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A New Route Through The Palace
This summer marked the opening of Family Treasures, a new visitor route through the Palace that extends into five additional rooms, many of which have previously remained private. Guests can step through the Duke’s Bar and into a series of rooms, including the Family Dining Room, the Smoking Room, and the Duchess’s Sitting Room. The highlight of the new journey is the Grand Cabinet, a room of extraordinary opulence traditionally reserved only for the family’s most important occasions. Walking this path allows you to experience the splendour of the Palace much as dukes, duchesses, and visiting royalty once did.
Discovering Hidden Masterpieces
Each room hosts remarkable works of art and craftsmanship, with priceless pieces owned by previous Dukes on display. In the corridor to the Smoking Room, a Lalique fire screen captures attention with its fine glasswork, alongside a commanding portrait of the 9th Duke of Marlborough by Alfred Munnings. The Dining Room offers further treasures: a chimney piece designed by Sir John Vanbrugh and carved by Grinling Gibbons exemplifies the artistry of the early 18th century, while a rare skeleton timepiece from the early 19th century, attributed to John Moxon, provides a striking display of horological ingenuity.
Stories in Paint and Tapestry
The Smoking Room houses two of the most captivating highlights of the experience. The tapestries depicting the life of Alexander the Great, acquired by the 1st Duke, cover the walls with rich detail and storytelling. Also displayed is George Stubbs’ celebrated portrait of a tigress, presented to the 4th Duke by Clive of India. The Duchess’s Sitting Room adds another layer of fascination, with portraits of two of the 9th Duke’s wives—Gladys Deacon by Giovanni Boldini and Consuelo Balsan by Ambrose McEvoy—alongside Sir Winston Churchill’s painting Two Ladies in a Gondola in Venice. An unusual clock by Benjamin Vulliamy, dating to 1787, further enriches the room’s collection.
The Granduer of the Grand Cabinet
The journey culminates in the Grand Cabinet, a space that combines elegance with historical intrigue. Over the years, this room has served as a drawing room, sitting room, and even a schoolroom for the 10th Duke’s children. Today, it displays treasures such as a Louis XVI-style gilt bronze and crystal chandelier and a Sèvres chamber pot painted in 1759 by François Binet, reputed to have once belonged to Marie Antoinette. Together with the portraits, furniture, and decorative pieces, the Grand Cabinet provides a fitting conclusion to the new route—offering a glimpse into centuries of family history within Britain’s greatest Palace.
Visit the Family Treasures
The Family Treasures collection is open now, and free with a valid Palace Pass. Book now to see the priceless masterpieces up close.
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