Took this photo as we left touring the State Apartments. Saw guards changing in this inner courtyard. Couldn't take photos inside but bought lots of postcards showing the rooms from this gift shop at the base of the round tower.
Laurie and I loved St. George's Hall, where the stand-up wedding breakfast took place. This long gallery featured the heraldry of every Knight of the Garter from Edward III's time and we found the places on the walls that listed each Knight and which monarch had appointed him or her. Prince William was number 1,000. Noted Latin motto translated as "Shame on he who thinks evil of it"
We talked to a warden who explained how seated dinners are held for up to 160 people in St. George's Hall. But since there are 600 wedding guests, the luncheon after Harry's wedding will be a stand-up affair with passed hors d'oeuvres. I saw photos of where the cake was served, near the fireplace across from which the monarch always sits at dinners like this.
State apartments on the left connected to private apartments straight back by the lantern lobby, which used to be a chapel and where the fire started. Invited wedding guests will be bussed from the Windsor Farm Store to the round tower, where they will walk down to St. George's Chapel via this same route Laurie and I are walking right now.
This flower banner was artificial but as we enter the door to the chapel, note the pots being readied for the beautiful real flower bower here on the day of the wedding.
Inside this door we saw the services posted for the week, including the wedding on Saturday at noon. this door enters the nave. The chairs weren't set up yet and lots of construction going on. We couldn't ever get to the West Steps from the outside, just saw that door from the inside.
Thrilled to visit the Chapel so we were able to picture everything going on during the wedding. The Queen's parents are buried in a little side chapel on the left side between the nave and quire, along with Princess Margaret. I wondered if this is where Elizabeth and Philip wish to be buried?
Inside the quire, we walked up the aisle and stood exactly where the bride and groom would; she and Prince Charles walked right over the grave of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour. We sat where the Queen and Prince Philip would, Laurie noticing the people polishing the brass rails in front.
We departed via the Galilee porch, which is where you saw the Queen and Meghan's mother enter during the wedding. Again, no photos but bought lots of postcards showing these things.
And here, stealthily snapped, this photo of the Queen and the next three in line for the throne -- Charles, William, and George.
To the left of where I'm standing here were lots of TV booths and the Horseshoe that led around to the West Steps. We never got near those but did leave the same way Harry and William did when they took their walkabout Friday afternoon after tea with Meghan, her mom, the Queen and Prince Philip.
One of the wedding day broadcasts took place right above the Guards Room.
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