The Queen’s Gallery at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, completed in November 2002, was designed by Benjamin Tindall Architects.

Their central visual theme is a celebration of The Queen’s Golden Jubilee, expressed through a series of arches and screens that lead visitors from the Gallery entrance to the exhibition spaces beyond.

The architects collaborated with a number of artists and specialist makers to create permanent and functional works both within and outside the Gallery.

A new stone arched entrance, presided over by Scotland’s heraldic lion, unites the former school and church buildings. The arch is decorated with a carved garland of Scottish flowers, including daisies and thistles. Monumental entrance doors have gilded bronze hinges incorporating the Scottish lion and unicorn.

The upper hinges are made as golden boughs of flowering native trees – chestnut and laburnum, oak, rowan and hawthorn. At night, the shape of the arch is reflected by the series of bows created by glass lights set into the stone paving.

Inside, a decorated glass screen divides the reception area from the main Gallery space beyond, where the soaring ceiling incorporates the church’s original roof trusses to dramatic effect. The exhibition floor above is reached by lift or by the spectacular curved staircase of native timber.

The Gallery can be used as a single space or may be divided into smaller interconnecting units, allowing maximum flexibility to show a diverse range of objects from the Royal Collection.

Downstairs computer screens give access to the Royal Collection’s e-Gallery. This provides an interactive electronic version of exhibition catalogues and information about other works from the Royal Collection on display at the Palace.