#52 Westminister Abbey, Kensington Palace, CIty Walk

 Friday starts early with our bus going to Westminister Abbey.  As we waited to get in, (very busy that morning) we looked across the street at Methodist Central Hall.  A venue that hosts

various types of events. Speakers there included Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr.

As we entered the Abbey, we passed under ten statues of 20th century martyrs, one of which was Martin Luther King, Jr..  These werre added at the time of the reconstruction after WW II damage. Third from the left.

The next three pics are the Coronation Chair, The Tomb of the Unknown Warrior and A United States Congressional Medal of Honor.  The British also awarded their highest military honor to the American Unknown Soldiers.





The HIgh Altar and Two promonent Stain Glass Windows


Many famous people buried here including Isac Newton, Steven Halking, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Charles Dickens, Charles Darwin and George Frederic Handel 








And, of course, Queen Elizabeth the First



As we exit, I had a chance to take a pic of our wonderful tour director, Manuela, flanked by our local specialists, John, Nikki and Conrad.  We had Conrad (on the right) for both the Tower of London and the Abbey. He was great.

As we leave the Abbey, we have a few minutes to gather in Parliamnet Park, with the statue of Mahatma Ganhdi (Jody and our new friend, Ann Marie) and Parliament Buildings, plus a little proof that I was there as well.



Off to Kensington Palace, with a bit of sightseeing on the way, a quick peek at one of the Horse Guards and the small Memorial to Prince Albert.

And can someone tell me what this tree (bush) is.

So we get off the bus to see the outside view of Kensington Palace plus that of the Princess Diana statue




Then inside for tea, 

Jody with our individual stack of goodies, Plus our new friends from North Carolina, Jonathan and Ann Marie.






Then the tour of Kensington Palace.  This palace is where Queen Victoria was born, pretty much where William and Harry grew up and where William, Katherine and the three children live now.




A pic of Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret as children and a pair of matching dresses

A bodice and dress of Queen Victoria

Portraits of Victoria (the first with her mother)


The room where she was born plus the sculpture out side in the Gardens

And, finally, to end a busy Friday, a trip to Fordham and Mason to buy some tea and a walk through Piccadilly Circus, Chinatown and Covent Garden.










Quite enough for one day.
Come back for the finale day tomorrow.




















Comments

  1. Ann-MarieJune 8, 2025 at 2:39 AM

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  2. Ann-MarieJune 8, 2025 at 2:54 AM

    Phew! I’m exhausted reading it! You guys were an absolute pleasure. I am sorry about that backlit picture though :( Just glad Tom made an appearance in the blog!!

    ReplyDelete

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