Our third full day in London was a corker! Marystephanie and I rose early, caught the tube to Waterloo Station and then took the train to Hampton Court Palace. Once again, the Brits make it so easy to navigate their fair city.  All the stations are so well marked, well managed, and clean! After a quick walk over a narrow River Thames, we arrived at Hampton Court Palace around 11am. 

Hampton Court Palace was originally the home of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, chief advisor to King Henry VIII. After Wolsey couldn’t manage the annulment of Henry’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon, he fell out of favor, and to placate the king, Wolsey gave him Hampton Court in 1529.

It was quite a nice gift and though Henry spared him, Wolsey was sent out of court, charged with treason, and died soon afterward. Meanwhile, Henry expanded Hampton Court to accommodate his large retinue. Henry was famously husband to six wives: Catherine of Aragon (divorced), Anne Boleyn (beheaded), Jane Seymour (died), Anne of Cleves (divorced), Catherine Howard (beheaded) and Catherine Parr (survived). Anne Boleyn lived at Hampton Court with Henry after their marriage in 1533, but just three years later, Henry had her beheaded for treason. Tough times, my friends. Henry’s six wives bore him just three children and all three served as monarchs. After Henry’s death, his son Edward VI (with Jane Seymour) became king at age 9 until his death just 6 years later; then Mary I (aka Bloody Mary, his child with Catherine of Aragon) ascended the throne from 1553-1558; finally, Elizabeth I (his daughter with Anne Boleyn) ruled brilliantly for 45 years. What a great reality show that family could have had! Drama galore!

We were able to explore the grand kitchen, chapel, and gardens as well as the addition to the palace made by William III and Mary II, including the magnificent King’s Staircase that takes you to their rooms. 

We had just finished our tour of those royal chambers when we heard an alarm. It turned out to be a fire alarm, so all were herded out into the front courtyard until it could be sorted.  Marystephanie spotted this group of English schoolgirls in the most darling uniforms ever. They looked like they could have been at Hogwarts.

But here we were again, with an emergency going on around us! Yesterday the medical helicopters at Blenheim and now a fire alarm! We were beginning to suspect a pattern and wondering which of us was bringing the bad luck.

Then it was back to our hotel by train and tube to get ready for a lovely Indian meal at Pravaas London, just a few streets away from our lodgings.  We feasted on butter chicken and lamb rogan josh, which was a quarter rack of lamb in a yogurt, chili and saffron sauce. Perfection!

We scurried off after dinner, since we still had not one, but two more engagements for the evening, about which I shall tell you next time!