The late Queen's private rooms at Holyroodhouse are opening up to the public, allowing them unprecedented glimpses into the life of Her Late Majesty.
Around the new millennium, Queen Elizabeth was gifted with a teddy bear that she named Haddington, after a town in Scotland. She became very fond of the bear, and whenever she travelled to her Scottish residence, she had specific requests for how the toy should be displayed.
Emma Stead, the curator for Holyroodhouse, explained: "The Queen was given him as a gift and after that she asked that whenever she arrived here, he be placed in that particular position on the sofa awaiting her arrival. She had a few personal objects that she liked to be placed quite precisely."
This wasn't the only item that the late Queen wanted to be displayed in certain ways. Emma added: "Another one is the pin cushion just to the left of the fireplace, which was presented to her when she attended the Commonwealth Games in 1986 in Edinburgh, and it has all the badges of the represented countries who took part."
© PA Images via Getty ImagesStaff who were decorating the palace would often look at previous photos of the room to make sure that everything was in its proper place. "All we can say is the Queen was very particular and that always would have gone there," learning curator Richard Williams said.
"I know from staff colleagues in Windsor that if they were going to redecorate her private rooms, they would take photos of everything so that they could put things back in the exact spot."
Other rooms in the Palace
Further items and rooms uncovered include a writing desk, which is where Her Late Majesty used to sit to do her work. The curator has decided to keep two red despatch boxes out on display, and these iconic red leather briefcases are used by the British monarch to house top-secret government papers.
In addition to these, the desk features fountain pens and ink, a paper weight and official headed paper.
© Getty ImagesA poignant room is the Palace's tiny breakfast room, where the late Queen used to have her morning meal alongside her husband, the late Duke of Edinburgh. Despite the grandeur of the room, a minute breakfast table sat in its centre, providing an intimate atmosphere for the royal couple.
Holyroodhouse is a tourist hotspot located at the base of Edinburgh's famous Royal Mile, and it serves as the official Scottish residence of the British monarch. As well as being a choice spot for royal fans, it is a working palace and plays host to formal ceremonies, state affairs, and the King's annual Holyrood Week celebrations.
