We arrived in London at 12.30pm on a very cold but sunny day. We had just over an hour to have some lunch and a wander round before our first tour at the Queen's Gallery.
Buckingham Palace...
Palace and guard...
Palace street lamp...
Queen Victoria Monument...
London Eye in the distance...
The Queen's Gallery is dedicated to an exhibition of items from the Royal collection of Art and treasures. On entry to the Gallery we had to go through security checks, also no photographs allowed to be taken and all mobile phones swithched off. We saw some magnificent works of art, ceremonial swords and jewellery.
Entrance to the Queen's Gallery...
Our Palace tour began at 3.00pm. Again we had to go through tight security checks, pockets emptied, bags checked, body search ....... and larger bags and backpacks were handed in for you to collect after the tour. Whether we go through airport security or the Palace security, my hubby always beeps!!
They always frisk him but can never find anything suspicious.... ... I swear he swallowed a ball bearing in his childhood!
We entered the Palace through the Ambassadors' Entrance and proceeded up the Grand Staircase, which overlooked the Grand Hall, to reach the first floor. We passed through the small Guard Room and entered the main State Rooms, the Green Drawing Room, the Throne Room, the Picture Gallery and Picture Gallery Lobby with great paintings by Rembrant, Rubens, Poussin and Canaletto. The rooms were lavishly furnished and displayed beautiful pieces of porcelain and English and French furniture. We then saw the Silk Tapestry Room, the East Gallery, the Ball Supper Room and the Ballroom. Everything was so exquisite! There were deep pile red carpets throughout, the ceilings were amazing.....pure craftsmanship. The chandaliers were huge and glistened and reflected light all over the room.
On to the West Gallery and the State Dining Room........where you could envisage the dignitaries seated around a table glistening with the silver cutlery, the crystal glasses, the most delicate crockery .....and the most sumptuous food!
We saw a special exhibition to celebrate the Diamond Wedding Anniversary of the Queen and Prince Philip. It included her wedding dress and 15 foot veil of 60 years ago...... also dresses of other members of the wedding party, jewellery and tiaras.
On next to the Blue Drawing Room, the Music Room and the White Drawing Room.
We then went throught the Ante Room and back down to the ground floor using the Ministers Staircase. The route continued through the Marble Hall into the Bow Room which led us out onto the garden terrace.
What a beautiful back garden that is!!
It's like a walled haven covering approximately 40 acres right in the middle of London! There are extensive lawns leading down to a large lake which is surrounded by a profuse of trees and bushes of all description.
The rear of the Palace...
The Conservatory??
Exit from the Bow Room which leads out onto the garden terrace...
The Lawns
The Lake..
.
Finally we followed a path through the Palace Gardens for half a mile until we reached the Stonemason's gate ........ and back into our world!
We had just half an hour to find somewhere to grab a cup of coffee before boarding our coach at 5.30pm.
A very, very enjoyable day!
