Enfilade (architecture) - Royal Palaces

Royal Palaces

Royal palaces often had separate enfiladed state apartments for the King and Queen, as at the Palace of Versailles, with the Grand appartement du roi and the Grand appartement de la reine (not to mention the Petit appartement du roi), or at Hampton Court Palace. Such suites were also used for entertaining. Noblemen's houses, especially if a visit from the monarch was hoped for, also often feature enfiladed suites, as at Chatsworth House, Blenheim Palace, the Château de Louveciennes or Boughton House. The bedrooms in such suites were often only slept in on royal visits, though like many grand bedrooms before the 19th century, they might be used for other purposes. Other enfilades culminated in a room used as a throne room - the Palace of Westminster below comes into this category, as the monarch sits on a throne in the chamber of the House of Lords during the State Opening of Parliament.