The day I went to Buckingham Palace

This weekend I got to do something I never thought I would.

I got to visit the state rooms at Buckingham Palace and not only that we also got to see the very special diamond collection, which is on offer as it is the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year.

In the Diamond exhibition we saw the small crown worn by Queen Victoria when she was in mourning of Prince Albert (as seen on this Wiki page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_victoria) and was also won by Queen Alexandra the consort of King Edward VII - Queen Victoria's son and successor.

Also the crown and necklace Her Majesty the Queen wore on her coronation and more recently in the official photo for her Diamond Jubilee.

And seven pieces created by the Cullinan Diamond, the largest rough gem-quality diamond. All the diamonds were exquisite, the clarity and colour were beautiful and they just sparkled like stars in the sky, amazing! Diamonds truly are the Queen’s best friend.

The state rooms were just as magnificent, you see the throne room where Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip had their wedding photo and more recently the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had their photos taken. It was just amazing to walk where heads of state such as President Obama and other Royals have walked. To see where the Queen lives and works.

The rooms were huge and the decoration over the top. My favourite room was the ballroom, created for Queen Victoria to host social gatherings. It is the largest room in London and has four chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, they are five foot in diameter and I think they said about 11 foot high; they work on a winch and are cleaned once a year. It also has an organ from the Brighton Pavilion; it was a truly regal room.

All the paintings around the state rooms are amazing. My favourite was the family portrait of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and their children by Winterhalter it is stunning and shows the family in a fairly informal setting but still she looks like a Queen, mother and wife.

You are not allowed to take photos on the tour but you can in the garden.

The state rooms are just amazing, I cannot recommend them enough.

Also if you buy your tickets through the palace you can get your ticket stamped and return for free within the next 12 months, how fantastic is that! Well with the £18 entrance fee.

I will say though that the cafe is quite expensive over £2 for a tea, but the cakes did look amazing aand I do wish I had had one.

If you go in August or September don’t expect to see the Queen as she holidays in Balmoral.

If you are interested in the tour visit: http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/visit/buckinghampalace

Land of hope and glamour - Diamond jubilee macaroons

Now I have said it before and I will say it again. I love the Royal Family, so as the UK celebrates the Diamond Jubilee I thought I would share with you a little treat.

In M&S the other week I stumbled across some macaroons. 

I knew instantly I had to buy them, after my recent trip to Paris I have become slightly obsessed with the sugary treats.

Also they had crowns on and were metallic!

The flavours come in salted caramel, dark chocolate and praline.

I have never had salted caramel before so was keen to give them a try. It is very similar to the praline flavour, so my quest to try salted caramel continues.

They were really delicious, they were of the same almond consistency of the ones I tried in Paris and were just little delights. However, I will admit the ones in Paris were better but than you can't compete with a patisserie really.

All three were delicious, especially the dark chocolate flavour.

They were about £4 for six, so not exactly cheap but still for a jubilee treat worth the money.

I think if you haven't tried macaroons before you are probably better getting more normal flavours, M&S also do 24 macaroons for £10 (http://www.marksandspencer.com/Marks-and-Spencer-Mini-Macaroons/dp/B005OT5I18) in vanilla, raspberry and chocolate. Whereas these ones are probably more of an acquired taste.

So if you want to add a little glamour to your Jubilee party give these a whirl.