Editing Palace of Westminster (section)

==== Robing Room ====
[[File:Royal Robing Room, Palace of Westminster.jpg|thumb|alt=See adjacent text.|The Sovereign prepares for the State Opening of Parliament in the Robing Room. Behind is the Chair of State.]]
[[File:House of Lords (Robing Room) 1897.jpg|thumb|The robing room in 1897]]

The Robing Room lies at the southern end of the palace's north-south axis, and occupies the centre of the south front, overlooking [[Victoria Tower Gardens]].<ref name="Wilson, pp. 8-9">[[#Wilson|Wilson (2005)]], pp. 8–9.</ref> It is where the Sovereign prepares for the State Opening of Parliament by changing into their official robes and putting on the [[Imperial State Crown]].<ref name="Robing Room">{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/architecture/palace-s-interiors/robing-room/ |title=Architecture of the Palace: The Robing Room |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=5 August 2010}}</ref> The focus of the room is the chair of state, which sits on a dais of three steps under a canopy adorned with the arms and floral emblems of England, Scotland and Ireland. A panel of purple velvet forms the backdrop to the chair, embroidered by the [[Royal School of Needlework]] with the royal arms, surrounded by stars and ''VR'' monograms.<ref name="Lords Route tour" /> Edward Barry designed both the chair—the cushion and back of which are also embroidered—and the ornate marble fireplace across the room, which features gilded statuettes of [[Saint George]] and [[Saint Michael]].<ref name="Wilson, pp. 8-9" />

The decorative theme of the room is the legend of [[King Arthur]], considered by many Victorians the source of their nationhood.<ref name="Field, p. 192">[[#Field|Field (2002)]], p. 192.</ref> Five frescoes painted by [[William Dyce]] between 1848 and 1864 cover the walls, depicting allegorical scenes from the legend. Each scene represents a chivalric virtue; the largest, between the two doors, is titled ''Admission of Sir Tristram to the Round Table'' and illustrates the virtue of Hospitality.<ref name="Lords Route tour" /> Seven were originally commissioned but the remaining two paintings were not carried out due to the artist's death, and on the wallpapered panels flanking the Chair of State hang oil portraits of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert by [[Franz Xaver Winterhalter]].<ref name="Wilson, pp. 8-9" />{{#tag:ref|Depicted (clockwise) are the virtues of Courtesy, Religion, Generosity, Hospitality and Mercy. The two missing frescoes were meant to depict Fidelity and Courage.<ref name="Guide, p. 26">[[#Guide|''Guide to the Palace of Westminster'']], p. 26.</ref> Queen Victoria's portrait can be seen in the Parliamentary website.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/worksofart/artwork/unknown/queen-victoria--1819-1901-/3154 |title=Queen Victoria (1819–1901) |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=5 August 2010}}</ref>|group=note}} Other decorations in the room are also inspired by the Arthurian legend, namely a series of 18 bas-reliefs beneath the paintings, carved in oak by [[Henry Hugh Armstead]],<ref name="Lords Route tour" /> and the frieze running below the ceiling, which displays the attributed coats of arms of the [[Knights of the Round Table]].<ref name="Guide, p. 26" /> The ceiling itself is decorated with heraldic badges, as is the border of the wooden floor<ref name="Guide, p. 28" />—which, as can be seen in the adjacent image, is left exposed by the carpeting.

The Robing Room was briefly used as the House of Lords' meeting chamber while the House of Lords Chamber was occupied by the House of Commons, whose chamber had been destroyed by [[the Blitz]] in 1941.