Call me Ma'am from now on!

I have just realised that I haven't yet blogged about my trip around Buckingham Palace the other week, and my extensive gawp at Her Madge's diamonds.

The Hubby and I went round Buck House last year to see Kate Middleton's wedding dress, and much to our surprise (particularly The Hubby's) thoroughly enjoyed what was a very well organised and informative visit. Apparently it's 20 years since they started opening the place up to the public, which is amazing, and it is certainly a very polished and professional experience. This year, we got free re-entry for returning within the calendar year, which actually makes the entrance fee we paid last time (£18 each) seem pretty reasonable, as it's a good half day out.

You get to see all the State Rooms and oodles of just jaw dropping art including some by my favourite artist, Canaletto. I can stand and look at his work for hours and am constantly seeing something new in it. There are fifteen Canalettos on the Palace walls to see; I took ages! There is also a very good commentary through a little mobile unit with personal headphones so you can go at your own pace and no one rushes you so you have plenty of time.

This year, the special exhibition to coincide with the Diamond Jubilee is the vast collection of diamond jewellery, swords and trinkets owned by the Queen, including almost all the pieces made from the famous Cullinan diamond which was found in South Africa about 80 years ago and presented to the Royal Family as a gift. The original stone was huge, and there are now nine pieces of jewellery made from it, seven of which were on display at the Palace (the other two are part of the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London, with the main stone the centrepiece of the Imperial State Crown). I adore sparklies, and these were just magnificent, in particular a necklace made from some of the Cullinan stones and some enormous iridescent emeralds which shone like the green eyes of a cat. There was also a beautiful tiara originally owned by Queen Alexander in 1905 which looked like it ought to have belonged to the Snow Queen with its spiky tips and almost frosty gleam.  

We then stuffed ourselves with coffee and posh cakes in the cafe (amazing confections including little chocolate disks on top which had gold crowns painted on them in edible paint!) and then had a trip round the gift shop which has a large amount of surprisingly affordable stuff (magnets, stationery, tea towels etc) as well as the eye wateringly expensive porcelain and glassware. Despite having my eye on a replica tiara, I was persuaded instead to a replica pair of diamond and pearl earrings (fake diamonds, but real pearls) and treated by The Hubby, which was very nice and a surprise.

All in all, whether you are a royalist or not, this is a worthy day out and if you haven't been I'd recommend it. Wear good walking shoes and don't carry too much (security is phenomenal and airport style), and do use the audio guide, which is excellent. And like us, if you go in this year you will get free re-entry next year too.

So go along. And oh, call me ma'am from now on, will you?