29 July 2014

Buckingham Palace opens for summer 2014 with a look at the Royal Childhood

Fancy a nose around Buckingham Palace? Luckily HM The Queen kindly leaves London for several months each summer so can pop in!  As well as enjoying the sumptuous state rooms of Buckingham Palace, you can visit their special exhibition which changes each year. For 2014 we have 'Royal Childhood' as the theme, no doubt inspired by Prince George's first birthday. They have well loved toys and pristine ones, childhood outfits and gifts to the royal families from the time of the future George lV in 1767 through to Prince George of Cambridge.

Entering by the side door, sadly not through the front entrance, you are soon into the heart of the official royal residence in London.There is a no photo ban on the state rooms but we could snap away in the special exhibition.

The impressive front of Buckingham Palace with the family waving from the balcony!

The Royal Childhood in its elaborate setting

I've picked out my favourite items but there are over 150 items in all spanning over 250 years and many generations of the royal family. The blanket intrigued me as I can't imagine how Queen Victoria had the time or the inclination to make her own!


Royal nursery chairs

Blanket made by Queen Victoria  in 1883 for her granddaughter   

17th century cradle used by Queen Victoria's daughter

Casket with the teeth of Queen Victoria's first children

Royal outfits feature strongly and I enjoyed the display of mannequins in front of photos of the same outfit:

HM Queen, a young Prince Charles and his Scottish outfit
The Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret in pink coats




















Princess Di with Prince William in green shorts

Other charming gems were the earliest remaining dress belonging to a Princess Victoria in around 1830 and a delightful silk plaid dress from 1844 worn by a Prince!



Fit for a Princess
Fit for a Prince!

Saving your child's drawings and writings happens in all families and the royal are no different so Prince Charles's art work and the Queen's note book are on display, although I doubt they ever got stuck onto the fridge!

Prince Charles aged 8

Now aged 9

Princess Elizabeth writes to her friend

What struck me was that the royals have much the same toys as the rest of us but they are much much bigger and better!  One great example of this is Prince Andrew's fully functioning James Bond car with rotating number plates, a working smoke screen and which is big enough for a child to sit in and drive. There is a miniature caravan which you could live in and Parisian dolls dressed in Lanvin!

Fancy a spin?


The royal caravan

Poshest of dolls
There are some delightful films playing as you go round the special exhibition, showing the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret having dancing lessons, various royals pushing their children around in carts and the fun sight of Princess Margaret chasing after Prince Charles and Princess Anne!



 

Prince George does appear in a few photos but this show is mostly about his parents, grand parents and much further back than that!

 

After enjoying the palace and the Royal Childhood, visitors are rewarded by the great cafe overlooking the enormous gardens where the cakes come with chocolate crowns on! Suitably refreshed you are ready to attack the shop with quality royal themed gifts for all tastes. A new feature this year is the Family Pavilion with games, a rocking horse and a stage with a dressing up box to entertain younger visitors.  The gardens are delightful and so tranquil you can forget you are in the middle of London until you catch a glimpse of the palace again.
 
Quality cakes at the Queen's cafe


 
The tranquil landscaped gardens


The nuts and bolts:
Opening dates:   26th July - 31st August and 1st - 28th September
Entry prices:       2014 - Adults £19.75, over 60/students with card £18, under 17s £11.25 and     under 5s free (timed ticket fee of £1.25 per ticket)

Bye for now,
Sue
@itsyourlondon
www.itsyourlondon.co.uk
 
 


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