Muddy Stilettos

Sports fan or not, there&#8217;s plenty of flag waving, patriotism to enjoy right now. Yes, we&#8217;re still a bit sore about England&#8217;s Euros final defeat, but we&#8217;re fully charged to cheer on Team GB as they go for gold (silver or bronze) at the Paris Olympics. It&#8217;s gearing up to be Union Jack bunting kind of summer. If you’re feeling the celebratory vibe and want to wallow in some more quintessential Britishness, here are the best places to head for a patriotic day out with a Royal seal of approval.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-windsor-castle-windsor"><a href="https://www.rct.uk/visit/windsor-castle" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WINDSOR CASTLE</a>, Windsor </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="562" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-02-at-10.22.17.png" alt="Queen Mary's dolls' house in Windsor Castle " class="wp-image-95364" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-02-at-10.22.17.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-02-at-10.22.17-600x337.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



What&#8217;s new:&nbsp;Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, the largest and most famous Dolls’ House in the world, turns 100 this year. To celebrate, famous authors have contributed miniature, bound books to the exquisite library. Think Julia Donaldson&#8217;s&nbsp;The Gruffalo&nbsp;and Charlie Mackesy&#8217;s&nbsp;The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse. See them on display&nbsp;along with other tiny treasures in a display in the Waterloo Chamber,&nbsp;which range from a playable miniature grand piano and the Crown Jewels inset with real diamonds to a minuscule vacuum cleaner and dinky sewing machine.&nbsp;



Don&#8217;t miss: When you&#8217;ve had your fill of jaw-dropping State Apartments and ceremonial chambers, step outside and take a stroll around medieval marvel St George&#8217;s Chapel, which dates back to 1475 and has been the favoured location for various royal weddings and, more recently, the committal service for Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.



Park life:&nbsp;Unpack your picnic at&nbsp;Alexandra Gardens, a pretty park in the shadow of the castle with a band stand and fun ferris wheel.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-buckingham-palace-westminster"><a href="https://www.rct.uk/visit/buckingham-palace" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BUCKINGHAM PALACE</a>, Westminster </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="745" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-02-at-12.41.16.png" alt="Buckingham Palace " class="wp-image-95373" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-02-at-12.41.16.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-02-at-12.41.16-600x447.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



What&#8217;s new? Want to enjoy a through the keyhole moment at Buckingham Palace? The world-famous royal residence is open for summer (now – 29 Sep) – wear your comfy shoes, you&#8217;ll smash step count walking around the gilded corridors and elegant rooms. General admission, will give your access to the magnificent Ballroom, Throne Room, elegant White Drawing Room, to name a few. It&#8217;s a royal feast for the eyes with famous artworks on display to ogle, treasures and show-stopping London views. Although the East Wing, which includes the famous balcony, opened to the public for the first time this year, tickets have sold out, but there is still plenty to see in Buckingham Palace if you weren’t lucky enough to get a ticket.&nbsp;



Don&#8217;t miss:&nbsp;Jonathan Yeo&#8217;s portrait of King Charles III on display in the Ballroom. The Changing the Guard ceremony is also a must-see. It takes place at 11am on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday), but crowds gather from 9am to snag the best viewpoints.



Park life:&nbsp;How does an ice cream in the Palace Garden, grab you? Hang out in the King&#8217;s blooming gorgeous leafy oasis. Head to the West Terrace for ice creams and afternoon tea at the Palace Garden Café. Pinkies poised, imagine you&#8217;re garden partying with the Royal Family. Very civilised.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-royal-mews-westminster"><a href="https://www.rct.uk/visit/the-royal-mews-buckingham-palace" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">THE ROYAL MEWS</a>, Westminster</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="557" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-02-at-12.44.25.png" alt="Golden Coach at The Royal Mews" class="wp-image-95376" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-02-at-12.44.25.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-02-at-12.44.25-600x334.png 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Don&#8217;t miss: Around the back of Buckingham Palace lies the Royal Mews, which basically houses most of the royal transport, from sparkling carriages and shiny limousines to well-groomed horses. If you&#8217;re nosey (sorry, curious), you&#8217;ll love getting a glimpse behind the scenes, hanging out in working stables in the heart of London and getting up close to Queen Elizabeth II&#8217;s Diamond Jubilee state coach. And who could resist taking a selfie next to a royal carriage? Not Muddy, that&#8217;s for sure.&nbsp;



Highlight: For a real-life Disney princess vibe, it&#8217;s got to be the 260-year-old Gold State Coach. Big, bold and ostentatious, you might recognise it from the Coronation of King Charles III in 2023 and Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant in 2022.&nbsp;



Park life: A short stroll from The Royal Mews,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.royalparks.org.uk/visit/parks/hyde-park" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hyde Park&#8217;s</a>&nbsp;one of London&#8217;s most popular attractions and home to The Serpentine, lake-side walks, cafés, Speaker&#8217;s Corner and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bst-hydepark.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BST</a>&nbsp;gigs (including Shania Twain and Kylie Minogue).&nbsp; 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-king-s-gallery-buckingham-palace"><a href="https://www.rct.uk/visit/the-kings-gallery-buckingham-palace" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">THE KING&#8217;S GALLERY</a>, Buckingham Palace</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Untitled-design-253.jpg" alt="The King's Gallery Royal POrtrait: A Century of Royal Photography" class="wp-image-95743" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Untitled-design-253.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Untitled-design-253-600x400.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Untitled-design-253-1000x667.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Portrait of King Charles III, when The Prince of Wales, by Nadav Kander © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024 | Royal Collection Trust</figcaption></figure>



What&#8217;s new: Check out the fascinating new exhibition&nbsp;Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography. The first exhibition of the newly renamed The King&#8217;s Gallery at Buckingham Palace is a celebration of royal portrait photography, both the&nbsp;royal sitters and the renowned photographers themselves. The exhibition includes 150 works from the 1920s until the present day, several unseen images, and oodles of glamour. Visit now – 6 Oct 2024.



Don&#8217;t miss: So many poignant moments. We love the late Queen Elizabeth II by Pop Art icon Andy Warhol, Snowdon&#8217;s stunning black and white portrait of Princess Margaret, a pair of images of Princess Anne and her daughter, Zara Tindall, taken by different photographers but strikingly similar and Hugo Burnand&#8217;s Coronation portrait of The King together with future heirs, Prince William and Prince George.&nbsp;



Park life: Head to St James&#8217;s Park – one of the most royal of London’s Royal Parks, bordering not one by three royal palaces. There’s always something to see from soldiers in scarlet tunics marching down and is a prime spot for Horse Guards Parade.



<a href="https://www.rct.uk">rct.uk</a>

Where to have a flag-waving, royally good time this summer!

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