Step inside the Entrance Hall at Clarence House

The Duchess of Cornwall offered royal fans a rare view of the ground floor corridor of Clarence House when she held a virtual tree decorating event for children last week. 

Camilla, 73, held the event for the children and families supported by Helen and Douglas House children’s hospice, in Oxfordshire, online, assisted by assistant equerry Captain Charles Ross. 

Images released from the event reveal how Camilla situated herself in the ground floor corridor, or entrance hall, of the London home she shares with Prince Charles, 72. 

The Duchess of Cornwall offered royal fans a rare view of the ground floor corridor of Clarence House when she held a virtual tree decorating event for children last week. Pictured: 1. An 18th century portrait of Augusta, Princess of Wales; 2. A painting of the meeting between King Henry V and the Queen of France; 3. A Persian carpet; 4. The Queen Mother’s garter banner; 5. A glass-fronted display cabinet containing pieces from the ‘King of Hanover’ dinner set ordered by King George III 

It is the first room visitors see when they step through the front door and leads onto The Lancaster Room, The Morning Room and The Library, but one that is rarely chosen for royal engagements. 

Here, a closer look at the treasures it contains.  

1. PORTRAIT OF AUGUSTA, PRINCESS OF WALES c.1760-8

Portrait: Princess Augusta of Wales (1719-72), mother of King George III and wife of Prince Frederick of Wales, son of King George II. The painting was bought by Queen Mary, the current Queen's grandmother, at a Sotheby's auction in 1936

Portrait: Princess Augusta of Wales (1719-72), mother of King George III and wife of Prince Frederick of Wales, son of King George II. The painting was bought by Queen Mary, the current Queen’s grandmother, at a Sotheby’s auction in 1936

Hanging on the wall to Camilla’s right, just next to the door to The Library, is a portrait of Princess Augusta of Wales (1719-72), mother of King George III and wife of Prince Frederick of Wales, son of King George II. The portrait was commissioned by the Earl of Bute in 1764.   

The sitter is shown wearing pink silk dress with white lace cuffs and black chiffon shawl and holding a green fringe parasol; in landscape with classical urn on column to right and lake to left. It was bought by Queen Mary, the Queen’s grandmother, at a Sotheby’s auction in 1936.

2. PAINTING OF THE MEETING BETWEEN HENRY V AND THE QUEEN OF FRANCE, c.1728

A meeting: Thought to have been acquired by Queen Caroline, the painting shows Henry V, in armour and cloak, greeting the Queen, wearing a blue cloak embroidered with fleur-de-lis, and attended on the left by her daughter, Catherine

A meeting: Thought to have been acquired by Queen Caroline, the painting shows Henry V, in armour and cloak, greeting the Queen, wearing a blue cloak embroidered with fleur-de-lis, and attended on the left by her daughter, Catherine

On the wall behind Camilla, above The Dining Room door, is a painting of the meeting between King Henry V and the Queen of France. 

Thought to have been acquired by Queen Caroline, the painting shows Henry V, in armour and cloak, with his brother and other attendants to the right, greeting the Queen, wearing a blue cloak embroidered with fleur-de-lis, and attended on the left by her daughter, Catherine, and other ladies. 

It was painted by William Kent, who became a leading architect and designer in England after years of training in Italy. It is thought it hung in the dressing room of Queen Caroline, wife of King George II. 

3. PERSIAN CARPET

Sumptuous: The Persian carpet at Camilla's feet has a centre field of navy blue background that is beautifully decorated

Sumptuous: The Persian carpet at Camilla’s feet has a centre field of navy blue background that is beautifully decorated

Placed along the length of the corridor is a series of Persian wool carpets. Little is known about the origin but it shows a centre field of navy blue background decorated with Herati pattern of flower heads, lattice-work and vases. Six guard borders, main border decorated with flowers, foliage and scrolls. 

4. THE QUEEN MOTHER’S GARTER BANNER

Remembered: Dominating the entrance hall - and one of the first things guests see when they walk through the door - is the Queen Mother's Garter Banner, which depicts the Queen Mother's coat of arms

Remembered: Dominating the entrance hall – and one of the first things guests see when they walk through the door – is the Queen Mother’s Garter Banner, which depicts the Queen Mother’s coat of arms

Clarence House is the former home of the Queen Mother, Prince Charles’s beloved grandmother, and several nods to her remain throughout. Dominating the entrance hall – and one of the first things guests see when they walk through the door – is the Queen Mother’s Garter Banner. 

At the far end of the Entrance Hall hangs The Queen Mother’s Garter Banner. Garter Banners belong to Knights and Ladies of The Order of the Garter – the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry in Britain. 

The Queen Mother’s coat of arms combined the Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom with the arms of her father, the Earl of Strathmore. The Royal coat of arms consists of three golden lions on a red background (for England), a red lion on a golden background (for Scotland), and a golden harp on a blue background (for Ireland). The Queen Mother’s family crest, of the Bowes-Lyons, features two quarters showing blue lions (Lyons) and two quarters showing three stringed bows (Bowes).  

5. KING OF HANOVER DINNER SERVICE 

Dinner service: Pieces from the 'King of Hanover' dinner service which each depict a different mythological scene

Dinner service: Pieces from the ‘King of Hanover’ dinner service which each depict a different mythological scene

On the back wall of the corridor is a large glass-fronted display cabinet containing pieces from the ‘King of Hanover’ dinner service of Worcester porcelain (c.1795). The dinner service is so named because it is understood to have been ordered by George III. One of his titles was Earl of Hanover. Each plate in the service has a different mythological scene.