Nevertheless, we saw the Queen's living quarters--at least from afar. She frequently comes to Windsor for the weekends, but was too overwhelmed from the Obama State Visit to come down this weekend. So sorry she missed us.
You know, the older monarchs (Bloody Mary and Elizabeth I, for example) kept dwarves as part of their retinue. I had hoped that we might move into the royal palace if I could affect an introduction between Her Majesty and Carl and Robert. Alas, it was not to be. Consequently, we will be home on Wednesday late.
The approach to Windsor Castle
Carl points out an interesting detail of the landscape. Robert looks interested.
Robert requested this picture to demonstrate his diminutive size to the Queen, should the opportunity to present itself.
Windsor is an impressive array of buildings.
The Entrance Gate to the Castle/Palace
Thereby, he demonstrated that the entire trip was tax deductible.
The inner fortress had a moat that was never filled. It has been transformed into an incredible garden. This picture simply cannot do it justice.
The view of the moat garden in the other direction.
A better view of the garden
St. George's Chapel. What an incredible historical place.
The ever-present flying buttresses of cathedrals.
A large picture to reveal some of the detail.
A long-shot of the entire edifice.
Queen Elizabeth II's apartments at Windsor Castle. The large windows closest to you are the family sitting room, where one of the museum docents told us the Queen has her television, on which she likes to watch the night time soaps like Coronation Street. The towers at the top house the bedroom she shares with the Duke of Edinburg. Carl asked why there were no windows facing the inner court. He explained that windows are on the other side overlooking the country side rather than the peasants that regularly tour the palace. He did note Carl's diminutive size--no doubt because he was so persistent in asking questions--and offered that it was too bad that Her Majesty wasn't in residence as her personal dwarf had met with a tragic accident the week prior to William and Catherine's wedding. It seems he was electrocuted because of a short in the royal telly.
The gargoyles at Windsor aren't nearly so scary as those we saw in France.
My only regret is that we had such beautiful weather in Paris and London that I never got to see the gargoyles do their thing (i.e., serve as drain spouts).
Although we did not get a picture of the Queen, as she was not in residence, we did manage to get this picture of the Windsor cat. Just look at that regal bearing.
You may remember her from your childhood:
Pussycat, pussycat, where have you been?
I've been to London to visit the Queen.
Pussycat, pussycat, what did you there?
I frightened a little mouse under her chair.
You may remember her from your childhood:
Pussycat, pussycat, where have you been?
I've been to London to visit the Queen.
Pussycat, pussycat, what did you there?
I frightened a little mouse under her chair.
In her new jacket-like thingy, Jordan was able to attract the attention of one of the guards. He asked her for a date, but she said she didn't date men who carried submachine guns.
She did ask for his hat, but he declined.
She did ask for his hat, but he declined.
No comments:
Post a Comment