After a quick breakfast in the condo, I headed out for Windsor. The view is the Thames as the condo is located by the river.
The bus stop for Clapham Junction is across the street. A 5-minute ride to the station. I purchased a return ticket and headed to the platform. Much to my delight, a Costa Coffee stand is on the platform.
Yes, I will have a vanilla latte. While I wait for the train, I message my friend to say I will meet her by the Victoria Statue.
Windsor has two stations: Windsor & Eton Central and Windsor & Eton Riverside I usually go to Windsor from Paddington, which means changing at Slough for Windsor & Eton Central, across the street from the Castle. This time I arrived at Windsor & Eton Riverside, by the Thames, and a short walk up High Street to the Castle.
I planned to arrive early to browse a few shops and take photographs by the river.
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| A beautiful morning by the Thames |
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| This made me giggle as I have these two rubber ducks |
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| HH Prince Christian Victor of Schleswig-Holstein (1867-1900), a grandson of Queen Victoria. His mother was Princess Helena |
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| This amused me. Five Guys’ headquarters is in Alexandria, VA
I was already sitting on the bench when my friend Katrina arrived. We headed straight for the Garter line, where our tickets were checked. It was now about 8:30. One settled in the line, I went off to buy food for lunch. Much to my disappointment the local Smith’s (on High Street) does not sell sandwiches. I walked to Peascod to Marks & Spencer, where I bought a sandwich, fruit, crisps and water.
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| Ran into photographer Paul Ratliffe again — we were next to each other outside BP for the balcony appearance at the Trooping |
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| Looks like the Crooked House may be getting a new tenant after several years of being closed |
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| At noon we were let into the castle to get to our spots. Time to sit down, enjoy the company, the view and lunch |
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| I bought a chocolate heaven ice cream cone. |
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| Thrilled to meet Lauren Parkinson, who is known to many royal enthusiasts as Parkyprincess on Instagram |
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| The indomitable Ken Stone |
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| Acclaimed biographer Hugo Vickers |
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| The Earl of Ulster, Lady Davinia Windsor, and Lady Rose Gilman, children of TRH The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. The Duchess was installed as a Royal Lady of the Garter |
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| The young boy is Rufus Gilman |
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| Rufus and Lyla Gilman and Lady Cosima Windsor |
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| HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh and Sir Timothy Laurence arrive |
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| The Duchess sees the Gloucester family and motions them to join her |
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| Lord Ulster is standing next to Lady Blair, wife of former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair, who is a Knight of the Garter |
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| Alistair Bruce looks right at me |
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| Andrew Lloyd Webber (right), now Lord Lloyd Webber, was installed as a Knight of the Garter |
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| Lady Mary Peters and Baroness Amos. Lady Mary won the Gold Medal in the Pentathlon at the 1972 |
Summer Olympics
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| TRH The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, HRH the Princess Royal and HRH The Princess of Wales |
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| TM The King and Queen |
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| Right at my camera |
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| So happy to finally meet Lauren. |
Katrina and her friends were in another section so we met up outside the Castle and walked down High Street to the King & Castle pub for dinner and a cold beer!!!!!!
And then it off to the train station and back to Battersea. Tomorrow Duke’s Lane.
