, and a precocious labradoodle. Follow her on Instagram at @rk.passport.