THE ROYAL TOUR : THE WEDDING OF HRH PRINCE WILLIAM OF WALES TO CATHERINE ‘KATE’ MIDDLETON
Trip Highlights:
Buckingham Palace
Westminster Abbey
Hedsor House
Edinburgh Castle
TUESDAY ARRIVE LONDON 26 APRIL 2011 Arrive London Heathrow Airport and meet your guide who will escort you to your coach for transfer directly to central London for a panoramic sightseeing tour. Sights include Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, St. Paul’s Cathedral and Buckingham Palace.
Continue to your hotel in central London, where accommodation is reserved for 6 nights on a bed and breakfast basis.
WEDNESDAY WINDOR CASTLE—THE TOWER OF LONDON 27 APRIL 2011 This morning visit Windsor Castle one of three official residences of The Queen, and the home to the Sovereign for over 900 years. The imposing towers and battlements of the Castle loom large from every approach to the town, creating one of the world's most spectacular skylines. No other royal residence has played such an important role in the nation's history. You will also visit St George's Chapel, one of the most beautiful ecclesiastical buildings in England.
There will be time at leisure to enjoy lunch before travelling to the Tower of London, home to the Crown Jewels and an integral part of British Royal history. Here you will discover the Tower’s 900‐year history as a Royal Palace and fortress, prison and place of execution, mint, arsenal, menagerie and jewel house.
THURSDAY LONDON : KEW PALACE—KENSINGTON PALACE 28 APRIL 2011 This morning visit Kew Palace, the smallest of English Royal Palaces with its privacy that made it the favourite country retreat for the Royal family in the late 18th century. In 1898 Queen Victoria opened the Palace to the public. After a ten year restoration completed in early 2006, Kew place hosted its first dinner for a monarch in two hun‐ dred years to celebrate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 80th birthday.
This afternoon visit Kensington Palace, originally called Nottingham House and completed in 1605; it was then bought in July 1689 by William III and Mary II and transformed into Kensington Palace. Diana the Princess of Wales lived at apartment 8 along with Prince William and Prince Harry, from the time of her wedding on 29 July 1981 until her death on 31 August 1997. The Palace continues to accommodate the office and private apartments of a number of members of the Royal family.
FRIDAY HEDSOR HOUSE : TO VIEW THE WEDDING OF PRINCE WILLIAM OF WALES 29 APRIL 2011 Celebrate the Royal Wedding of HRH Prince William of Wales to Miss Catherine Middleton, in the atmosphere of Hedsor House, the former home of Augusta the Dowager Princess of Wales. Throughout the day there will be a number of large screens around Hedsor House, showing the impressive BBC coverage as the events unfold so guests do not miss a minute of the pageantry and splendour.
09:00 Upon arrival guests are offered a typical Georgian sideboard breakfast.
10:00 Miss Middleton will travel to Westminster Abbey by car via The Mall, Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall and Parliament Square.
11:00 The official ceremony will begin. The Dean of Westminster will conduct the service, the Archbishop of Canterbury will marry Prince William and Miss Middleton, and the Bishop of London will give the address.
12:00 Champagne and canapes will be served as the couple travel in the famous horse drawn glass carriage procession to Buckingham Palace.
14:00 After the anticipated ‘Royal balcony appearance’, enjoy a traditional silver service luncheon, accompanied by fine wines. SATURDAY LONDON : WESTMINSTER ABBEY—BUCKINGHAM PALACE 30 APRIL 2011 This morning visit Buckingham Palace to see the Changing of the Guard. The replace‐ ment guards arrive from Wellington Barracks, marching to the accompa‐ niment of a military band. The ceremony takes place on the Palace forecourt and takes approximately forty minutes.
From Buckingham Palace take the route Kate Middleton travelled from the Palace to Westminster Abbey along The Mall pass the Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall and Parliament Square arriving at Westminster Abbey.
Visit Westminster Abbey, an architectural masterpiece, which was built between the 13th – 16th centuries. The Abbey also represents a unique pageant of British history ‐ the Confessor’s Shrine, the tombs of Kings and Queens, and countless memorials to the famous and the great. Westminster Abbey has been the setting for every Coronation, except for two, since 1066 when on Christmas Day William the Conqueror was crowned, as well as, many other Royal occasions including the impending Wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton.
SUNDAY LONDON : SPENCER HOUSE—SOMERSET HOUSE 01 MAY 2011 This morning visit Spencer House, commissioned by John, 1st Earl Spencer in 1756, who required a large London House to cement his position and status. The Spencer family continued to live at the house until 1895, and was then let to a series of ten‐ ants including the Duke of Marlborough and his wife, the former Miss Consuelo Vanderbuilt, the Ladies Army and Navy Club, the nations nursing services during the War and Christies’ Auctioneers. The House is now partly used as offices and provides a unique setting where entertainment can be held in the historic setting of the eight state rooms.
This afternoon visit Somerset House, situated on the south of the Strand, overlooking the Thames, it dates back to 1547. In 1552 it became the possession of the Crown and was used as Royal Palace up until 1692. In 1997 Somerset House Trust was established to conserve and develop Somerset House and the open spaces around it for public use, which hosts open air concerts, films and contemporary art and design exhibitions. During the summer months 55 fountains dance around the courtyards, and in the winter you can skate on London’s favourite ice rink.
. MONDAY LONDON : COTSWOLDS—STRATFORD‐UPON‐AVON
02 MAY 2011 This morning join your coach and driver and transfer to the Cotswolds, a region of rolling hills and quaint mellow‐stoned villages.
Arrive in Winchcombe for a visit to Sudeley Castle. Set against the picturesque Cotswolds Hill, Sudeley is one of England’s great historic houses with Royal connections stretching back 1000 years. Once the property of King Ethelred the Unready, the Castle was later the magnificent palace of Queen Katherine Parr; Henry VIII’s sixth wife, who is buried in the Castle church.
There will be time to take lunch here at leisure before continuing your journey to Stratford‐Upon‐Avon, where you will visit the 16th century half‐timbered house in Henley Street where William Shakespeare is believed to have been born.
Transfer to your accommodation which is reserved for one night on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis.
TUESDAY STRATFORD‐UPON‐AVON—YORK
03 MAY 2011 This morning travel to York, where you will join your local guide for a visit to the York Minster. The Minister was built between the 12th and the 15th Century and is the largest Gothic church in England. A visit to the Central Tower offers excellent views over the city. The Foundations Museum under the Minster shows how the present building was constructed on the site of a Norman Cathedral, which was itself built on a Roman Fort.
At the end of your visit, re‐join your coach for transfer to your hotel, where accommodation is reserved for one night on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis.
WEDNESDAY YORK—EDINBURGH 04 MAY 2011 This morning travel to Edinburgh, where you will meet your guide for a walking tour of Scotland’s most historic capital city and one of the finest in the world. Visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen’s official residence in Edinburgh and onwards through the Royal Mile. Arrive at Edinburgh Castle which dominates the city’s skyline, here you will see St. Margaret’s Chapel, the enormous 500 year old siege cannon Mons Meg, the Great Hall, the Royal Palace and the Scottish National War Memorial together with the highly acclaimed ‘Honours of the Kingdom’ exhibition which traces the history of Scotland’s Crown Jewels.
Accommodation is reserved for two nights on a bed and full Scottish breakfast basis.
THURSDAY FULL DAY BALMORAL 05 MAY 2011 This morning join your driver and coach and drive north to the village of Braemar, best‐known for its annual Highland Gathering held on the first Saturday in September. The Games date back to the 11th century and since Queen Victoria’s day, have attended by successive generations of Royals.
Six miles north‐east of Braemar is Balmoral Castle. Bought by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1853, it has been a Royal residence ever since. You will be able to visit the grounds, gardens and exhibitions together with the largest room in the Castle, the Ballroom as well as the gift and coffee shop.
FRIDAY EDINBURGH 06 MAY 2011 Check‐out of the hotel this morning for transfer to Edinburgh airport arriving in good time for check‐in of homeward flights.