THE Queen addressed the nation about the coronavirus pandemic in a rare televised speech yesterday.
And in doing so she gave royal fans a peek inside one of the most frequently used rooms at Windsor Castle.
The White Drawing room was originally commissioned by King George IV who was known for his opulent taste in interiors.
It is now used to host meetings by the Queen and has been the setting for some of her Christmas Day speeches.
It was also the backdrop for the official wedding photographs of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank in October 2018.
Here Fabulous Digital reveals what’s inside the office…
1. Let there be light
A candelabra can also be spotted on top of the ornate cabinet just behind Her Majesty.
The bronze light fitting features a classic female figurine, and is actually part of a set of four.
Designed by Etienne Falconet each pair is composed of a faun and mymph holding a cornucopia filled with grapes and vine leaves.
Two remain at Windsor castle in the White drawing room, while the other two are stood in the drawing room of the same name at Buckingham Palace.
2. Duchy door
The walls and doors inside the white drawing room were designed by Morel & Seddon who were the main suppliers of furnishings to George VI.
The King did an extensive refurbishment of Windsor castle between 1827-1830 seeing many walls enclosed by gilt frames and gold brocade which can be seen here.
3. Floral furnishings
The oak cabinet seen in behind the Queen is one of the oldest pieces in the room, dating back to 1753.
The ornate piece of furniture was designed by Martin Carlin.
It is veneered with tulipwood, purplewood, mahogany and boxwood; fitted with brocatello marble, elaborately chased gilt bronze mounts and inset with ten soft-paste porcelain plaques.
The decor is typical of George IV’s taste for the colourful and ornate.
4. Sitting pretty
In keeping with its name, most of the furniture in the drawing room is white including the sofa which can be seen behind the Queen.
The cushy two-seater is a far more informal seat, compared to much of the Morel & Seddon guilt furniture in the palace.
It is part of a four-piece suite including an identical settee and two matching arm chairs sat on the other side of the screen.
5. Picture perfect
Hanging above the cabinet is a portrait of one of the Queen’s ancestors.
Painted by Benjamin West, it depicts the son of the Queen’s great-great-great grandfather King George III.
Prince Octavius died at just four-years-old after contracting smallpox.
6. This little light of mine
As is typical with the Queen’s televised speeches, the Queen relied on lamp light rather than overhead lights for a more intimate setting.
The monarch and Prince Philip posed by that very same lamp for their ruby wedding anniversary back in 1987.
7. Symbol of unity
Sat on the desk was a ceramic planter filled with a variety of miniature red roses.
The Tudor Rose has been an English emblem since the War of the Roses and represents unity – something that is poignant in the current situation.
8. Royal writing
For her speech, the Queen was sat at a writing desk as she typically does during the majority of her televised speeches.
The very same desk has been spotted frequently during Her Majesty’s Christmas Day speeches.
Typically it would be decorated with family photographs, however, this time the desk remained free of personal effects.
9. Screen Queen
Sat behind the desk is a folding screen, decorated with a variety of illustrations of the royal palaces and gold gilt.
Mainly decorative, the screen is used as a “room separator” and is used primarily to divide larger rooms.
10. Magic carpet
The room is covered with a carpet that survived the great fire of Windsor castle back in 1992.
Produced by Devon-based Axminster Carpets, it had originally been fitted in the Green Drawing room during the reign of Queen Victoria in 1851.
11. Taking note
This is a regular on Her Majesty’s desk and is likely to be filled with Parker fountain pens.
The stationer holds not one but two royal warrants. It was granted one by the Queen in 1962, and again in 1990 by Prince Charles.
In other royal news, we told you how George and Charlotte send “chatty” videos to the Queen during lockdown.
And Prince William is ‘gravely concerned’ at lack of support for NHS workers battling coronavirus as his charities offer help.
It has also been revealed that the Queen feeds her corgis Tesco basic dog food which costs just 45p.
