DAY 4 Palaces, Maggie Jones and Jerusalem

Today began with a walk-through of the King and Queen apartments at Kensington Palace, a stop nearby for a meal at Maggie Jones's, the "Old London Palace Walk" starting in the area near Green Park and the play "Jerusalem" enjoyed from a box seat at stage side. Along "the way" I was reminded that the Camino is everywhere (see above)!

I arrived early at Kensington Palace and basically had the place to myself for an hour or so.  I started with a photography exhibit that began with examples of the first photos of the Royals in Queen Victoria's day. Turns out she wasn't shy about how she felt about her likeness in a picture and would scratch out her image if she didn't like it in the photograph. In the bottom photo she must have liked her image  better! 

Here are some other photos of Royals you may recognize:

I then moved on to the Queen's apartments. The rooms were mostly empty with some pictures on the wall.  There was a dining room and the bust of a slave that contrasts royal favor with historical reality including the symbolic collar around the neck. 

The King's apartment was more elaborate. It served as a reception area for Ambassadors and a place for courtiers to visit with the King.  Of interest was a huge clock in the center of a room and a map with a movable wind arm that indicates (still working today) wind direction.  This map supposedly would allow the King to keep track of his ships but in reality was of limited use because wind direction varies depending on the actual geographic location (see explanation below). The clock featured classical music by contemporary composers. 

Maggie Jones's restaurant is a play on Princess Margaret's name used for reservations at a favorite local restaurant. The story is that she would reserve a table as "Maggie Jones" to avoid attracting too much attention.  The original restaurant was sold and the name changed to Maggie Jones's. It still offers traditional British foods.

The Old London Palace Walk included arcades and interesting tidbits about the many private clubs and unique shops in the area. The first picture shows a doorway sized for a sedan chair to be carried to and from the house in the time before paved streets. Along the sides of the doors there were also tubes placed to snuff out the torches needed in the days before street lights. 

I finished the day at the theater.  The production of Jerusalem includes two intermissions and features a stage set of a trailer in the woods with a campsite feel. I had a great stage-side box seat.  The story is of a local larger-than-life character whose life is about to change as housing developments are taking over the woods he has lived in for years.