Travel Tuesday: The Queen

Since moving to England, trying to snap a picture of the royal family has become a bit of an obsession  a hobby.  There are lots of opportunities to see the Queen and all the beautiful pomp and circumstance. These chances are even more frequent in the springtime around Windsor.

Now in my third year here, I have found a few tricks for guaranteeing a nice view of the royal processions.  I'm linking up to Travel Tuesday to share these travel tips.

The first option for viewing the royal family is to find out about a state visit in Windsor.  Last year I had the privilege of seeing the Sheikh of the UAE arrive for his state visit in Windsor.  The pageantry and beauty of the horse drawn procession was incredible!  In an official state visit, the queen drives from Windsor Castle down to the train station to collect the dignitary.  Then they ride in carriages back to the castle.  Two sitings of the queen at once...score!  I am seeing preliminary reports that the president of Ireland will be visiting Windsor this April.  No tickets for this event...just a matter of arriving early and finding a spot along the parade route.  (edited to add: here's a link to the Irish State Visit in 2014)

Another option for the Queen is the Garter Ceremony at Windsor Castle.  I had tickets for this last year, but missed out because of a sick kiddo.  I plan to go this year! (edited to add: here's the link for my visit in 2014) This event has the added bonus of seeing (probably) William and Harry.  The tickets for this are free, but chosen by a lottery.  You can get more info on the royal website linked above.

The other chances to see royalty involve the Royal Ascot races.  These are held every year in June. This is probably the most expensive option for seeing the Queen since you have to buy a ticket to the races.  Seeing all the hats and dresses provide lots of entertainment, along with the horse racing.  The Queen attends each day of racing, arriving around 1:00.  Each day she brings different guests to the races.  You can find out more info about Royal Ascot here.  Click here to see my pictures from 2012 and 2013.

And the last chance to see the Queen is my favorite...Duke's Lane in Great Windsor Park during Royal Ascot week.  As I mentioned, the Queen attends the races each day during this week.  She travels from Windsor Castle in a car to the middle of Windsor Park.  There she makes the "changeover" to her horse-drawn carriage.  This is really an event for the local crowd, with people picnicking along the edge waiting to see the Queen.  (And by picnicking, I mean it in the British sense of the word - tables, china and silverware, tea or wine, and comfy chairs.  Maybe with a Victoria Sponge to go along with it.)  You can see this changeover by walking into Windsor Park or by writing the Crown Estate to get a parking pass.  You can see my pictures from 2012 here and 2013 here and 2014 here.

I can't wait to see some of the royal family this spring during these events.

A State Visit in Windsor

On Tuesday we had the privilege of seeing an official state visit arrive in Windsor.  The President of the United Arab Emirates came to town to visit the Queen.  He is Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.  You might remember me mentioning his image was everywhere in the UAE...everything from billboards to rhinestone-encrusted iPad cases.  This pro-modernization president seems to have a presence everywhere.  There is a building at the University of Wales named after him, and he just donated $150 million to fund cancer research at MD Anderson in Texas.

A state visit usually occurs twice each year.  The queen acts as host to a visiting head of state.  According to the royal website:

Visits normally begin with a ceremonial welcome attended by The Queen and other senior members of the Royal Family. If the guest is staying at Buckingham Palace, the welcome takes place on Horse Guards Parade.

After inspecting a guard of honour, the visiting President or Monarch then travels with The Queen in a Carriage Procession back to Buckingham Palace. 

On the evening of the arrival day, the Head of State will attend a State Banquet in his or her honour. 

It was a wonderful morning out since the weather couldn't have been better.  When the sun shines in Britain, the skies are a bright blue and the sunshine is intense.  Especially when you're used to the gray skies.

Jennifer, Nicole, Christine, Celeste and I had lots of fun watching from front row spots.  The horses were gorgeous, and we got to see the queen twice...once as she drove down to the Windsor station to meet the UAE President and then in the carriage on the ride back to the castle.

A nice lunch in Windsor after the pageantry completed the day.

For more info...here is a Youtube video of the state visit (not mine, but posted by the borough) and the text of the Queen's speech at the state banquet.

We are ready to cheer the parade with our UK and UAE flags.

Sunglasses in England don't happen often!

The UAE flag

Windsor is in the flight path of Heathrow.  We saw so many planes and very low too!

A guard keeping an eye on things

The scene on the street.  It wasn't too crowded.  They put sand on the street to help the horses get traction.

Lots of guards and military marching and inspections

Here comes the Queen in her Bentley

We enjoyed noticing all the different hat adornments of the guards - horns, feathers, etc.

The troops walked down to the station, but on the way back it was a trot/canter.  So beautiful!

Here comes the Queen

This UAE lady was very excited to be in the carriage!

September Books - Share Your Shelf

Some vacations leave you with lots of reading time - by the pool, on the beach, and on the plane.  My recent trip to Spain did NOT!  I read most of these books in the first few weeks of the month.  

I'm also trying a new format for this month's post.  What do you think?  

Link up below with your book post for this month.

State Visit in Windsor II

Another year...another state visit in Windsor.  How I love stalking the royal family!

Last year's visit from the Sheik of the UAE was a little warmer and a little sunnier.  Be sure to check out my post from last year to see a great video of what the procession looks like.

This year's visit was from the Irish President Michael Higgins.  This state visit was history in the making.  Ireland and the UK seem to be making progress in moving past "the troubles."  The Queen visited Ireland 3 years ago, laying a wreath at a memorial to those who fought the Crown for Irish independence.  Now the Irish president is having an official state visit over here.

State visits seem to be all about the pomp and circumstance on the surface.  But the banquets, processions, gifts, and speeches really reflect the relationship between two nations.  You can see a speech from President Higgins here on the BBC and read the Queen's speech from the state banquet here.

On to the photos from the day.  It was a really fun day out with Jenny, Celeste, and Tara.  The weather forecast said sunny and 50F.  But the weather here in England just like in Texas can change in a heartbeat.  We huddled up to stay warm in the clouds and winds that made it feel like winter again.


The town center looks beautiful with Union and Irish banners along the streets.  Bells rang continuously from the 13th century round tower in Windsor Castle.

Here are my friends already starting to look a little chilly!  We were trying not to get the Nando's and McDonald's in the background for our pictures.

A town crier eagerly posed for a picture with us.  We were trying to keep our hair from blowing around like crazy!

There was sand on the streets to help with the horse's traction.  I wish Grace had skipped school to come see all the beautiful horses.

We knew the procession would start soon when the soldiers lined up along the street.  The "supervisor" on the left is using that tool to measure the distance between each soldier.  In the second photo below, he is making adjustments to the soldier's position.

The policemen came along the route first, riding absolutely huge horses.  They looked like draft horses.

Next came the calvary band.

And then the Queen rides in her car down to the Eton train station.  The President did not actually arrive by train, but this is the traditional meeting place for state visits.  It's all about tradition!

The Irish "tri-colour" flag against the blue skies.  We were hoping that the clouds would move away!

And after a little while the procession moves back up the street from the train station to the castle.  To me, this is the fun part to watch.  The horses are all in a very fast trot, and it's very impressive.  The horses seemed extra feisty this year, with several rearing up a little or twisting their heads around.

Here comes the Queen and the Irish President in the carriage.

And then Prince Philip and the President's wife...

And Charles and Camilla...

And here is my claim to fame...  A man from the Irish News took our picture and told us to look on their website.  Our photo is right above one of Prince Charles...wow.  Click here to see their photo gallery...we're about the 8th photo down the page.