One of the most expensive dinner services ever to be produced by Sèvres sits proudly in a glass case at the new exhibition French Porcelain for English Palaces at the Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace. The exquisite royal blue (beau blu) and gold service, decorated by one of the finest ceramic artists (Dodin) of the time, was first commissioned by Louis XVI for his personal use at Versailles. Each plate cost 480 livres, to put that price into perspective – the average annual salary of a flower painter at the factory was approximately 300 livres. It took 20 years for the service to be completed.

The dinner service is just one of 300 pieces in the exhibition. All the pieces on show have come from Royal residences in the UK and are used for State Visits and ceremonial occasions.

One of Her Majesty the Queen’s most recent acquisitions was in 2004, it is a white and gold vase which completes a garniture of three mounted vases (Vase Duplessis a bandeau and vases Duplessis a monter) once owned by Marie-Antoinette in 1779. The set of three was split up when two of the smaller vases were purchased by George lV in 1817. The Queen reunited this set for the first time since the French Revolution.

These are just two of the main highlights, and the other items are by no means less remarkable. As I went around the exhibition, I was fascinated by the detail of the work in the fine painting, gilding and modelling. And the stories behind the porcelain (which you can listen to on the audio guide) were equally intriguing. There’s a pot-pourri vase which was bought by Louis XV’s mistress, Madame de Pompadour, and another vase in the deep royal blue with a portrait medallion of Louis XV purchased by Madame du Barry as his new mistress.

It was the French royal family in the 18th Century who had a passion for the fine porcelain and gave it royal approval, and then it was George lV who acquired Sèvres pieces for his palaces in England.

French Porcelain for English Palaces: Sèvres from the Royal Collection is at the Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace until October 11, 10am to 5.30pm. Tickets: £8.50- £4.25. www.royalcollection.org.uk