When The Queen’s coffin returns to London, it will lie at rest in Buckingham Palace, the official London residence of the Sovereign. Of the 775 rooms available to choose from, the Bow Room is where The Queen will spend her final time at Buckingham Palace.
The Bow Room is not often seen by the public. It is named because of a large window along one side of the room that faces the garden. The Bow Room is often used during State Visits. Decorated with King George III’s dinner and dessert service, The Queen would have lunch in the Bow Room with visiting dignitaries.
In addition the additions from King George III, the Bow Room, like so many rooms at Buckingham Palace is decorated with priceless antiques. Lights from Victorian times illuminate the room. Guests can take a seat on 19th century gilt wood armchairs that line the room. Ornamental mirrors are hung over the fireplace. Portraits in the room include those of Frederick William, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Princess Augusta of Cambridge, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Ernst, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, Princess Mary of Cambridge and Marie Alexandrina of Saxe-Altenburg, Queen of Hanover.
Situated beneath the State Apartments, the Bow Room is part of a group of semi-state apartments, that also include the 1844 Room and 1855 Room. Those two rooms are named after the years Tsar Nicholas I of Russia and Emperor Napoleon III of France visited. Visually, the Bow Room matches the look of the more well-known rooms of Buckingham Palace with its white marble columns, white walls and ceiling with gold painted designs and a deep red carpet throughout the room.
In recent years, guests for the Buckingham Palace Garden Parties passed through the Bow Room on their way to the celebration. The Queen would host three garden parties every year to honour and thank people from all walks of life for their positive contributions to British culture and society.
The Queen’s coffin will be in the Bow Room overnight before being transferred to Westminster Hall at Westminster Palace on Septembre 14th 2022 where she will lie in state until the early hours of September 19th 2022. Then there will be a procession to Westminster Abbey for the state funeral before The Queen’s coffin will travel to Windsor Castle where she will be buried with her family at St. George’s Chapel.
