Every summer, the royal gates swing open and the red carpets roll out—not for visiting dignitaries, but for the public. Buckingham Palace—the King's official London residence—opens 19 of its State Rooms to visitors, inviting them to explore the spaces where knighthoods are conferred and presidents are welcomed. The walls are lined with masterpieces from the Royal Collection, including works by Rembrandt, Rubens, Canaletto and others. Why summer? Because the monarch is usually away. This year, the gates opened on 10 July and will remain open until 28 September.

The palace didn't always wear a crown. It began as Buckingham House in 1703, a noble home with no royal ties. That changed in 1837, when Queen Victoria moved in and made it the monarchy's principal residence. She brought in architects, added wings and gave the building a proper royal makeover. Fast forward to 1993—when the palace opened to the public for the first time. It began as a way to raise funds for repairing Windsor Castle after the 1992 fire. What started as a one-off initiative quickly became a summer tradition. Now, over 500,000 people visit the palace each season.