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.