Buckingham Palace Tour ( kinda) - London staycation

As much as I would have loved to go away to chase some swimming in a lake or beach, I had some mundane tasks to attend to 

so decided to make the most of the decent weather of late and be a tourist in London. 

They get up to all sorts when Queenie isn't around.

I had never been to Buckingham Palace before and decided that I should finally visit it during its limited opening season as they also had a special Coronation exhibition on where you could see the Coronation gown.  Let me safely tell you that the Queen had a fabulous figure with the smallest waist and quite a bust.  

I am sorry to tell you that there was an absolute ban on photos inside and the stewards were vigilant so there was no way I was going to risk the royal family's wrath.

If you would like to see pictures of the interior, you can click here.

What I can show you is pictures of some of the items in the gift shop.  There were so many people and queues of shoppers 

at the till that I was thinking that the this gift shop was 

the true source of their wealth...

Tin plates for picnics and children with designs of Sevres porcelain used at Buckingham Palace.

Anyone looking for Prince George's commemorative souvenirs?
Click here - apparently they also deliver.

The plate is £45 - not cheap folks.

Teddy bear is £95 but online they've sold out but plenty in store.

The color chosen was such a lovely soft powder blue.

This was the rear of the palace and where the tour ended.

There was a huge marquee cafe area overlooking the garden.

The interior of the palace was not as inspirational as I had hoped but the lawn and garden is almost the size of Hyde Park.  

I am considering going on the garden tour as it was so much bigger than I realized and was such an oasis.

The Queen's corgis are so lucky!

You do get to walk along the edge of the garden to leave the grounds and get a extra peek of the gardens.

That lone building in the distance is the Park Lane Hilton.

I don't envy the palace but the garden!

They had another gift shop en route to the exit.

The Queen selling prayers on cushions.

Even on biscuit tins - these were selling like hotcakes!!

I didn't succumb however.

But these were tempting - corgi stuffed toys...

Costume jewellry based on the royal collection.

American tourists seem to be loving and ordering this cake stand based on porcelain that the Queen likes to use regularly according to the staff but it could be a sales ploy.

Yes that does say £2250 for a souvenir Buckingham Palace clock, mind you it does have Swiss quartz movement.

I was very tempted by the books but managed to refrain.

This is something that Del Boy would buy s'il vous plait.

This is the view the Queen walking back home after a round 

in the gardens with her corgis.

There was a pond with much more on the other side of it but I shall only find out on the garden tour.

Her Majesty's weeds. 

That deserved a shot no?

The gardener who was most helpful answering impromptu questions about planting and weeding.

Leaving the palace grounds was trickier than leaving the supermarket till without buying some chewing gum because they had a last minute ice cream stand made by the milk of the Jersey Cows that Queen Victoria bought and rears in Windsor castle.  

I just had to try some.

It was nice but not worth going just to have the ice cream.

After the tour, my friend  joined me on the 

In Fine Style: The Art of Tudor and Stuart Fashion at the Queen's Gallery.

He is so stylish and today's outfit didn't disappoint.

I love the detailing on his trousers.

I adore the collier de chien bracelet and wish I suited it but it just isn't me no matter how many times I try it on. 

But looks great on him.

The lovely entrance to the gallery.

Queen Henrietta's shoes.

There were superb paintings and the exhibition was a well edited and curated collection.

But what I liked especially was the color of the rooms! 

So vibrant, rich and calming. 

It was giving me ideas for my house reno.

This bloke got a whole room to himself!

This was a post-mortem artistic version of Crimewatch.

Do you know this man?

If you recognize him, the palace would like to know!

I must advise that if you do want to visit the palace then you will have to prebook!

The tickets were sold out for several days beforehand and you will not be able to buy on the spot. 

The tours are very popular due to its limited season and the hype of the royal family of late.

Sorry I couldn't show you inside but thought you might want to see the fringes of the tour!