LONDON, ENGLAND
We took a train to London to meet up with one of our best friend's, Pam & Gary Phelps, daughter, Denise, who is staying in London for a while. Denise is like a daughter to us since we have known her since she was born and our families spent many vacations together
I made a reservation at the Hyde Park Restaurant, Bar and Garden for High Tea. We haven't seen Denise since her wedding a few years ago since she lives in DC so we were looking forward to catching up with her while she is in London. Denise was re- acquainting herself with London where she has not visited since she was in college. The tea was delightful, and time flew past while we chatted about life, her job, travels, and family. It was so nice to see a face from home.
TOWER OF LONDON
We have been in and out of London during our various stays in England and in the past have seen the major sights in the city but one site we missed was the Tower of London Castle, where the Crown Jewels are on display. So we took a day to spend in London and visit the Castle.
The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London.
It was founded towards the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest. The White Tower, which gives the entire castle its name, was built by William the Conqueror in 1078 and was a resented symbol of oppression, inflicted upon London by the new Norman ruling class
A grand palace early in its history, it served as a royal residence. As a whole, the Tower is a complex of several buildings set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat
From the Tower of London you get great views of the iconic Tower Bridge which is much more spectacular that the London Bridge.
At the Tower of London Castle has a building where the Crown Jewels are on display. The Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom, originally the Crown Jewels of England, are a collection of royal ceremonial objects kept in the Tower of London which include the coronation regalia and vestments worn by British monarchs.
The tradition of housing the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London probably dates from the reign of Henry III (1216–1272). The Jewel House was built specifically to house the royal regalia, including jewels, plate, and symbols of royalty such as the crown, sceptre, and sword.
Probably Queen Elizabeth II's best known crown, was originally made for Queen Victoria’s coronation in 1838. It Contains the Fourth Largest diamond in the world. It is the huge Cullinan Diamond, at 317.4 carats which was found in Africa. It is nestled in the “brow” of the crown – just below the breathtaking Black Prince’s Ruby set in the central panel.
