One thing we have noticed is how quiet the sites have been which has been wonderful for us. I have never been able to get this close to the gates of Buckingham Palace before!!
In the square right in front of the palace is a beautiful fountain. The monument to Queen Victoria is another angel of victory. The statue that faces the palace is of a young woman with a family. Queen Victoria is the “grandmother of Europe” for marrying all 9 of her children into the other royal families of Europe. In 1914 three direct cousins went to war with each other, as the heads of Germany, Russia, and England all were grandchildren of Queen Victoria.
The palace is the official office and residence of her majesty the queen, even if she prefers to be at Windsor. You can tell from the flag on the top of the palace if she is in residence. The Union Jack flies when she is not in the building and when she is in the building they fly her own personal standard with crimson and blue.
While we were heating from Mark, we caught a glance of the Royal Mail carriage which delivers mail between the royal residences and palaces. Quite a different version than our white mail jeeps!
The palace has only been the official residence since Victoria came to the thrrone in 1837; monarchs previously lived in Saint James palace.
The soldiers standing guard are wearing their gray winter coats. The famous red tunics are worn in the summer season. The guns are real and they are real soldiers although some believe the guns may not be loaded and they keep the uppers in the guard house. Two soldiers are on guard when the Queen is not in residence and four guards are when she is in residence.
Going to put the rest of the pictures in a separate post!
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