Page 35 - WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE DISCOVERING ENGLAND

Left: The Tomb of the Unknown Warrior
lined with red flowers. Right: A painting
of Edward VII being married to Alexandra
of Denmark in Westminster Abbey in 1863

» ell, that did it! That ing sometimes doesn’t work, but a bit of fairy tale and fantasy left from

same year, when Prin- they certainly know how to throw a our childhood. We like to believe in the
Wcess Margaret, the royal wedding! prince and princess, and the hope that
queen’s younger sister, married at they live happily ever after.
Westminster Abbey, I watched the I stood in front of Westminster Ab-
bey as the 10 bells began gloriously And Britain’s royal family gives us some
ceremony on a small black-and- and powerfully ringing from the of that.
white TV. I was mesmerized by the bell tower. The Westminster Abbey
pageantry and the beautiful bride— Company of Ringers, an amazing
just as I was when William and IF YOU GO
Kate's royal wedding was held some volunteer group, did the ringing of
the full peal by hand, which contin- For information on worship times, concerts, tour-
50 years later. Throughout the years ued over three hours. Later I stood ing (self-guided with audiotapes for about $25,
I’ve watched the other televised among the masses in front of Buck- or guided), the Choir School—even purchasing
royal weddings in Westminster Ab- ingham Palace for the balcony scene souvenirs—please visit:
bey—and, of course, stayed up all and fly-over.
night to watch Charles and Diana’s www.westminster-abbey.org
lavish 1981 wedding in London’s St. I was struck by the festive crowd
Paul’s Cathedral. of all ages, from all over the world. The official website of the British Monarchy:
Some creative ones wore tiaras, roy- www.royal.gov.uk/Home.aspx
I was lucky to make a pilgrimage to al family masks, wedding dresses,
be in London on the actual day of VisitBritain: www.visitbritain.com
William and Kate’s wedding—join- Union Jack face paint. Young chil-
dren, teens, parents, grandparents— VisitEngland: www.visitengland.com
ing the million spectators in the city various cultures and languages—all
centre. I was struck by the minute celebrating the joyous event. VisitWales: www.visitwales.com
precision of the timetable to get the Rubens at the Palace Hotel (The “royal” rooms over-
royal family—including the bride With all the problems there are in look The Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace): www.
and groom--to the church on time. the world, all the sad things that go

Hand it to the Brits—their plumb- on so often, we all still like to have rubenshotel.com

Winter 2014 winedineandtravel.com 35