do uzupełnienia - 10.06.2011

( 788137d ) A general view of the Summer Opening exhibition at Buckingham Palace Visitors can experience the Ballroom set up for a state Banquet for the first time, Buckingham Palace, London, Britain - 24 Jul 2008 For the summer 2008 opening, visitors to Buckingham Palace can experience the spectacle of the ballroom set up for a state banquet, with an enormous dining table laid out with hundreds of pieces of rare cutlery, glasses and table decorations. This will allow visitors to experience being a guest at an event normally reserved for visiting presidents, royalty and dignitaries. During the Queen's reign 77 state banquets have been held at Buckingham Palace, 18 at Windsor Castle and two at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Scotland. As part of the palace ballroom exhibit, pieces from the Grand Service - a silver gilt dinner service made for the Prince of Wales, later George IV, in 1811 for GBP 60,000 - have been laid out for 89 guests. Two buffet displays either side of the table feature a range of items including the Shield of Achilles - a large dish from the 1821 coronation banquet of George IV, and the altar dish used at the coronation of Charles II in 1661.