We arrived at the Grosvenor Gate at about 2:30 pm this afternoon and stood in the line, waiting for the gates to the palace grounds to open. We met our friend Mash (from Vancouver) and not long after getting in line, we were let in (with only our passports checked, no Heathrow-style security checks).
Tim and Heidi met up with us just inside the gates and we meandered through the extensive grounds (which are stunning - ponds and gardens all over) to the main field behind the palace itself.
(very brief and shaky video of the general layout of the lawn)
The main lawn is HUGE - they had massive tents set up on either side, one with tea for the commoners and the other on the far side set up and cordoned off for tea for the Royals (there were any number there). We found seats in some shade and waited for something interesting to happen.
Soon enough it did - the tea tent opened. Jamie, Mash and I headed over to see what was on offer. As expected, and somewhat stereotypically, there was tea and cucumber sandwiches with the crusts cut off, but there was also egg and mayonaise and ham sarnies, and any number of different types of pastries etc.
Soon after our lunch, the band (of which there were two) started playin "God Save the Queen" - Liz and Phil were on their way onto the lawn. We walked over to the lines of people and waited to greet them - we had assumed that they were excited to meet us, but I guess there was a miscommunication somewhere and we were not at the front of the line. We saw Prince Philip go past (he's awfully spry for his age and condition, and severely upset his handlers by going off-script and talking to random people in the crowd). We soon realized that there were two different lines, and the Queen was in the other one. Jamie and the other girls rushed off to see her - Tim and I after a brief glimpse of her Highness bolted for the lunch queues again.
It was at about this point that I fully comprehended the error of wearing new shoes on a hot day where I was going to be on my feet all day....oh, the blisters of death...
We met back up with Jamie and the girls and explored the interior of Buckingham Palace - I've decided that we get our new big place, it'll be like that. We sat for a bit on a very nice couch in the air conditioned reception room (yes, we couched it in the Palace of the Queen of England...damn we're important, at least in our own heads).
Sitting around in someone else's reception room can only hold our interest for so long, so we went back outside to enjoy a bit of sunshine (which must be taken advantage of whenever it's available in London, as it is infrequent at best).
We left the Palace through the main doors in front - it was odd being on the other side of the massive iron gates. We felt very important and all - although we didn't want to get too close to the guards, as despite the festive bear-fur hats, had very large daggers attached to their fully automatic assault rifles. Videos and photos of us leaving:
and finally the video of us leaving:
(notice us on the important side of the gates, and the commoners on the other side -yeah, that's how we roll).
2 comments:
All I can say is awesome!!!!!
"It was at about this point that I fully comprehended the error of wearing new shoes on a hot day where I was going to be on my feet all day....oh, the blisters of death..."
Didn't we already have this conversation?
;)
Pretty cool afternoon, I must say. Perhaps you can get Phil to join you on your poker nights, now?
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