Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Buckingham Palace

This post is late.  
I've been having internet issues.
I hope to get caught up with my posts shortly.

I'm late with this photo,  While at Hampton Court I chanced upon the shop run by the Royal School of Needlework.  I couldn't walk way from there empty-handed now, could I?

Today was a different kind of day.  
We had tickets for Buckingham Palace, but were not able to get all three tickets for the same time.  So Mom and my sister took off this morning, while I ran some errands.

 Running errands in London, means lots of Underground trips – at least for me.  Charing Cross Station had a nice display of posters.  I just wish I could have taken photos without the glare of the overhead lights.

 Embankment had not one, but two of these little kiosks on the platforms.  They sell cigarettes, magazines, and candy – lots of candy!

In the afternoon I headed over the Buckingham Palace.  For the month of August, while Queen Elizabeth is up in Scotland, it is possible to tour the State Rooms.  And that’s what I did.  Of course it was a NO  PHOTOGRAPHY tour.  All I can say is that each room was sumptuously decorated.  Amazing ceilings, furniture, paintings and furnishings.  I cannot imagine living and entertaining in that fashion.

In addition there was a special exhibition of Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation as this is the  60th anniversary.  A great exhibition with no holds barred – QE II’s coronation gown with its incredible embroidery, the regal purple robes, the crown.  Anything and everything to do with the Coronation was on display – the invitation, suggested dress hints, the program, the regalia, and photos – lots of photos.  I quite enjoyed that.

Lastly, I was part of a 45 minute tour of the Palace Gardens.  They are quite large – 36 acres so I had high expectations.  I admit to being disappointed. Once again there was no photography allowed – but there was not all that much to photograph either – a tea room, a small rose garden, a tennis court. The gardens and palace are surrounded on all sides by large noisy streets.  Even though they’ve done their best to mask the noise and outside world, I found the gardens to disturbingly noisy.

Even the Palace gift shop is cashing in on the birth of Prince George! 

I thought that the plush corgis were by far and away the cutest things for sale.  Just don't know what the cats would think if I brought one home!


In the evening the three of us took a walk along the Thames and had dinner at Gordon Ramsey’s restaurant, The Narrow. The food was okay – not but not great.  Honestly for £20 I expected my piece of plaice to be boneless – it wasn’t. 

9 comments:

Giovanna said...

That's a wonderful catch of books from the RSN. I'd love to see the Coronation exhibition, it looks quite wonderful from the pictures posted on the official site...

Chris said...

Great books and I love your collages of the day to day things like the posters and the newsagents. So few people stop and look around.
So sad that the tours of the day were not on the stellar level but great info.

Vickie said...

Oh man! The Coronation Exhibit must have been spectacular.
Madeleine and I have commented on the corgis many times. Wishing they were poodles. ;) Did you know she has owned more than 30 corgis during her reign?

Ann at Beadlework. said...

I love your choices from the Royal School of Needlework shop. I'm not a fan of the said chef, his reputation goes up and down over here.

Andrea said...

Buckingham Palace is fascinating isn't it?
I went last year and all of the Queens diamonds were on display. A blacked out room with just glass cabinets that were lit up. It was jaw-dropping.

Barb said...

That must have been an amazing place to visit!

Margaret said...

Wow, you had good timing in terms of the Queen being gone. So cool to get to see so much! Too bad you couldn't get tickets for the same time though. Love seeing the memorabilia too.

Annette-California said...

The Coronation exhibit sounded incredible - especially the queens gown. LOVE that you found a store of RSN - WOOOOOOW! Love all you bought, Good Girl:)What a dream to visit the inside of Buckingham palace. the candy photo looked very cheerful lol. love Annette

Melanie said...

Ooooo, what a special treat! State rooms! I BET it was amazing. Odd about the gardens though. Maybe she doesn't spend much time there so they haven't done much with it.
The Corgis are the cutest. :)