The tour continued, and we went to see to newer palace, built by Sir Christopher Wren to King William and Queen Mary. The Palace was build with white columns and red brick, because the money ran out in the middle -- and this came to be known as Wrenaissance style.
The entrance to this palace is through the Clock court (which has, of course, a clock in it -- but a magnificent clock it is -- it show's the time, the tide (as the king came from London to the Palace via the Thames River using the tide -- knowing of the tide was important in order that the food will be prepared on time), the zodiac -- and all that while the earth is still in the middle of the solar system, as, back then, they didn't know otherwise), and the palace surrounds The Fountain Court (which has, of course, a fountain).
Inside each of the Palace's State Rooms there is a royal chair for the king or queen, and next to it two small stools -- one to place the crown upon, and the other to place a sword on, in case the king would have a sudden urge to knight somebody.
William has two bedrooms -- One in which he actually slept in, and the other -- called The Cabinet Room or The King's Closet -- was a room in which his advisers put him to sleep (later the advisers became to be known as the cabinet -- but back then it was the name of the room). After the King was put to sleep by his advisers he went to sleep in his own bed, and in the morning snuck back to the cabinet room to be awoken by his advisers.
We also saw the king's bathroom -- a box lined with red velvet -- inside a chamber pot was placed. No running water.
Then we came down to see the Kings private dining room which was magnificent -- all the walls are "The Ladies of Hampton Court" -- all the women of the court painted in their underwear (which covered everything back then -- thus these are not nude paintings). The plates on the table are all gold.
After the tour I went to the Kitchen's Restaurant and had a great ginger cake and a cup of tea, and then saw the exhibit about the fire in the palace.
The palace closes at 17:00 -- and back to London by train.
Link: Hampton Court Palace
London walks
Start: Waterloo Tube (Northern Line -- Charing Cross Branch)
End: Same.
** Not to Miss
* Nice