It was once the centrepiece of entertainment for princes and prime ministers.

Today, the magnificent organ that was played for Queen Victoria, will be heard again for the first time in almost 80 years.

The organ, now in the ballroom at Buckingham Palace, was originally designed for Brighton's Royal Pavilion.

It became a source of joy for the two royal lovebirds, Prince Albert playing while Queen Victoria sat at his side and turned the pages of music.

When the Queen tired of her seaside summer home, the organ was removed and shipped to London, where it fell into disuse.

Now restored to its former glory, the striking instrument will provide a musical backdrop to visitors to Buckingham Palace, which opens its doors to the public today for the summer.

Visitors to the palace's state rooms will be able to view an exhibition of more than 200 state gifts received from across the world during the Queen's 50-year reign.

The organ was built in 1818 by Henry Cephas Lincoln. It was described in the 1826 inventory of the Royal Pavilion as "a very superb organ" which was "celebrated both for great powers and peculiar delicacy of tone".

With 28 stops, three rows of keys and lyre desk fixed between two square-panelled pedestals, it was an ambitious instrument with more capabilities than most cathedral organs of the time.

In 1847, Queen Victoria decided to leave Brighton and use the more private surroundings of Osborne House on the Isle of Wight as her summer retreat. Along with the rest of the contents of the pavilion, the organ was moved to London in 56 crates.

The cases remained in store until Buckingham Palace's new State Ball and Concert Room was completed in 1855.

When the organ was installed in its new home it was greatly enlarged, incorporating a triumphal arch with arabesque decoration to the pipes, gilded medallions of Handel and plaster figures. The organ was first used at a State concert in 1856, which also included a chorus of 60 singers.

The Queen was suitably impressed. She noted in her journal how, during Handel's march from Judas Maccabeus, the organ was "particularly effective, making one think of the old Duke and all our heroes, many of whom were present".

The organ was used to entertain visitors long after Queen Victoria stopped using Buckingham Palace as her main residence following the death of the Prince Consort in 1861.

It fell silent in the Twenties and subsequently became unplayable after the wooden windbox shrank. Organ builder William Drake has restored the action and "workings" to their original condition.

A spokeswoman for the Royal Pavilion, who said the organ was one of two at the seaside palace, added: "Queen Victoria took both organs to London but later returned to present the one which had been in the Chapel Royal to the town. That is now in our music room. It is fully intact, though its bellows need releathering."