The Royal Family is one of the UK’s most significant mainstays, offering a sense of continuity and tradition which many visitors from around the world find fascinating. If you’d like to discover more about the history of the Royals, then London is a great place to start. Here’s a few ways to find out more about the reigning monarch and her family while staying in the capital…
Visit the Queen’s residence at Buckingham Palace
As the Queen’s official London residence, a visit to Buckingham Palace is probably the best place to start when researching the Royals. Open to the public during the summer months, the palace allows you to step into this historic building and find out more about how the royals have lived and worked over the last few centuries. If visiting outside of the summer, there’s still much to see on the outside of the building, with the historic Trooping of the Colour taking place each day. This is just one example of the type of pomp and ceremony for which the Royal Family is well renowned. During your stay at the Montcalm Hotel Chiswell Street, this is an absolute must-see.
See The Crown Jewels at the Tower of London
This lavish ceremonial set is used in coronations, as well as being emblematic of the monarchy as a whole. The Crown Jewels are kept under watchful guard at the Tower of London, but they can be viewed by visitors and are also still used by the Queen for the State Opening of Parliament and other important national ceremonies. Since 1066, coronations have always taken place at Westminster Abbey; the original jewels were destroyed during the Civil War but were remade for Charles II in 1661.
Comprised of precious stones and diamonds from all over the world, they are considered emblematic of royal power and influence – and are another must-see for those keen to explore royal history during their stay at luxury hotels in London.
The Tower of London itself represents another great way to find out more about the UK’s royal lineage; as a palace-turned prison, it’s housed many notable prisoners and acted as the site of a number of well-known executions during the nation’s past. Some of the cells are now open to visitors, letting you glimpse further into what happened when you crossed the monarch in centuries past before returning to the Montcalm Hotel Chiswell Street.
Journey to Westminster Abbey
Site of coronations since William the Conqueror in 1066, and numerous royal weddings (including most recently the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton), Westminster Abbey is one of the city’s most prominent landmarks, and certainly merits a visit from those enthusiastic about the royal family and their place in the nation’s history, present and future. This lavish structure is steeped in royal history, and there’s lots of information within helping to contextualise the various sights on offer during your visit to the abbey.
