We arrived at our Islington Eco Mooring whilst Her Majesty was being driven to Windsor, her final place of rest, we were so glad that we had had the opportunity to visit St Georges chapel in July, and that we had enjoyed choral evensong there.
On the Tuesday we went to pay our respects outside Buckingham Palace, (which I shared at the time)
And as we wandered around the royal parks, absorbing the sights we hope we wont be seeing again for many years, we saw something we really weren’t expecting,
Apparently there are 6 pelicans currently making their home in St James Park. The original flock were a gift from a Russian ambassador in 1664. They are free to roam and fly (the pelicans not the russian ambassadors), but as they get fed fish every day (around 2:30) they are happy and sociable and choose to stay. Of course being in the royal parks I couldn’t resist adding to my men in uniform collection.
On Wednesday we visited Kensington Palace. William and Mary bought this Jacobean mansion in Kensington Village back in 1689 to escape from the damp London fogs.
Its where Queen Victoria was born in 1819
And it is famously where Diana, Princess of Wales lived.
In 2012 Kensington palace was opened up to the public, with the Historic Royal Palaces trust overseeing various exhibitions and artefacts. Of course my favourite had to be the display of 3 Tiaras.
Unlike the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London I even got to try one on
It was to be a week of reflections, culminating in the Reflections Flotilla. An event originally conceived as part of the Platinum Jubilee Celebration, but now a memorial celebration for our Queen. With 150 boats including the Royal Barge, lit up for a night cruising down the Thames from Chelsea to Tower Bridge
Of course the boat we were really looking out for was Mick and Pip’s NB Oleanna as they had moored up at Islington, on their way to join the flotilla. Perhaps not the best photo of the night, but we waved as they passed.
And then cheered loudly as Tower Bridge raised her arms in a full salute, something usually reserved as the highest mark of respect
