Palace, Purdey, Rod and Gibbet

Palace

London is bursting at its seams in August and September as the world comes to visit. There was a time when I would caution anyone from visiting Europe's most thrilling city at such a time, However few can choose their vacation dates, and the Queen has changed London's summer visiting scene by opening up Buckingham Palace during August and September while she and the Royal Family are enjoying a Highland respite at Balmoral Castle.

Buckingham Palace is a lived-in working residence for Britain's Head of State. Its State Rooms are in constant use for what they were designed and decorated for by George IV and succeeding monarchs; Occasions of State. Unlike museums which so often have the dead feel of a flyblown case of decaying butterfly specimens, the Palace is vibrant with the energy of use.

I like to pay a visit to the Palace each summer now to admire the works of art; paintings, sculpture, porcelain and furniture that are on display in the State Rooms and Queens Gallery and make up part of Britain's remarkable Royal Collection heritage.

Each year Her Majesty authorises an added bonus: a themed exhibition mounted in the hugely opulent State Ballroom, now used for Palace investitures and State banquets. Previous exhibitions have featured memorabilia pertaining to the late Queen Mother's time at the Palace from 1937 - 1953. Jubilee Year saw an exhibition devoted to the coronation and the Queen's coronation robes. This year sees an exhibition of royal ball gowns worn by Queen Victoria; a reminder that as a young Queen she was very much the belle of the ball, frequently dancing till 4 with her beloved Albert! Among the gowns on display is one worn by Victoria's daughter-in-law, who later became Queen Alexandra as Edward VII's Consort. There will be few who can match her 20 inch waist in this era of Big Macs.

Purdey

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