Fire-damaged King's Apartments reopen
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Queen is this afternoon due to reopen the seventeenth- century King's Apartments at Hampton Court Palace which have been restored after being damaged by fire in Easter 1986, writes Debbie Smith.
The official opening marks the end of a pounds 10m project, funded by the Government, to return the apartments, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, to their original state. The interiors have been refurbished as they were in 1700.
Thousands of fragments saved from the original building have been assimilated into the restoration. The ceiling of the Cartoon Gallery, originally designed to house Raphael's work bought by Charles I, which collapsed in the fire, has been renewed.
To coincide with the opening, Hampton Court is introducing interpreters, to give visitors information, wearing courtiers' costumes of the early eighteenth century.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments