Travel – Neuschwanstein Castle

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Neuschwanstein Castle

My son and I were fortunate to see Neuschwanstein Castle when we were on a trip to Germany in 1998.  King Ludwig’s Neuschwanstein is a 19th century fairytale castle located on the hill above the small village of Hohenschwangau, near Fussen in southern Germany.  We were on a bus tour of this beautiful region known as Bavaria that originated from Munich.  The tour took us first to Linderhof, one of King Ludwig’s smaller palaces, then on to a brief shopping visit to Oberammergau which is famous for their woodcraving, beautifully painted houses and the Passion Play.  The final stop and the highlight of the tour was Neuschwanstein Castle and it was an enchanting experience and very exciting for this Disney fan to see the actual castle that was the inspiration for Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle in Anaheim, CA.

A Brief Histoy of Neuschwanstein Castle

King Ludwig IIIn the Middle Ages there were three castles near the village of Hohenschwangau, which is located at 2,620 feet elevation near the border of Germany and Austria.  Schwanstein Castle was located nearest the village and on the hill overlooking were twin castles known as Vorderhohenschwangau Castle and Hinterhohenschwangau Castle.  Over the centuries all three castle fell into ruins.  Then, in 1832 King Maximilian II began to build a new castle known as Hohenschwangau Castle near the ruins of the Schwanstein Castle.  By 1837 the palace was completed and became the summer residence of the King and his family.  In 1864 King Maximillian died and his eldest son became King Ludwig II.  Ludwig was only 19 years old when he became king of Bavaria and he was a very shy and introverted man who spent his childhood exploring this area of southern Germany.

Several years later, Ludwig wanted to build a secluded personal refuge and he decided on the area where the twin castles once stood.  The building design was drafted by the stage designer Christian Jank and the King insisted on control over all aspects of the palace and is largely regarded as his own creation rather that the architects involved.  The foundation stone for Neuschwanstein Castle was laid in 1869.  Over 200 craftsmen were employed with additional 100 workers at different times in order to meet the King’s specific deadlines for the construction of the palace.  The materials used for the construction of the palace were approximately white limestone for the exterior walls, sandstone for the portals and Salzburg marble for the arched window frames and columns.  Transportation of these materials was difficult due to the site located on the steep hill, cranes and scaffolds were also needed during the construction.  In 1884, the King moved into the still unfinished palace to oversee the completion of the construction and the final interior details.  Ludwig only spent six months at his beloved Neuschwanstein before he died under mysterious circumstances in the water of Lake Stanberg new Berg Castle in 1886 at the age of 40 years old.

The exterior of Neuschwanstein Castle is designed in the Romanesque style of architecture and the building has numerous towers, turrets, gables and balconies.  Built on the hill above the village of Hohenschwangau with the Pollat Gorge to the south and the foothills of the Alpine mountains and lakes to the north, the palace’s setting offers many picturesque views in all directions.  Neuschwanstein was intended to be King Ludwig’s private residence and the interior design is based on the German legend of Lohengrin or the Swan Knight as immortalized in the operas of Richard Wagner and his music was very inspirational in the design of the palace.

At the time of Ludwig’s death, only 14 finished rooms of the palace were completed and furnished.  The original 65,000 square feet floor plan was designed with more than 200 rooms with the majority of those rooms intended as guest and servant accommodations.  The largest room of the palace is the Hall of Singer’s which is 89 feet by 33 feet and is located in the east wing of the palace.  The Hall was designed with a stage at the far end but was never intended for court entertainment of the reclusive King.  No performance was held in the room until 1933 when there was a concert performed to commemorating the 50th anniversary of Richard Wagner’s death, he never lived to Neuschwanstein.

Neuschwanstein Castle - Hall of Singer's

The Throne Room measures 66 feet by 39 feet with a 43 feet high ceiling takes up the space of the third and fourth floors and is located in the west wing of the palace.  At the request of King Ludwig, this Byzantine style room is designed to incorporate the symbols of unrestricted sovereign power and the divine right of kings.  Hanging overhead is a chandelier in the shape of a Byzantine crown and at the far end of the room is a dais but is without a throne since King Ludwig’s throne was not finished at the time of his death.  The walls surrounding the dais have paintings of Jesus and the twelve apostles and also portraits of six canonized kings: Saint Louis of France, Saint Stephen of Hungry, Saint Edward the Confessor of England, Saint Wenceslaus of Bohemia, Saint Olaf of Norway and Saint Henry the Holy Roman Emperor.

Neuschwanstein Castle - Throne Room

King Ludwig’s bedroom suite is in contrast to the other rooms in the palace and is decorated in a Neo-Gothic style.  It took 14 woodcarvers 41/2 years to complete this room; the bed is crowned with the intricate woodcarvings and covered with embroidered draperies.  The wall painting is “Tristian and Isolde” a story from one of Wagner’s operas.  The adjacent dressing room is completely paneling in oak and the painted trellis on the ceiling gives the impression that the room is open to the sky.

Neuschwanstein Castle - King Ludwig's Bedroom

The Living Room is completely inspired by the legend of the Swan Knight, Lohengrin, which had significant meaning and held great importance to Ludwig.  In this room there is a mural called “The Miracle of the Grail”, the Grail King was a medieval legend of a pauper that had risen to become King because of his pure soul and he achieved this success by overcoming sin and winning his inner battles.  Ludwig’s obsession with the Grail King is very understandable when looking at his diaries indicate that he also suffered with deep inner turmoil in repressing his homosexuality.  Another mural in the room is called “The Arrival of Lohengrin in Antwerp” is important given that the young prince Ludwig was so overwhelmed by Wagner’s opera Lohengrin that he considered the opera a form of enlightenment.  Ludwig was a recluse and completely identified himself with the Swan Knight whose tragic downfall was his overwhelming loneliness that he frequently dressed as the character.  Neuschwanstein means “New Swan Stone” and King Ludwig II is still thought of today as the “Swan King”.

Travel tips for visiting Neuschwanstein Castle

  • Before ascending the hill, purchase castle tour tickets at the ticket center in Hohenschwangau or tour tickets are also available for a small additional reservation fee on the Neuschwanstein website, www.neuschwanstein.de

TRAVEL NOTE:  The tour ticket is valid only for a specific date and time and be advised that it takes awhile to reach the castle at the top of the hill.  If you have purchased tickets online, please arrive at least 1½ hours before your reserved time to allow for travel up to the castle entrance.

  • There are various options to get to the top of the hill and the castle entrance.  The price for the bus and the horse-carriage ride will variety from one fee for the uphill trip and another fee for the downhill trip.   (When we visited Neuschwanstein, we took the bus to the top of the hill to the castle entrance and then after the castle tour we walked back down to the village).

Walk:  A strenuous hike from the village at the bottom on the hill up to the castle at the top can takes about 45 minutes to an hour.  A hike down the hill after the tour is a great way to see the beautiful views across the way to Hohenschwangau Castle with the village down below and also Alpsee Schansee, a picturesque lake located on the other side of the castle.

Bus:  There is fee for the bus and will depart from in front of the Schlosshotel in the village.  Visitors will ride up the hill to a stop near Jugend lookout and Marienbrucke.  From the bus stop there is still a strenuous and steep path which will take visitors about 15 minutes to reach the castle entrance.

TRAVEL TIP: Be sure to take a moment to look at the lovely view of Neuschwanstein and the Pollat Gorge before walking to the castle entrance.  The location at the Maienbrucke (or Mary’s Bridge) is a wonderful vantage point for pictures of Nesuchwanstein and the waterfall below the bridge.

Horse-drawn carriage:  There is a fee for the carriage ride and will depart from in front Hotel Muller in the village, then from the carriage stop it is a shorter walk to the castle entrance.  (If you can afford this mode of transportation is can be a wonderful way to travel up the hill to the castle)

  • Guided tours of the interior of the castle take about 35 minutes and are held in German and English, other languages are available as audio guides.

TRAVEL NOTE:  The castle tour can be strenuous for visitors, please be advised the tour will covers 5 floors of the castle, 165 stair steps upstairs and 181 stair steps downstairs.  Call ahead to inquire about special arrangements made for the disabled persons using a wheelchair or walker.

  • Neuschwanstein has more than 1 million visitors every year and in the busy summer months of July, August and September there can be 6,000 visitors per day.  Arrive early in the day to purchase castle tour tickets at the ticket center in Hohenschwangau or pick up pre-arranged tour tickets at the will call window.
  • Photography is not allowed inside the castle.

For more information regarding times, prices, etc check out the Neuschwanstein website, www.neuschwanstein.de 

Neuschwanstein Castle and the Disney connection

When Walt started the construction of the Disneyland theme park in Anaheim, CA he wanted something at the end of Main Street to draw his guests into the park.  At the time the Disney animated film “Sleeping Beauty” was about to be released and Walt thought a fairytale castle would be the perfect solution.  The castle they built as the entrance to Fantasyland is called the Sleeping Beauty Castle and it was one of the first buildings to be completed for the new theme park that opened July 17, 1955.

Sleeping Beauty Castle has been noted to be a composite of the architecture of French and Bavarian castles which were originally built during the Middle Ages.  But in actuality the inspiration for the Disneyland castle is a place Walt Disney and his wife Lillian visited many years before on a European vacation, Neuschswanstein Castle in Germany.  The resemblance between the two castles is uncanny and the architectural features are undeniable.

Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty's Castle - 1995

Craft – Fold-up Homework Station

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2013-08-16 17.14.31

The idea of a fold-up homework station came from an article in the Family Fun Magazine.  I really like the idea for an organized place to do homework and it was an easy project to make for our daughter back in 2009.  She loved the fold-up work station and it was a great way to teach her about the organization of her school homework, a place to keep track of her school schedule and when upcoming projects were due for class.  She used it in elementary school and recently asked if I could make a new one for middle school.

Fold-up Homework Station – supplies

  • 1 tri-fold display board, choose white if it will be decorated or any color board if not
  • Double stick tape or adhesive glue dots
  • Adhesive Velcro dots
  • Calendar, size is determined by the display board used
  • Dry-erase memo board, size is determined by the display board
  • Sticky-note dispenser
  • Clip to attached homework and school notices
  • Pencil pouch filled with pencils, pens, erasers, child-safe scissors
  • Calculator

Fold-up Homework Station – instructions

  1. Display board can be decorated with paint, stickers, etc.  The idea is to get your child involved with the decorations so that they get excited about using the homework station.  (I choose to leave the board white and let the accessories add the color to the project).
  2. Prior to attaching accessories, determine placement on the board.  Be aware of the items positions, especially in the left and right sections because those will be folded in when the homework station is not in use.  (I choose to position the calendar in the center section, the memo board in the left section and the supplies and other accessories in the right section).
  3. Attach the accessories with double-stick tape or adhesive dots for paper or light items.  Use adhesive Velcro dots for accessories that will be removable, such as a calculator.
  4. The fold-up homework station is now complete and ready to use.  When your child is not using the homework station it can be folded and stored away in a nearby closet. (I choose to leave the homework station out all the time because we have a countertop/desk area in our kitchen that is used specifically for our daughter to do her homework)

2013-08-16 17.14.13

The fold-up homework station is a great idea if you have several children at your home.  Make a homework station for each child, set them up at a table and the children can work with disturbing each other because the homework stations will act as a partition to separate them.

For more information about getting your kids ready for back-to-school, please check out the post Ideas and Tips for a Great School Year.

I hope your new school year gets off to a great start!!

Ideas and Tips for a Great School Year

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School supplies 1

August … in our home it means that summer break is almost over and a new school year is about to start!  Of course, it also means that it is time to shop for new school clothes (kids grow so fast!) and new school supplies.    When our daughter was in elementary school I was able to do most of the shopping quickly by myself but now that she is an “official” teenage for the last couple of years she has been very particular about everything from clothes, backpack, binder, etc.

Preparing for a new school year can be very time consuming and a stressful process.  Establishing some family back-to-school traditions is a wonderful way for children, preschool to high school age, to get excited about the start of a new school year but more importantly it builds wonderful memories and makes them feel loved. So, to help prepare for the upcoming new school year here are some tips and ideas:

End of summer traditions

  • Plan one last weekend trip to a favorite destination; maybe it is spending a day at the beach, lake or local pool, maybe it is going to the amusement park, miniature golf course or a water park.  The idea is to have a fun time at one of the family’s favorite summer locations.
  • Who says you have to go somewhere to have a good time, you can go camping in your own backyard!  Just set-up a tent with a few sleeping bags, be sure to have a couple of flashlights and the family can spend a wonderful night under the stars at your own home!  Plan a special family meal cooked on the outdoor grill and don’t forget the fixings for s’mores.
  • Before school starts, plan a great movie night; it can be at the local theatre in your town or in the comfort of your own home.  If the family is going out to the movie theatre, make it an event by first having a quick dinner at a favorite restaurant or after the movie go from some ice cream or frozen yogurt.  If the family is staying movie home to watch a movie; make a special dinner and a great dessert and don’t forget to make some popcorn to eat during the movie.
  • Another idea is to have a family game night.  Bring out the old favorite family games such as monopoly, scrabble, trivial pursuit, etc.  The important thing is to spend some quality time together as a family and have some fun!

Preparing for the new school year

  • Shopping for school supplies – usually the school will have a supply list available.  The key to shopping for school supplies is to shop early when the items are first available in the stores, then there is more of a selection and items are not sold out.  Since our daughter started middle school, I found that this is especially true for locker equipment and accessories which for some reason are usually in the stores in limited quantities.  In middle school decorating their locker is a big thing and items like locker shelves quickly sell out, so shop early to get the items that are needed.

CRAFT IDEA #1 – Last year, we decorated a white binder with a collage of pictures, it was a simple and easy project and my daughter loved it!  To make one of your own, just be sure to buy a binder with a plastic sleeve on the front.  Select a variety of photos and glue them to a sheet of white scrapbook paper pre-cut to fit the size of the binder.  Allow the glue is dry completely; then simply slip the paper with the photos into the front sleeve of the binder.

Decorated binders 1

CRAFT IDEA #2 – Add scrapbook stickers to plain binders for a one-of-a-kind look!

Decorated binders 2

  • Shopping for school clothes – For many families, especially those with young girls, shopping for school clothes can be a very stressful time.  I would advise first to set a budget; this should be discussed with your child prior to shopping.  Make a list of the items needed for the school year, leaving here in the Midwest our family will shop twice a year for school clothes, fall/winter clothes and spring clothes. Next, if you have a young daughter, buy some age appropriate fashion magazines and look through them together.  Discuss the school dress code and what the limitations are before shopping.  Hopefully with these suggestions a trip to the store to shop for school clothes will be a better experience.  I went to a private school and had to wear a uniform for all 12 years of school, if your child is wearing a uniform think about the importance of accessories; maybe a nice watch or some great jewelry so they can add their own personality into their daily outfit.  (Always check first to see what the school dress code allows)
  • Plan a visit to the school prior to the first day – this is a great idea if your child is transitioning from preschool to elementary school, elementary to middle school or middle to high school.    This is very helpful especially if your child is nervous and anxious about a change from one school to another.  When we moved from California to the Midwest, we took our daughter to her new school to check it out prior to the first day, she was able to see her new classroom, meet the teacher and take a tour of the school.
  • After summer mornings sleeping in, prepare your child by getting them up earlier each day for a week before the first day of school.  Check that their alarm clock is working correctly and if they don’t have one for their bedroom be sure to buy them one.

The night before the first day of school

  • Pick out the clothes the night before, this will help to hopefully avoid some of the madness and make getting dressed in the morning a little easier and faster.
  • Make sure they have everything they need in the bathroom, including toothbrush and toothpaste, etc.
  • Be sure that their backpack is ready to go and they have all their supplies so they can just grab it and leave in the morning and not forget anything.
  • Have a great quiet family dinner, it would be a great opportunity to talk about the first day and answer any questions.
  • Pack their lunch the night before, make sure that first day lunch has their favorite sandwich, a healthy snack and drink and a yummy treat for dessert.  Maybe tuck in a special note telling them how much you love them and wish them a great first day!
  • Go to bed a little earlier the night before the first day of school and get a good night’s rest.  Be sure to have your child set the alarm clock in their bedroom and also set the alarm clock in your bedroom, too.  The trick is to set your alarm for a few minutes earlier to make sure your child wakes up with plenty of time to eat a good breakfast and to get dressed.

The first day of school

  • One of the special traditions in our family is on the first day of school I always take a picture of my children with their backpacks and lunch boxes.  It is a wonderful way to look back and see how much they have grown and how fashion has changed over the years.  Be sure to allow at least an extra 10 minutes to take some quick photos.  (Another idea is to take a picture on the last day of school every year – this is something I didn’t do but now I wished I had!)

Chris first day of Kindergarten OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

  • Consider giving your child a small gift on the first day of school.  It can be something practical that they can use for school or maybe have a special toy for when they get home.
  • When your child gets home from school on the first day, have a festive banner welcoming them home.  Bake a special treat for your child to enjoy when they get home, maybe their favorite cake, cookies or cupcakes.  This is a great opportunity for your child to share their first day experience.

I hope everyone has a great start to the school year!!

Celebration – A Royal Birth and Christening

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Princess Victoria's chritening

Since the news that the royal couple, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, were expecting their first child was announced in December 2012, shortly followed by the Duchess’ hospitalization early in her pregnancy with hyperemesis gravidarum and then the seemingly endless wait for the child to be born, there had been much anticipation and worldwide attention for the joyous event.

Finally on July 22, 2013, Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge, the first child of Prince William and the former Kate Middleton, was born and he will be third in line of succession to the British throne.  The royal baby will be the third great-grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II (her eldest grandson and Princess Anne’s son, Peter Philips has two daughters) and the first grandchild of Prince Charles.  The last time a serving monarch had a great-grandchild born in a direct line of succession to the throne was over 120 years ago, in 1894 when Queen Victoria was sovereign and the future Edward VIII was born.

Queen Victoria - four generations  Queen Elizabeth - four generations

Interesting Facts and Traditions of the Birth of a Royal

  • Royal Highness Prince George was born in the Lindo Wing of St. Mary’s Hospital in London, England.  It is the same hospital where 31 years earlier, Prince William was born to Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana.  This was not always the case of a heir to the British throne being born in a hospital, Prince Charles was born at Buckingham Palace and the Queen was born at the home belonging to her mother’s parents at 17 Burton Street in Mayfair, England.
  • Prior to 1948, the Home Secretary was required to attend the birth of a royal baby to ensure that the child born was a legitimate heir to the throne.  Since that time it was determined that there was no constitutional requirement needed for his presence. This number of birth witnesses is very small in comparison to the 42 witnesses that were present to verify the birth of the son of King James III in 1688 when the legitimacy of the pregnancy was called into question and the true heir to the British throne was in doubt.
  • An official public proclamation with information on the baby’s gender, time of birth and weight and it is signed by the royal doctors and this framed announcement is traditionally placed near the gates of Buckingham Palace after the Queen and the immediate families of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been informed of the birth of the royal baby.  This old-fashioned custom is still observed even in the modern age of worldwide mass media coverage.  For the birth of Prince George an announcement was also made on the royal website.
  • Royal births are traditionally celebrated with gun salutes, 41 rounds fired in Green Park by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery and 62 rounds fired at the Tower of London by the Honourable Artillery Company.  The British flag will also be flown from all of England’s government buildings, Royal Navy ships and military installations.
  • The names given to royal babies are not usually revealed to the public for several days.  When Prince William was born in 1982, the name was not made public and announced until seven days later.  When Prince Charles was born in 1948 it took even longer and it was a month before his name was revealed just prior to his christening.  Normally royal babies often have several forenames; the Duke of Cambridge was christened Prince William Arthur Philip Louis.  Royal babies with the title of Royal Highness (HRH) normally do not need surnames, but if one is used there are three possible choices: Mountbatten-Windsor, Wales or Cambridge.

After the royal birth, there is always the customary photo of the newborn baby with their royal parents on the steps just outside the hospital for the hundreds of worldwide press that is waiting.  Shown below are the photos in 2013 of Prince George with his parents the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and in 1982 of Prince William with his parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Left - Prince George Right - Prince William

Details of a Royal Christening

  • Traditionally, royal christenings are generally private affairs usually held at Buckingham Palace in the Music Room.  For Prince George, his christening will take place at  the small chapel at St. Jame’s Palace on October 23, 2013.  The royal baby will be a three months old and the Archbishop of Canterbury will perform the ceremony.  Besides the royal baby and his parents, there will be a small group of family, close friends and the child’s godparents.  After the ceremony the group will sit for formal portraits that will be released to the media.  On the occasion of Prince William’s christening, it was the Queen Mother’s 82nd birthday.  Shown below are the christening photos from 1982 of Prince William, from 1948 of Prince Charles and from 1926 of Princess Elizabeth.
    Princess Elizabeth - christening  Prince Charles - christening

    Prince William - christening  Prince George's christening 2013
  • In 1840, Queen Victoria commissioned a special silver baptismal font when she was expecting her first child with husband, Prince Albert.  The font was made by Barnard & Co. and the symbol of the lily was used to represent purity and new life.  The christening ceremony of Princess Victoria took place in February 1841 in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace.  According to a painting by C.R. Leslie, the font was placed on a circular table and the Archbishop of Canterbury used water from the River Jordon.  For the new royal baby, the same silver font and water from the River Jordan will be used for his christening in the chapel at St. Jame’s Palace.

Lily font

  • For the birth of her first child, Queen Victoria also commissioned a lovely christening “robe” made with Honiton lace and lined in white satin, it has a very long skirt with an elaborate collar and bow.  Since 1841 over 60 royal children have worn it for their christening including four Kings, King Edward VII, King George V, King Edward VIII and King George VI.  Queen Elizabeth II wore it for her christening, as well as all her children and every grandchild except one.  The last to wear it was Lady Louise Windsor, the daughter of the Earl and Countess of Wessex in 2004.  The original robe was very old and fragile by that time and to preserve the historical outfit an exact handmade replica was made by the Queen’s dresser, Angela Kelly.  Viscount Severn, the son of the Earl and Countess of Wessex, was the first to wear it at his christening in 2008.
  • Royal babies usually have five or six godparents, although Prince William had eight.  Possible godparents for William and Kate’s new son will more than likely include Prince Harry, Pippa and James Middleton.  In addition royal experts expect at least two more godparents which would have to be someone from William and Kate intimate circle of friends.
  • At the reception following the royal baby’s christening, it is traditional to serve the top tier of the parent’s wedding cake.  This is a tradition that Prince William wanted to keep and after their wedding in 2011 the cake was specially preserved in the freezer awaiting the birth of their first child.

For more information the Music Room in Buckingham Palace where several royal christenings have taken place throughout the centuries, please check out yesterday’s Travel Post, “Buckingham Palace“.

Royal Update: On May 2, 2015 Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, the second child of Prince William and the former Kate Middleton, was born in the Lindo Wing of St. Mary’s Hospital in London, England which was the same hospital where her brother, Prince George, was born in 2013.  Princess Charlotte’s christening will take place on July 5, 2015 in St. Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, England.  For more information on Sandringham, please click on the link.

Travel – Buckingham Palace

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Buckingham Palace

My family and I were fortunate to visit London, England back in 1998.  There are so many wonderful places to see when you visit London, such as the Tower of London with the Crown Jewels, the Victoria and Albert Museum with their fascinating exhibits, the Parliament building with Big Ben or Kensington Palace where Princess Diana lived and where William and Kate are now making their London residence.  Of course, no trip to London would be complete without a visit to Harrods Department Store for lunch in the famous food court or afternoon tea upstairs in the elegant Georgian Restaurant.  In this Travel post I will be sharing our visit to Buckingham Palace and the most iconic building in England.

A Brief History of Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is actually located in the City of Westminster and it is the official London residence and administrative offices of the current British monarch.  Originally known as Buckingham House, a large townhouse was built on the site for the first Duke of Buckingham in 1705.  In 1761, King George III acquired it as a private retreat for Queen Charlotte and during that time it was known as the Queen’s House.  In 1820, King George IV, quickly decided that Buckingham House, as it was now known as, would be the perfect location for his new London home.   John Nash, the famous architect, was chosen to design and he built two new wing additions to the building which was now being referred to as Buckingham Palace.  The renovations were still far from completion when George IV died and his brother became King William IV.  The new king had no interest in moving from Clarence House into the unfinished palace.  Nash was fired due to his massive overspending and Edward Blore was brought in as the new architect to complete the project.  Finally in 1837, on the accession of Queen Victoria to the British throne, she moved from Kensington Palace into Buckingham Palace and it became the official royal palace of the British monarch since that time.

After the marriage of Queen Victoria to Prince Albert and with the birth of their nine children, Buckingham Palace went through further expansion to accommodate the large British Royal family.  Blore was brought in again as the architect to design the fourth wing which added the east façade to the front of palace.  After the death of her husband, Queen Victoria rarely occupied her London residence and preferred the seclusion of their other homes of Balmoral, Osborne House and Windsor Castle.  Upon her death in 1901, King Edward VII moved in and extensively redecorated Buckingham Palace with a classic white and gold theme which still remains in many areas of the palace, such as the Grand Entrance and Staircase and the Grand Ballroom.  During this time to honor his mother and the beloved British Monarch, the Victoria Memorial was erected in front of the palace.

Queen Victoria statue

Until the Second World War, there were very few changes made to Buckingham Palace.  Then, during the German bombing of London Queen Victoria’s private chapel At Buckingham Palace received a direct hit and was destroyed.  Years after the war ended, the chapel was rebuilt and Queen Elizabeth decided that the space would be used for royal exhibits and this area of the palace was opened to the public.  The funding received was used to construct the Queen’s Gallery which now houses art pieces from the Royal Collection.  Then in 1993, while the Queen was in Balmoral and not in residence at Buckingham Palace during the summer months, the State Rooms were open for public tours.  This was initially done to raise funds for the rebuilding and repair of Windsor Castle which had undergone serious damage after a fire in 1992.  Since then Buckingham Palace and several other royal palaces have been opened during specific times of the year and the funds now continue to maintain the Royal Collection, including the buildings, art and other objects of historical importance which are held in trust by the Monarch for Britain.

1998 buckingham palace chris

1998 – My son, Chris, at the gates to Buckingham Palace

A Tour of Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms, which include 19 State rooms, 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms.  The building is just over 118 yards long across the front, over 131 yards deep including the central quadrangle and over 26 yards high.  Buckingham Palace has been the setting for many royal ceremonies, State visits from foreign leaders, Investitures and even the Queen’s Garden party.  This is the place in London were the British people come to celebrate joyous occasions such as the end of World War II on VE day in 1945, the Queen’s coronation in 1953, and most recently the Diamond Jubilee in 2013.

Buckingham Palace VE day - 1945 a Queen Elizabeth's coronation day - 1953

Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee - 2013

Visitors with pre-arranged tour tickets will enter through a Buckingham Palace side entrance after passing through a security check.  The first area after entering the State Room wing of the palace is the Grand Hall with the lovely Grand Staircase.  Designed by the architect John Nash at the request of King George IV, the Grand Staircase has a balustrade with intricate patterns of acanthus, oak and laurel leaves.  As visitors ascend the curved marble staircase the upper walls are lined with portraits of Queen Victoria and her family.

As visitors pass into the Guard Room there are white marble statues of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.  The next room is the Green Drawing Room which serves as a huge reception area before entering the Throne Room.  The Green Drawing Room is decorated with a patterned red carpet and the walls are lined in green and gold silk.

Green drawing room

As you walk through the Green Drawing Room, visitor will then enter the Throne Room.  This beautiful State Room was designed for ceremonial receptions and at one end of the room there is a raised platform with two red thrones embroidered with the initials of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip and overhead is a red canopy trimmed in gold.  The upper portions of the walls and the ceiling are lined with the heraldic shields representing England, Scotland, Ireland and Hanover.

Throne room 1

Customarily formal wedding portraits are taken in the Throne Room after a Royal Wedding ceremony.  Shown below are the wedding portrait of the then Princess Elizabeth to Prince Phillip in 1947, the wedding portrait of Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1981 and most recently the wedding portrait of Prince William to Kate Middleton in 2011.

Royal wedding 1947

Royal wedding 1981 The royal wedding

After the Throne Room, visitors will exit into the Picture Gallery which displays an ever changing exhibit of paintings from the Royal Collection.  The four marble chimneypieces in this room have female figures holding paint brushes and artist palettes; in the center of the room is a ceiling medallion of four famous painters: Titian, Leonardo de Vinci, Durer and Van Dyck.  This room is used for the investiture recipients who assemble here before entering the Ballroom to receive their awards for achievement.

The next room on the tour is the Ballroom, which is one of the largest rooms in Buckingham Palace.  The Ballroom was originally decorated by King Edward VII in 1906 in white and gold with a large organ at one end and six beautiful crystal chandeliers overhead.   The Ballroom is used for State Dinners such as the one held in May 2011 for President Barack Obama.  It is also frequently used for investitures that are held throughout the year performed by Queen Elizabeth and the recipients are awarded British honors and sometimes knighthoods.

Grand Ballroom 1

Exiting the Ballroom, visitors will walk through the West Gallery before entering the State Dining Room.  The State Dining Room is decorated with red damask walls and a matching red with white and gold plasterwork on the ceiling.  Many dignitaries from presidents to prime ministers have attended smaller dinner parties in this lovely room in the palace.

State Dining Room

The next room on the tour is the Blue Drawing Room which is decorated with blue flock wallpaper and portraits of King Georg V and Queen Mary which hang on either side of the fireplace.  This was John Nash’s original Ballroom and the first State Ball was held here on May 1838 as part of the celebrations leading up to Queen Victoria’s Coronation.

Blue Drawing Room

Exiting the Blue Drawing Room, visitors enter the large doomed Music Room.  The room is decorated with white and gold frieze, two large chandeliers hang overhead and along the edge of the room there are sixteen blue columns.  This is the room where the British Royal families’ babies are christened by the Archbishop of Canterbury.  (Please check out tomorrow’s Celebration post, A Royal Christening, for details about these special British Royal ceremonies)

Music Room

The final State room on the tour is the White Drawing Room, which is decorated in white and gold with four smaller chandeliers and one large chandelier in the center of the room.  Along a wall are mirrors and cabinets that conceal secret doors that allow members of the Royal family to enter the room.  This room serves as a Royal reception room for the Queen and members of the Royal family gather in before State and official occasions.

White Drawing Room

From here visitors exit down to the next floor and into the Marble Hall which opens into the Grand Hall.  From there visitors enter the Bow Room, which is the last room on the tour before exiting through the palace gardens.

1998 buckinham place barbara

1998 – Me at the gates to Buckingham Palace