St George’s Chapel

Gorgeous blue skies from the get go this morning, glad I’ve got my new sunglasses! After breakfast we walked, via the ‘Long Walk’ seen on yesterday’s blip, to Windsor castle arriving just 10 mins before our allotted time slot.

One reason for our visit is it is the 100th anniversary of Queen Mary’s Dolls House, one of the few things I remember from my childhood visit.  Our tour took us via the North terrace straight to the entrance of the State Apartments and first stop was the Dolls House. A friend said they hadn’t bothered with it as the queues were too long but those who had booked it in addition to the State appts were allowed in 20 at a time a told to keep moving slowly and it worked. No waiting, no delay and it was well worth seeing again. The detail is incredible, there is even a working gramophone! There were cases showing miniature books, not just the original ones but new ones such as Julia Donaldson’s The Gruffalo, Alan Bennett’s The Mantelpiece, and Simon Armitage.
After a coffee in the Undercroft we followed the audio guides around the state apartments. The early rooms were largely created by Charles II and Catherine of Braganza, though the origins of the castle go back to William 1. The paintings, in particular the portraits, were very famous and familiar.  Most impressive and interesting though for me were the rooms recreated after the fire in 1992, infamously known as the late Queen’s Annus Horribilis, St George's Hall is remarkable and a tribute to the skills and craftsmanship of people in this country. They completed the work in 5 years!

Last stop was St George’s Chapel. Loved the ‘Queens Beasts’ topping the side of the chapel walls. They are 10 heraldic beasts representing Queen Elizabeth II’s genealogy and now holding lightening rods!
Of course the chapel is also her last resting place. Very moving to see the stone under which she, Prince Philip and her parents, King George VI and his wife Queen Elizabeth lie.  Other notable Kings and Queens are buried here too including Henry VIII.

The blip is of the front steps of the chapel, often seen at more recent royal weddings. I couldn’t take any pictures inside the castle which is probably a good thing and I would have taken too many and the problem with castles is they appear to have very strange angles in some (of my) photographs! 
I did take a couple of shots showing how low the planes are flying in to land at Heathrow approximately every 90 seconds!! The noise is unbelievable and the photos didn’t really show Hiw clise they appear to be.

We spent a bit of time in the town but it was very busy. We were going to get a bus back as it was imminent but as always with us it blobbed and with a half hour wait we decided to walk. The bus passed us with in sight of our destination!

We found a Nepalese/Indian restaurant just down the road and have booked that for tonight.

A brilliant day!

Couldn’t resist the second extra taken in the castle grounds. A post box topper with a rather drunken looking Guards Band. You might also spot a large cobweb!  Sadly it was a bit too much into the sun.