Since 1993, Buckingham Palace, home of Britain's kings and queens for the last 150 years and administrative headquarters of the monarchy, has opened its doors to the public for two months in the summer. This is the official guide book. It contains a text on the long history of the house before it became the palace of Queen Victoria, its transformation since then and a description of the running of the palace today. It describes the rooms open to the public, outlines their history and their use, and reveals the paintings, furniture and porceain within the rooms, previously unseen by most. The book also includes a complete list of all the treasures contained in the throne room, the state dining room, the blue drawing room, and the picture gallery as well as many others, and reveals the settings in which the state occasions are held.