Tag: royalty

London, a week of reflections

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.

St Georges Chapel, Windsor Castle, in July

On the Tuesday we went to pay our respects outside Buckingham Palace, (which I shared at the time)

Buckingham Palace at the end of the Mall the day after Her Majesty’s funeral

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,

A pelican sitting not crossing

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.

One of the Royal Cavalry


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.

Now thats one way to practice social distancing

Its where Queen Victoria was born in 1819

The Queen Vic

And it is famously where Diana, Princess of Wales lived.

Diana, with three children representing her ability to reach out compassionately and universally.

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

If only…..

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

The Royal Barge in front of the Shard

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.

Thats NB Oleanna


And then cheered loudly as Tower Bridge raised her arms in a full salute, something usually reserved as the highest mark of respect

Its very unusual to see the span fully upright.

Paying our respects

Hoping for a smaller crowd, we took the opportunity to go into central London yesterday, even though its the day after Her Majesty’s funeral. We wanted to pay our respects and experience the atmosphere, before the ceremonial paraphernalia was put back into storage.
We started our homage at Admiralty Arch

The Union flag, with its black mourning bands in front of Admiralty Arch

We walked down the Mall with flags as far as the eye could see.

It is an impressive sight

whilst the guard rode on horseback

These guards were actually part of the “changing of the guards ceremony”

Heading back towards Admiralty Arch

Looking back to Admiralty Arch

Half way down the Mall we stopped to see the statues of the Queen’s parents, king George VI and the queen Mother.

Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother and King George VI, the late Queen’s parents

Queen Victoria was ready to greet us outside Buckingham Palace on her monument,

Another formidable figure

As were the world’s press had called home for the past 10 days

The media’s tented village

Although most of them had gone home and it looks like King Charles wasn’t at home as the royal standard wasnt flying above the palace.

Buckingham Palace

we followed two soldiers on their way to St James Palace

We didnt think much to their camouflage


Where Charles accession to the throne was formally announced.

The Friary Court at St James Palace

We followed the crowd around into Green Park to view the floral tributes And its true what the reporters have reported, the park really did smell wonderful.

Floral Tributes

And the volunteers really had put a lot of effort into laying out the flowers out in small groups which allowed you to walk amongst them,

There was an overwhelmimg sense of respect

and even when the flowers had been left in unofficial locations, it still felt the nation was honouring the best of British

Bomber Comand memorial near Hyde Park corner

We were very glad we had made our own personal pilgrimage, it was moving and emotional, and we are sure that the Queen and her family would have felt the love poured out for her.