Queen's Gallery opens this week

The finial is made from hand-pressed copper

The Queen's Gallery, the most significant addition to Buckingham Palace since the nineteenth century opens this week.

A decorative finial in the shape of a honeysuckle flower has been fixed to the roof above the new entrance.

It is one of the final additions before the Queen officially opens the building tomorrow.

Click here to watch Nick Higham's report on the Queen and her portrait painters.

The £20m venue will host an exhibition of some of its finest works entitled Royal Treasures: A Golden Jubilee Celebration.

Designed by architects John Simpson and Partners, the new gallery will provide three-and-a-half times as much display space as before.

The original building, now known as the Nash Gallery, was built in 1831 by John Nash and converted into a private chapel for Queen Victoria 12 years later.

It was destroyed in an air raid in 1940 but at the suggestion of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, it was redeveloped as a gallery for the royal collection in 1962.

The development of the gallery is part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations, to mark the Queen's 50 years on the throne.

The royal collection, which many people says is among the best art collections in the world, is held in trust by the Queen as sovereign for her successors and the nation.

Striking

It contains works reflecting the personal tastes of monarchs over the last 500 years.

The new Queen's Gallery will be approached through a striking portico with 10 solid Portland stone columns leading to a double-height entrance hall and staircase.

On the upper level there will be seven galleries displaying works of art.

There will also be a multimedia room on the lower level with seven computer kiosks providing information about items in the collection.

The inaugural exhibition of the Royal Treasures will feature 450 works of art.

The exhibition will include paintings, drawings and watercolours, as well as furniture, sculpture, armour and jewellery.

Admission information: Open from 22 May 2002 until 12 January 2003, 10:00 - 17:30 every day (last admission 16:30) Please note that from 1 October the exhibition will be used by school and study groups on Mondays. Entry is by timed ticket. Pre-booked tickets are available from www.the-royal-collection.com/royaltickets and the booking line (+44) (0)20 7321 2233.

Click here for the Queen's Gallery ticket web site

Ticket prices: Adults- £6.50 Over 60- £5.00 Under 17- £3.00 Family (2 adults & 2 under 17s) - £16.00 Under 5- Free