Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

‘House of Queen’ Turned into Museum | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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London-London visitors will have the chance to discover a palace that was established four centuries ago by King James I to apologize to his spouse Queen Anne after cursing her for shooting his favorite hunting dog.

On its 400th anniversary, and after a restoration process that cost 3 million pounds, the house of the Queen opened its doors for free. The UNESCO has classified this palace as an international heritage as it features the most important drawings.

The house has maintained its royal velvety charm; however, restoration works have altered its furniture to provide its visitors with comfort.

Asharq Al-Awsat visited the palace a week before its official opening and noticed that this new museum will offer people the opportunity to travel through British history starting from the 17th century.

*Marital conflicts led to establish a royal palace
King James I established this palace and offered it to his spouse Queen Anne as an apology for killing the dog during a hunting trip. However, Queen Anne passed away in 1619 before the completion of the first floor of the palace. The construction of this house was completed in 1638 under the directives of Henrietta Maria, spouse of King Charles I. The palace has witnessed many restoration operations since then.

*Construction emphasizing the romance of Venice and the charm of the Vatican
Queen Anne chose the young British Architect Endigo Jones to design her palace 400 years ago; Jones was inspired by a trip he had made to Italy; therefore, the house is dominated by an Italian spirit with its wide rooms featuring squares of Rome and its round stairs resembling those of the Vatican. Architecture of this palace was mainly inspired by the villas of Andrea Palladio in Venice.

This palace was reopened as one of the royal museums of Greenwich, with a new bouquet of artworks like paintings for the most renowned artists in the world.

The main hall of the royal house was completed in 1635; it is a square designed with fine details and surrounded with two spiral stairs. The roof of this square is decorated with a painting featuring gold butterflies made of pure gold by Richard Wright.

Had Queen Anne would have the chance to wander in her house, she would have felt so proud of its beauty. This palace has become an atelier for a number of the best and most beautiful art pieces ever.