Last Tuesday we boarded our boat, Harmony, at Embankment Pier and what followed was a delightful couple of hours as we enjoyed spectacular views of London's magnificent attractions.
Just before lunch was served there was time to go out on to the deck and take pictures:-
The meal was lovely and the staff on the boat very helpful.
The starter was a smoked and poached salmon roulade with pickled cucumber followed by chicken- en- croute, duchess potatoes and french beans. Finally, a delicious dessert vanilla pannacotta (good but not a patch on Tina's - the best in the world) served on a Macaroon biscuit with dark chocolate sauce. All were very good but obviously the food is secondary to the views:-
A river cruise is perhaps the most pleasurable way to enjoy sightseeing in London.
This year The Queen celebrates her Diamond Jubilee - the only monarch to reach such a landmark, other than Queen Victoria and to celebrate Buckingham Palace is displaying a spectacular array of diamonds worn by The Queen and other monarchs over the part 200 years.
So our next stop was Buckingham Palace:-
Located in the heart of London and surrounded by two royal parks Buckingham Palace is the most iconic royal building in the country. It is the London residence of Her Majesty The Queen and is one of only a few working royal palaces left in the world.
The Victoria Memorial
This memorial has a large statue of Queen Victoria facing north-eastwards towards the Mall. The other sides of the monument feature dark patinated bronze statues of the Angel of Justice facing north-westwards towards Green Park, the Angel of Truth facing south-eastwards and Charity facing Buckingham Palace. On the pinnacle is a statue of unclear entitlement and arguably relating both to Peace and Victory with two seated figures. The whole sculptural programme has a nautical theme, much like the rest of The Mall, with mermaids, mermen and the hippogriff, all of which are suggestive of the UKs naval power.
No photographs are allowed in Buckingham Palace but what a wonderful place to visit. The State Rooms are really incredible and a treat to see.
The tiaras and diamonds, which we were lucky enough to see, were out of this world.
An excellent audio tour that is self paced.
The Jubilee exhibition, Diamonds, has several highlights.
Coronation Necklance and Earrings created for Queen Victoria and later worn by Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth (The Queen Mother) and The Queen at their coronations.
Queen Victoria's Fringe Brooch created in 1856 and designed to be worn along the top of the fashionably low-cut bodices of the period.
Small diamond crown 1870 only 10 cm in diameter - a favourite of Queen Victoria because of it's lightness, despite being encrusted with 1,187 diamonds.
The Girls of Great Britain Tiara a wedding present to Princess Victoria Mary of Teck (later Queen Mary) on behalf of the "Girls of Great Britain and Ireland". Now frequently worn by The Queen and each Bank of England note features the Queen wearing it.
The Williamson Brooch, presented to the then Princess Elizabeth on her 21st birthday in 1947, which incorporates the finest pink diamond ever discovered.
An 18th century bloodstone box made for King Frederick the Great of Prussia with nearly 3,000 diamonds.
The Cullinan Diamond (largest every found 3,106 metric carats) and the Cullinan collection.
For more information www.royalcollection.org.uk
We left via Buckingham Palace Garden.
We then travelled to St. Pauls and walked across the Millennium Bridge and on to the Globe Theatre. We had hoped to catch a performance but, unfortunately, there wasn't one on that night.
The Millennium Bridge is a 330m steel bridge linking the City of London at St. Paul's Cathedral with the Tate Modern Gallery at Bankside. Such was the interest in the new bridge that when it opened an estimated 100,000 people crossed it. Then the problems began as the deck swayed about like a drunken sailor. Walkers clung on to the side and felt seasick, so it was renamed 'The Wobbly Bridge'. The problem apparently was people walking the wrong way. It was due to the 'chance correlation of footsteps when we walk in a crowd'. Dampers were deployed and we are happy to report no wobbles. Well worth a visit and look out for the padlocks. Apparently couples from around the world now leave padlocks on the bridge as a token of their love. Unfortunately, we didn't have a padlock with us. Romantic Britain!
An excellent day out.
Thank you again Alan and Janet.
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