London
The British monarchy is one of the most influential lines in history and remains a subject of ongoing conversation. A visit to London might be incomplete without any attempt to explore royal history.
Here are three destinations you won’t want to miss:
Buckingham Palace
Once the residence of the late Queen Elizabeth II, this imposing gray stone palace stands at a height of 24 meters and spans a foundation of 108 meters by 120 meters. The palace has 775 impressive rooms. It was originally constructed for John Sheffield, duke of Buckingham, in 1705. King George bought it for his wife, Queen Charlotte, in 1762, and it has belonged to the royal family ever since.
The first sovereign to occupy the palace was Queen Victoria, whose memorial sits outside the palace. It is a gold statue on a large stone fountain.
The palace has an impressive Baroque and Rococo art collection and is guarded by traditionally red-coated guards with bearskin hats who change in an elaborate ceremony called “The Changing of the Guard,” the grandeur of which speaks to the traditional importance of the monarchy.
Kensington Palace
Prince William (the eldest son of and heir to King Charles) and his family are known to occupy Kensington Palace. Although their rooms are not on display, one can take a tour of the apartments of Queen Victoria, where she grew up with her mother and governess, the apartments of Queen Mary II, which are home to gorgeous wood paneling and beautifully designed by Christopher Wren, and also a fantastic exhibit called “Life through a royal lens,” which displays photographs of the royal family through the generations.
The grounds are open to the public and are quite lovely. Among other features, there is a duck pond, a play area for children, a flower garden (South Flower Walk), and a magnificent gold-plated memorial to Prince Albert, as well as several spots to stop for a snack. These grounds are great for walking through or relaxing in.
Tower of London
This castle is where it all began for today’s dynasty. It was constructed for William the Conqueror after the Normans overtook London in 1066. The castle’s layers of fortification give it a somewhat picturesque appearance, but only some of the castle’s history is beautiful. In addition to being the place that British monarchs hid from rivals in luxury, this castle compound was also a place where unfortunate people were once imprisoned, hanged, and even tortured.
This castle is actually a combination of old buildings and towers surrounded by a protective wall. If you wander from tower to tower, you can still see some of the luxurious rooms, some of the battle armor, and even the crown jewels.
