Interior designer and artist Ashley Hicks presents his photographs and description of the interior design of Buckingham Palace, home of Britain's royal family since 1837. An important representation of Regency, Victorian, and Edwardian styles, the palace is the work of such noted architects as John Nash and Sir Aston Webb. Hicks records the formal spaces with vibrancy, capturing the magnificent rooms furnished with treasures from the Royal Collection.
Starting at the Grand Staircase, Hicks leads us through the state rooms, which include the White Drawing Room and the Blue Drawing Room that both overlook the palace gardens; the Ballroom, which is the setting for twenty investiture ceremonies each year; and the Throne Room, used by Queen Victoria for spectacular costume balls in the 1840s. The long, skylit Picture Gallery is hung with important works of art from the Royal Collection by Rembrandt van Rijn, Peter Paul Rubens, Nicolas Poussin, Anthony van Dyck, Johannes Vermeer, and Canaletto, among others. Decorative furnishings from George IV's exotic Brighton Pavilion lend a fanciful turn to many of the rooms.
"We’ve seen a lot of the exterior of Buckingham Palace, from Queen Elizabeth’s addresses to various royal baby announcements, but rarely do we get such an intimate look at its interiors. Designer Ashley Hicks takes us inside the palace for a look at where we get a tour of the truly sumptuous rooms (the White Drawing Room, the Throne Room, the Picture Gallery) in Regency, Victorian, and Edwardian styles that span the monarchs." —New York Magazine
"Royal watchers, history buffs and interior design aficionados alike will enjoy this look at the iconic home of Britain’s royal family. Interior designer Ashley Hicks (a grandson of Lord Mountbatten and brother of lifestyle entrepreneur India Hicks, who was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana) presents his own photographs of the castle’s staterooms, hallways and galleries, and describes the décor and the esteemed history of each. This lavish volume underscores the magnificence of these spaces and provides a strong measure of majesty for readers (especially those who, like me, are anxiously waiting for Season 3 of The Crown to air)." —Design NJ
"Art publishing in 2018 produced a variety of interesting possibilities for the art lover on your Christmas list. Any fan of the British royal family will love Buckingham Palace" —Marina Times
