Tag Archives: Sandringham

Sandringham at Christmas, and a Year to Remember

24 Monday Dec 2012

Posted by in The Royal Family, Travel, Uncategorized, United Kingdom

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It was so lovely to see Sandringham this past summer when we were in England.

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It was just on the heels of the Jubilee Celebration in London, and we managed to visit one day ahead of the Queen, who was holding a very large garden party on the lawn the next day.

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With all the excitement over the Duchess of Cambridge’s pregnancy this Christmas season and will she or won’t she be at Sandringham with the Royal Family as tradition usually dictates,  it brought back memories of this beautiful place set in the Norfolk countryside.

This winter I can now actually visualize The Queen sitting with her family in the lovely drawing-room, perhaps working on a particularly tricky corner at her special jigsaw puzzle table. And I am hoping the Duke and Duchess get a chance to enjoy the cottage his grandmother gave him on the estate in honor of his 30th birthday. But perhaps this will be the year they spend Christmas with her family, and squeeze in a visit to the royal side of the family sometime over the holiday week. That is what the word is.

Still, when the English news shows the Royal Family walking to chapel on Christmas morning, I will remember it from last summer. When we were there, it looked so familiar from all the past Christmas photos. And this year the Queen did her Christmas message in 3-D…the old and the new.  Ever the modern Queen who also honors tradition.

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St. Mary Magdalen’s Church across the gardens and fields from the Queen’s Sandringham Estate. Photo by me

2012 was a year to remember, with not one, but two visits for me this year to England.  One in the late spring and early June, just in time for the Queen’s huge Diamond Jubilee Celebration in London.

The night of the Jubilee Concert at Buckin

The night of the Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace. Photo by me June 2012

And later in November to work on the creative workshop we are planning for next September in Bath.

The River Avon runs through Bath. Photo by me.

The River Avon runs through Bath. Photo by me.

In between was the Olympics (which I devoured on TV), and lots of happy news from relatives and friends on both sides of the pond (including my first grand-niece !!!!!).

And then of course, right before Christmas the announcement of the royal baby on his or her way.  Lovely that it will wear the crown either way–boy or girl. As long as the new future monarch is happy and healthy, what does it matter.

What an incredible year.

A Royal Garage at Sandringham

17 Wednesday Oct 2012

Posted by in cars, England, History, The Royal Family

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When we travel through England, I find My Beloved Brit approaches a house tour with much more enthusiasm if there is a display of cars involved.  One of the best I found was Sandringham, the Royal Family’s Norfolk estate.  The old stables have been converted to a museum, and cars were a major feature of the displays.

The road from the main house to the museum at Sandringham was a lovely walk, even in the rain. Photo by me.

We walked across the park and arrived at the gates to the courtyard…

The entrance to the museum at Sandringham. Photo by me

…of what was formerly the stable block and coach house for the estate.  Inside was the museum with lots of photos and story boards showing the history of Sandringham, and whole rooms full of memorabilia and gifts given to the Royal Family through the years.

An arrangement showing bits from the stables earlier days. Photo by me

Every time we went in to another room, there was something interesting to see.  But when we turned the corner into the beginning of the car exhibitions, MBBs eyes lit up.

MBB thought it was a bit embarrassing to see something in a museum that he remembered from his childhood, but he was still delighted to see it. Photo by me

The first thing he saw was a tiny car, which was very similar to one he had as a boy.

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There were several of them in the room, and people were thrilled to see them.

Further on, the cars got grander.

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I loved that you could look in to the interiors, and just imagine what it was like for the Queen.

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There was a variety of cars used for the Royal Family and the staff.

Another beauty. Photo by me

A country car the staff used to bring the luggage from the train station.

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And cars for all occasions.

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For once, my Beloved Brit was speechless

Photo by me

Sandringham, the Queen’s Norfolk Retreat

12 Tuesday Jun 2012

Posted by in England, Gardens, History, The Royal Family, Travel, Uncategorized, United Kingdom

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We’ve come north to Norfolk to see the Queen’s residence in Sandringham.  It was raining yesterday (yes, again) and although we were also going to be in the area today, it was listed on the internet as being closed on this particular Tuesday.

When My Beloved Brit (with rain dripping down his neck) inquired at the ticket office as to why we did not have the option of coming tomorrow, we were told it was the Queen’s Garden Party in honor of the Diamond Jubilee. They were setting up tents everywhere for their nearest and dearest…4,000 guests…as we went through.

The tents were being set up for the Queen's Garden Party. Photo by me.

Our invitation must have been lost in the post. Rumour had it that she was already in the area, but we never did run in to her or her corgis.

Sandringham is lovely, even in the rain. Photo by me.

It was still a lovely visit.The gardens were being spruced up for the party.

The gardens were freshly weeded and pruned. Photo by me.

As we approached in the rain, we could see they were setting up for the big event, so we went around the side to the main entrance.

Sandringham. Photo by me

You actually may tour much of the living area of the main floor which is lovely (no photos allowed).  In the main drawing-room, the Queen’s special felt covered table where she does her jigsaw puzzles was in direct view of the fireplace. It all looked very cozy.The dining room was exquisite. And the carpets! We left the main house in awe and crossed the green towards the museum.

Even with the rain it was perfect.  The trees on the estate are magnificent.  Every time you turn a corner you see one more impressive than the last.

On the path to the museum in the old stable complex. Photo by me

We found the museum which was filled with a wide variety of vintage cars that the Royal Family had owned and used on the estate. MBB was a happy man. I’ll try to do a  post on that in the future, but suffice it to say, I would have been proud to own any one of those cars, even the ones used to carry the luggage from the train station.

The museum had a wide variety of The Royal Family's classic vehicles. Photo by me

We headed towards the exit of the property to return to the car park, and wandered along the lake.

The grounds were magnificent. Photo by me

We constantly saw people preparing for the party the next day.  All of the guides in the house were talking about it and what they might wear if it was still raining. The excitement was building.

Everywhere people were primping the house and grounds awaiting the Queen's party. Photo by me

The gardens all looked perfect to me, and each time we made a turn on the road through the grounds we decided it was our new favorite view.

Sandringham from across the lake. Photo by me

Finally we approached the small church, so familiar from the news photos of the Royal Family attending services there every Christmas.

St. Mary Magdalen's Church at Sandringham. Photo by me

MBB teases me that he’s seen more of England since he met me than he has in a lifetime, especially anything having to do with The Royal Family.  I think Sandringham is the last of the Royal Residences on our list of grand houses to see. I asked him which was his favorite, but they are all so different and beautiful in their own way, it is just too hard to choose.

I thought of the Queen today. The sun has just appeared which has been very rare in the past couple of weeks.  The ladies can wear their special outfits for the Garden Party this afternoon.