They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace
I went to Buckingham Palace today to take my mum to see *the* wedding dress. I'm exhausted so heaven knows how she is, but we had a good time and even the weather was kind. Going anywhere with my mum is an exercise in logistical difficulties as we have to find the easiest possible way to get from place to place because she can't walk any distance. Even though Buckingham Palace is very close to Victoria Station we still had to get a taxi which sadly didn't sweep us in to the forecourt in a grand manner, but deposited us at the side. The State Rooms have been open for most of the summer but as *the Dress* is a big attraction it was quite difficult to get tickets. I'd booked them online but there was quite a large queue waiting for the tickets they sell on the day. After going through airport style security we finally started the tour. Mum had been before and decided she didn't need the audio guide ("so slow") but as I hadn't, I got one and relayed interesting facts to her, which made for a certain amount of confusion at times as she and the guide were talking to me at once!
As I gleaned from the audio guide Buckingham Palace was originally Buckingham House and bought by George III. You can still see some evidence of the decor of the original house as you go in, but most of it was done up later by George IV and his architect John Nash. George IV's taste in interior decoration wasn't subtle and basically involved piling gold on more gold so the whole thing is a bit overwhelmingly blingy. Nash was a good architect though so, although Buckingham Palace looks very square and blocky from outside, inside it's much more interesting with curving staircases, domed ceilings, bow windows, long corridors and more gold. There are massive chandeliers everywhere, the throne room looks like the piece of theatre it is, complete with proscenium arch, but the Picture Gallery is more subdued and, while I may not care for George IV's taste in interior decoration, I did like his taste in art. There was a perfect Vermeer, masses of Van Dyke's, and some lovely Canaletto's. After the Picture Gallery and a decision to skip the Faberge exhibition ("so slow") it was onward to what was obviously for most people the main event, the Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress. Now if my mum hadn't suggested it I probably wouldn't have gone to see it, but actually I'm glad I did because a lot of the beautiful detail of the dress couldn't be seen on the telly. The lace was fabulous, but it was actually the design that really impressed as the various elements were much easier to see up close and personal so to speak. Not only was the dress on display but so were the shoes, a replica of the bouquet and the earrings the Duchess wore. Had they not been in a glass case I think my mother would have made off with the earrings as she really loved them. I hadn't realised that the shoes were covered in the same lace applique as the dress, which was a neat touch. In another room the wedding cake was on display and that was quite stunning, almost a sculpture in icing. It was all interesting to see though I have to say I rather agree with the Queen about the display of the dress. She rather famously pronounced it to be "horrible" (not included in the small video of her on the site) and with the slightly gloomy lighting the tiara and veil hung suspended over the dress as if the Duchess was a headless ghost.
After the dress it was on through the Blue Drawing Room, the Music Room (gorgeous bay window) and the White Drawing Room with the Queen's secret staircase then down the stairs, out through the Bow Room and into the Gardens. There was a cafe outside and I did think we might pause for refreshments but the queue was quite long and my mum's alcohol detector had obviously not bleeped as she decided it would be better to get something outside the Palace. We had quite a long (if you're with my mum) and pleasant walk through the Gardens and then a less pleasant walk along the main road to a pub where we were fortified by wine and food!
Obviously you're not allowed to take pictures in the Palace, but I did take some in the Gardens
The garden terrace
The back of the Palace
A wild green space in the heart of London
It may not be autumn quite yet, but this tree looked as if it was on fire
As I gleaned from the audio guide Buckingham Palace was originally Buckingham House and bought by George III. You can still see some evidence of the decor of the original house as you go in, but most of it was done up later by George IV and his architect John Nash. George IV's taste in interior decoration wasn't subtle and basically involved piling gold on more gold so the whole thing is a bit overwhelmingly blingy. Nash was a good architect though so, although Buckingham Palace looks very square and blocky from outside, inside it's much more interesting with curving staircases, domed ceilings, bow windows, long corridors and more gold. There are massive chandeliers everywhere, the throne room looks like the piece of theatre it is, complete with proscenium arch, but the Picture Gallery is more subdued and, while I may not care for George IV's taste in interior decoration, I did like his taste in art. There was a perfect Vermeer, masses of Van Dyke's, and some lovely Canaletto's. After the Picture Gallery and a decision to skip the Faberge exhibition ("so slow") it was onward to what was obviously for most people the main event, the Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress. Now if my mum hadn't suggested it I probably wouldn't have gone to see it, but actually I'm glad I did because a lot of the beautiful detail of the dress couldn't be seen on the telly. The lace was fabulous, but it was actually the design that really impressed as the various elements were much easier to see up close and personal so to speak. Not only was the dress on display but so were the shoes, a replica of the bouquet and the earrings the Duchess wore. Had they not been in a glass case I think my mother would have made off with the earrings as she really loved them. I hadn't realised that the shoes were covered in the same lace applique as the dress, which was a neat touch. In another room the wedding cake was on display and that was quite stunning, almost a sculpture in icing. It was all interesting to see though I have to say I rather agree with the Queen about the display of the dress. She rather famously pronounced it to be "horrible" (not included in the small video of her on the site) and with the slightly gloomy lighting the tiara and veil hung suspended over the dress as if the Duchess was a headless ghost.
After the dress it was on through the Blue Drawing Room, the Music Room (gorgeous bay window) and the White Drawing Room with the Queen's secret staircase then down the stairs, out through the Bow Room and into the Gardens. There was a cafe outside and I did think we might pause for refreshments but the queue was quite long and my mum's alcohol detector had obviously not bleeped as she decided it would be better to get something outside the Palace. We had quite a long (if you're with my mum) and pleasant walk through the Gardens and then a less pleasant walk along the main road to a pub where we were fortified by wine and food!
Obviously you're not allowed to take pictures in the Palace, but I did take some in the Gardens
The garden terrace
The back of the Palace
A wild green space in the heart of London
It may not be autumn quite yet, but this tree looked as if it was on fire