Buckingham Palace shares rare look inside magnificent 'Picture Gallery' as major renovations begin

Buckingham Palace has begun work on renovating the Picture Gallery, one of the principal State Rooms at the palace, as part of its 10-year refurbishment plan.

• The Palace posted a before and after photo of the Picture Gallery, which has now had its 65 paintings removed for the first time in 45 years
• Work to be carried out includes replacing the almost 200-year-old roof and removal of ageing pipes and wires
• This follows royal news that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's family dog Lupo sadly passed away

Buckingham Palace shared a rare look inside one its State Rooms on Instagram on Monday as a new phase of its Reservicing Programme began. Earlier this year, it was revealed that the Palace will undergo a 10-year, £369million refurbishment plan – its first major overhaul since the 1950s.

Posting to the official royal family Instagram account, an image of the Picture Gallery can be seen as it was – covered in paintings by artists including Canaletto, Vermeer, Rembrandt and others – and as it is now – empty.

The Picture Gallery provides the backdrop for State Visits, receptions and other official events hosted by The Queen and other members of the Royal Family.

Work on the room will include replacing the Gallery's almost 200-year-old roof and removing ageing pipes and wires.

"In preparation for building work, 65 paintings have been removed from the walls of the Gallery for the first time in 45 years," the post read in part. "The removal of the Old Masters from the Picture Gallery is the culmination of months of planning.

"The works are now due to go on public display together at The Queen’s Gallery for the first time in a new @RoyalCollectionTrust exhibition, ‘Masterpieces from Buckingham Palace.’

"The Reservicing of Buckingham Palace is a ten-year programme of works to update the essential services to one of the UK's most iconic buildings."