Buckingham Palace gardens open to the public for picnics on the Queen's lawn

Buckingham Palace has opened its famous gardens, allowing visitors to picnic on the Queen's back lawns.

Members of the public can now explore the historic 15-hectare grounds until September.

Ticketholders have the opportunity to explore a route taking in the herbaceous border, plane trees planted by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and views of the island and its beehives across the lake. 

Other highlights include the collection of mulberry trees. Leaves from the trees, along with the garden's hawthorn, lemon verbena and bay trees, are used as botanicals in Buckingham Palace gin.

The gardens date to the 1820s when George IV turned Buckingham House into a palace. 

Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of Queen Elizabeth II.

The only other time the palace lawns have been open in such a way was during the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

When the Royal Collection Trust announced plans to open the gardens for picnics, high demand forced the website to crash.

Visitors can bring their own food and drinks, or indulge in some of the refreshments on offer, all while talking in a view of one of the most famous buildings in the world.

Newly-launched treats for sale by the Trust include strawberry and champagne jam and Buckingham Palace orange and lemon shortbread.

Summertime picnic-inspired products are also for sale, featuring a design inspired by royal ceremonies, and include a picnic blanket, a sandwich bag, cotton napkins and a reusable water bottle.

The Trust, which manages the royal residences and the Queen's art collections, has called the move a "once in a lifetime opportunity to picnic on the palace lawn" with visitors granted "unprecedented freedom".

Guided tours are also on offer allowing guests to explore other parts of the garden, including the rose garden, the wildflower meadow and the summer house.