Local kids got the chance to walk the halls of Buckingham Palace last week after doors were opened exclusively for school groups during the very first Schools Week initiative.

Home-schooled pupils from Reading, who are part of the home education organisation Home-Grown Tutoring, took part in the event and enjoyed Coronation-themed educational activities in the State Rooms of Buckingham Palace, the Royal Mews, and The Queen’s Gallery, London.

With Home-Grown Tutoring students usually joining lessons online, the school trip was an opportunity for the pupils and their families to get together. The group benefitted from having the visitor route to themselves to discover more about the Coronation's past and present.

The young people, aged between four and 18, also saw the precious objects on display in the State Rooms, including the Throne Room, the Blue Drawing Room, and the Music Room.

Outside, pupils got the chance to look around the grounds and tried their hand at landscape drawing and watercolour painting.

Learning Manager at Royal Collection Trust Will Graham said: “Although school groups have visited Buckingham Palace for many years, we have never had the opportunity to have school pupils in on their own before, so having the State Rooms to themselves has been a real treat.”