Two Art Galleries, a British (History) Museum, High Fashion, High Street, and One Monarchy

Hold the Presses! Let’s take pause to remember all the United Kingdom has given us.  The tabloids have been silenced for one day (at least) to remember her Majesty, the Queen of England, after seven decades on the British throne. In memoriam of the Queen, Burberry immediately postponed its London Fashion Week (LFW) show slated to start on September 12, 2022 without hesitation.  Many other designers found on London’s fashionable High Street will wait for LFW until September 16-20, 2022. 

Twice I have visited London and three times I have drank from the fountain of art, humor, and culture of the UK. In 2005, I roamed the halls of the National Gallery of Art in Trafalgar Square.  The art was “classic” oversized canvases that tell stories of days past. An eager tourist, I photographed strangers and friends alike.

I went back across the pond five years later. This time I stayed with friends who resided in east London.   Upon my arrival, we rushed to drop off luggage and headed out to what is now called the British Museum.  Who needed sleep after a red eye flight when there was so much to see? We arrived at the museum quite early and I was instantly in awe.  Much of the featured items hosted in the museum were collected by the British around the world during Britain’s colonial age.

International influence abounds - from the Rosetta Store pictured above to Cleopatra’s tomb. This far exceeded my expectations of any museum - ever. Noted, this was then titled the British Museum of History. The name change may be a nod to the fact that it houses global historical art and artifacts not necessarily threaded in British history.

Ferris Wheel on the River Thames, London 2010

A committed royal watcher, I made time with friends to visit Saint Paul’s Cathedral and the Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace. At that time, there was a comprehensive exhibit of Queen Victoria’s - Queen Elizabeth’s great-great grandmother - collection of art and artifacts during her personal travels. No attention to detailed was spared. Even the gift shop was distinguished.  The Gallery originally opened in 1962 and recently reopened on May 21, 2022 by her Majesty for the Queen’s Jubilee celebration of her 50 years on the throne. It is with great lament I did not visit in 2019, when the Queen's Gallery housed an exhibition of 200 of Leonardo da Vinci's drawings from the Royal Collection.

At the majestic artistic doors of Paul’s Cathedral, London 2010

I was a bit closer to understanding why my friend warmly told me, “The British may hate the monarchy, but they love their monarchs.”  With British art exhibits, it is important to keep the art top of mind without silencing its history.

The music clip in this vlog is the 2013 song “Royals” by Australian Singer Lorde.