Buckingham Palace Tour
I didn't even know Buckingham Palace tours existed, so was thrilled to discover this. Just what lurked behind those stark walls? I've often wondered what it must look like inside the palace of Buckingham.
Queen Elizabeth Dress for the Occasion Photo by Kari
During my last visit to London I saw posters advertising a display of Queen Elizabeth's dresses which also included a Buckingham Palace tour...so I put it on my to-do list.
Oh, another thing...just what was beyond the spikes on top of brick walls around the back gardens?
Barbed Spikes around Buckingham Palace Photo by Kari
Buckingham Palace Tours Photo by Kari
Buckingham Palace Backside Photo by Kari
Buckingham Palace Photo from Back Photo by Kari
Buckingham Palace Light Photo by Kari
As we exited after the Buckingham Palace tour, we were treated to a viewing of the new portrait of Queen Elizabeth. In this painting the Queen is wearing a aqua blue green dress and the impressionist style distorts her lovely grandmotherly face. My personal opinion is that it did not compliment the queen. I think a more pleasant slant could have been acquired. The queen herself said, "It is a warm and welcoming painting." Or something to that effect. To me that statement was reserved. If she loved it, she would have been more enthusiastic.
Clouds over Buckingham Palace Photo by Kari
At least it wasn't painted to give the impression she was still 20 something, like the portraits of Queen Elizabeth I, who apparently had all portraits of herself in her older age destroyed.
It made me long for the days of detailed photo-like portraits that took extreme talent to create.
Buckingham Palace Garden Photo by Kari
View of Buckingham Palace Lake Photo by Kari
One flaw, however, with the Buckingham Palace tours, was the navigation route through the room displaying the Queen Elizabeth's dresses. It was a mess. No clear path, bottlenecks, waits, confusion. I hope they get that figured out for the sake of future Buckingham Palace crowds. I finally had to leave and not see everything.
Buckingham Palace Lake Photo by Kari
Buckingham Palace Garden Path Photo by Kari
One of my favorite things about seeing the Queen's Clothes at Buckingham Palace were the comments of her loyal royalists. They were so gentle..."Oh, that's when she was pretty." Those comments were heard near her teeny tiny waist black velvet dress from the 40's.
Buckingham Palace Garden Tree Photo by Kari
I was impressed with the informality of the gardens. I'd expected a flashback of Versailles I guess. These gardens were more like a large, sprawling, homey back yard with a small lake. I imagined myself swimming in that lake. Grass was groomed, but the lovely place wasn't landscaped to death. No tea parties either.
Buckingham Palace Lawn Photo by Kari
Of course, there was the "Midwest America Connection." I just knew there was some sort of Iowa/Illinois influence at Buckingham Palace. Yes, there sat a beautiful John Deere lawn tractor in the garden.
John Deere Tractor in Buckingham Palace Garden Photo by Kari
No Buckingham Palace tour is complete without a photo with a Police Bobby...and here we are...chums.
Buckingham Police and Kari
The Buckingham Palace tickets cost about $25...ouch...but well worth the solving of this mystery.
Buckingham Palace Back Garden Gate Photo by Kari
Mystery solved...what does Buckingham Palace look like from the inside out, backside, and garden side? Now I know
Buckingham Palace Garden Shade Tree Photo by Kari
