King Charles Makes Major Change at Buckingham Palace That Marks Another Royal First

For the first time ever, visitors at Buckingham Palace will get a taste of what it's like to prepare to step foot onto the famous balcony that the royal family occupies during special events to look over the crowds that gather on The Mall below.

King Charles has chosen to open up the royal residence's East Wing to visitors this summer, a curator revealed during a preview of the sold-out tour attended by People—175 years after the addition was built by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert between 1847 and 1849.

6,000 paid slots quickly sold out for the East Wing Highlights Tour, where, beginning on July 15, guides will lead 20 or so visitors at a time down the Principal Corridor to view the impressive artwork—including the king's first official portrait, which is currently on display in the ballroom—before entering the Centre Room, where the family gathers before filing onto the balcony during events like Trooping the Colour.

The Yellow Drawing Room and 19 State Rooms, the latter of which are already open to the public with a standard ticket, are also on the itinerary.

According to Hello, the Centre Room, which also hosts the royals for coronations, weddings, and jubilees, is freshly restored. Visitors aren't allowed to take photographs or step onto the balcony itself, but will be able to peer through the famous net curtains and take in the view—which, according to People, is much different than it appears to be on television, with the balcony offering only a narrow space to stand and the Queen Victoria Monument blocking much of the view down the road ahead.

During events, a television is wheeled into the corner of the room so that they can see the full extent prior to stepping out, though the electronic device will not be on display for tourists.

The change follows a string of other adjustments made by the monarch since his coronation, including opening up Balmoral Castle to the public for the first time, a tourist expansion at his Sandringham Estate, and an access update at Windsor Castle that left local feathers ruffled.

Next: How King Charles' Latest Change Affects Female Members of the Royal Family