,
Suitcases
filled to the brim, expertly packed and crammed full of knick-knacks, trinkets,
memorabilia and 75% off designer ware, shopping “till we dropped” had been successfully knocked off of our
agenda. The Kid and I were therefore
free to devote the remainder of our London stay to fully immersing ourselves in
British culture and customs. At the top
of our list was a scheduled visit to the stomping grounds of her Majesty
herself, where we planned to traipse around her palatial residence at
Buckingham Palace in the hope of perhaps being fortunate enough to be invited
to afternoon tea and crumpets. After
all, Canada does have close ties with Britain, being a Commonwealth nation and
all, so surely the Queen would have no problem playing hostess to two
awe-struck Brit obsessed Canadians.
The Kid was
anxious to compare the grandeur of the Queen’s London estate to her beloved
French heroine, Marie-Antoinette’s regal headquarters in Versailles, and
ascertain which royal’s palatial abode outshone and outranked the other. Having become madly obsessed with the
splendour and opulence of Le Petit Trianon, my niece was constantly plotting
and planning how to set up camp and re-locate to this fabulous French address.
Strolling
along spacious tree-lined Birdcage Walk, blue and red Union Jack flags flapping
ceremoniously in the wind, the crowds grew larger and denser with each step, as
we headed towards Buckingham Gate. The
sheer magnificence of the Queen’s London Palace was made apparent to us the
closer we tread, the 108 metre long structure regally situated upon 40 acres of
royal grounds. Boasting an impressive
775 rooms, 78 bathrooms, 92 offices and 52 bedrooms (not including the 188
staff bedrooms), her Majesty’s residence also houses a swimming pool, an art
gallery and a post office! And that’s
just on the inside! The immense grounds include a lake, a tennis court and a
private helicopter landing area, should any member of the royal family desire
to be whisked by chopper to yet another “oh
so mundane” social engagement. The
palace is open to visitors only during the months of August and part of
September, when the Queen is away on her annual holiday.
With Prince
William married off to Kate Middleton, that left eligible bachelor Prince Harry
on the market, offering a glimmer of hope to my 16 year old starry-eyed niece,
who envisioned herself one day betrothed to the dashing royal, thus securing
her long for coveted royal address.
Continually plotting, planning and day-dreaming of far away adventures
in even further away lands, the Kid was incessant that one day her prince will
come, and magically transport her to her fantasy world of castles, ladies in
waiting and horse-drawn carriages.
Staring
wistfully at the balcony where newly married Kate and William shared a romantic
kiss, the Kid was rooted to her spot, refusing to move from her perch as she
peered through the ornate wrought iron gates that enveloped Buckingham Palace.
Short of
having to forcibly pry my niece away from the gate, as frankly, she was
beginning to become a bit of an eye-sore to the hundreds of other gawking
tourists, a slightly annoying teenager who kept calling out Prince Harry’s name
over and over again ad nauseam - I instead meandered away and spent a peaceful
afternoon strolling along the perimeter of the palace.
Needless to
say, I strongly suspect that Buckingham Palace stole the heart of the
starry-eyed impressionable Kid that London day.
Come
traipse around the outside of Buckingham Palace with the Kid and I, as we
battle the crowds for a birds-eye view of the inhabitants inside, in the hopes
of perhaps scoring an invite for afternoon tea or catching the eye of a certain
eligible prince…
Next week –
Where in London do my pink-sneakered footprints end up next? Stay tuned!!
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