The Royal Palace Stockholm

Kungliga Slottet has been a Royal Palace for the last 250 years. Situated in the old town it is used mainly for official receptions by the Monarchy. It is split into five different museums which are open to the public. The Royal Chapel is free to enter but separate entrance fees are charged for all sections of the Palace. Knowing I would be visiting a number of museums etc I bought a 3 day Stockholm pass which saved me a lot of money.

One of the many guards on duty. This must be one of the few places in Europe where your bags are not searched on entry which surprised me.

This is the Hall of State. Up until 1975 the King opened parliament with a formal ceremony held here but now the opening ceremony takes place in Parliament. The Hall of State is still used on other state occasions.

The Silver throne was a gift to Queen Kristina for her coronation in 1650.

A beautiful staircase leading to the State Apartments. The Royal family live at Drottningholm Palace but the State apartments here are still used. Gala banquets are held here during State visits and the Nobel laureates are invited here to dinner on the day after receiving their awards in the Concert Hall.

This is the long gallery  where the banquets are held. The long table is placed in here and can accommodate up to 170 guests. The table is decorated with 18th and 19th Swedish and French silver.

This is called the White Sea Hall and is used for welcoming guests and as a drawing room after a banquet. It looks a bit sparse but I believe that more furniture is added when the room is going to be used.

The portraits in these rooms are all of the Royal Family in the 20th century.

The richly decorated chapel holds services for employees of the Royal Court every Sunday.

Musical concerts are also held here.

The pew ends were made for the old'Three Crowns Castle chapel in the mid 1600s. Salvaged from the flames in 1697 they were installed in the new chapel in the 19th century.

This is the entrance to the Palace with the chapel on this side and the treasury in the cellar on the other side. I think the treasury was one of my favourite places but unfortunately no photography was allowed.