From the family heirlooms to the priceless artwork, Balmoral Castle is steeped in royal history.
But a photograph taken inside the drawing room today reveals how Her Majesty has also added her own modern touches.
For sitting atop one of the curved dark wood side tables is an old-school silver iPod mounted in a speaker dock. The gadgets will allow Her Majesty to listen to thousands of her favourite songs at the touch of a button, although it is not known which tunes have made it on to the royal playlist.
Elsewhere the decor is decidedly more traditional. Indeed some of the pieces, including a set of white figurine candlesticks, are believed to have been installed by the Queen’s great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria more than 150 years ago.
The picture was taken during a private audience between the Queen and Sir Peter Cosgrove, the Governor General of Australia and his wife, Lady Cosgrove, on Thursday. It offers the public a glimpse inside a second room in Balmoral just 24 hours after the monarch, 91, was pictured inside the library during another engagement.
Pictured: 1. Figurine candlesticks placed around the room that are believed to have been installed by Queen Victoria on the completion of Balmoral Castle in the mid-1800s; 2. A fireplace trim featuring a repeating thistle motif in a nod to Scotland’s national flower; 3. A painting of Queen Victoria and her trusted ghillie John Brown at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight; 4. An iPod and iPod dock speaker, although this model is believed to be out of date; 5. A selection of magazines, including the most recent issue of Country Life; 6. Wooden elephant bookends, a possible nod to grandson Prince Harry’s personal passion
In the centre of the bright and spacious room is an imposing marble fireplace and mantelpiece.
While the Queen has placed convection electric heaters in the hearths of other fireplaces in Balmoral, this one remains a log fire. It was lit today ahead of Her Majesty’s visitors’ arrival.
The trim inside the hearth features thistles – the national flower of Scotland – and is seen in a watercolour of the room comissioned by Queen Victoria in 1957, five years after she bought the Aberdeenshire property with her husband, Prince Albert.
The same painting, which can be viewed as part of the Royal Collection Trust’s online archives, also features a set of white figurine candlestick holders that appears strikingly similar to the one that remains in the room today.
Modern luxury: Sitting atop one of the curved dark wood side tables is an old-school silver iPod mounted in a speaker dock. The gadgets will allow Her Majesty to listen to thousands of her favourite songs at the touch of a button
Untouched by time: The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh photographed in the drawing room in 1976
The distinctive holders show figures standing in different positions. A pair of them have been placed on either side of the large ornate mirror that hangs above the fireplace.
In the centre of the mantelpiece is an ornate gold clock.
While this does not appear in the 1857 watercolour, it has been in situ for at least 40 years at it is seen in a photo of the Queen and Prince Philip taken in the room in 1976.
The photograph also shows that the frugal Queen has not changed the furniture, which includes two armchairs covered in a white fern-patterned fabric, and a mint-coloured fabric sofas.
The carpet also remains in the same – a solid green colour.
Among the artwork is a painting of Queen Victoria that hangs between the fireplace and one of the doors.
The moody image shows the monarch on horseback in front of Osborne House, the former royal residence in East Cowes, Isle of Wight.
Holding her horse is her trusted ghillie, John Brown, and on the bench in the background sit her daughters Princess Louise and Princess Helena.
It is believed to be a copy of an 1867 painting of the queen by Sir Edwin Landseer.
A selection of magazines and books are on display on a side table by the door. Among the titles is the latest issue of Country Life.
The books are held in place by a set of wooden elephant bookends, which could be a nod to her grandson Prince Harry’s efforts to help save the animals from extinction.
Nod to history: A painting of Queen Victoria at Osborne House, the former royal residence in East Cowes, Isle of Wight. She is seen with her trusted ghillie John Brown. This is believed to be a pastel copy of the painting by Sir Edwin Landseer
Heritage: The fireplace, believed to have been installed by Queen Victoria, features the thistle, the national flower of Scotland
Magazines: The latest issue of Country Life is believed to be among the selection on display on this wooden side table
Yesterday a photo taken of the Queen and the incoming Governor-General of Canada revealed how little had changed within the castle over the last 40 years.
The books, including Sir William Fraser’s history of the chiefs of the Grant clan, are in the same position as they were in 1977 when the Queen was photographed with Prince Philip. It appears she has had her armchairs and sofa re-upholstered in green fabric – while the old fabric has cleverly been made into the cushion covers seen today.
The monarch’s desk and chair are the same, however, they have been moved to one side to make way for a Samsung TV.
The latest photograph also shows some of the Queen’s favourite antiques, such as a gold mantlepiece clock and a wooden Newton’s cradle.