Windsor and Hampton Court

Windsor

The queue for getting into Windsor Castle seemed inordinately large - far larger than the queue for any other venue I've gone to - 

OH!  It's the queen's 90th birthday TODAY!

Well, I never thought I'd be part of a crowd in Britain behind the barriers awaiting a royal event, but never say "never," I guess  .  .  .

I didn't see her with my eyes, but I held my camera way up high and got lucky.  She's in the lime green right in the center of the picture below.  She's the first British monarch to reach age 90.

So the day turned out quite differently than I had expected.  Originally my plan was to visit Windsor and Hampton Court.  After looking into the travel involved I decided both in one day was too much, so I settled on Windsor (which does have some tangential mathematical connections).  I went anticipating seeing the castle but "saw" the sovereign instead.  Supposedly the public rooms of the castle were open to the public until 2:00 pm, but I couldn't find a way to get in, so off to Hampton Court I went!

Hampton Court Palace was astonishing beyond words, so, other than a few captions I'm letting the pictures speak for themselves.  There's a video clip of the Privy Gardens at the end.

Clock Court

The Great Hall

Ceiling of the Great Hall (from the time of Anne Boleyn)

Ceiling of the Great Watching Chamber (from the time of Jane Seymour)

Detail of a tapestry in the Great Watching Chamber

Christopher Wren's work

The Privy Gardens

Thinking of my hubby who would LOVE this topiary!

Hedge Maze at Hampton Court