Intro to England

Our first stop in England was Windsor Castle. This sprawling royal residence is, of course, one of several "second homes" for the queen. 

She stays here on the weekends and always on Easter with her family we were told by a security guard who seemed very proud to be part of the pageantry. He went into details about how he set up a movie theater in the ballroom in which we were currently standing. He seemed intimately involved in the events, so it was fun to talk to him. Our first stop in the castle was to see Queen Elizabeth's doll house from her childhood, equipped with running water and electricity. It was about five tall stories high and housed an entire fleet of limousines. 

We also viewed her doll clothing collection, which was most definitely more impressive than any dress collection any of my girls have ever had hanging in their closet. 

We saw the royal china, the weapons room, which the boys loved, and then visited ballrooms and meeting rooms. 

We wandered the grounds, including St. Georges Chapel, where many royal weddings have taken place and it's foundation is full of royal tombs. 

It has been so fun to experience the royal sites with Sarah, since her family is English. Her excitement for the queen and her family rubbed off on us, and we too began looking for any sign of the royal family. We stopped so that she could mail a post card home from Windsor Palace. 

We then headed across the Thames for a peek at Eton College, the boys school where William and Harry attended not too long ago. The walk down the main road leading from the castle to the college was unquestionably English, with flags flapping, shops full of tea cups, and little English gardens hidden behind iron gates. 

 Once on the campus, it was fun to imagine the life of the boys who study here. Many of England's prime ministers have attended Eton, as well as other leaders and royalty.

This stop was the perfect introduction to our time in the United Kingdom.