When we got there, we got the self-guided audio tour things, and Liam and Grace went ahead at their own pace. I stayed with the 3 younger girls, and we were doing the self-guided audio thing, but also this kid's treasure hunt thing that the girls got. We were maybe1/3 of the way through the tour and had just passed through the choir loft and were standing at the high alter, when a gentleman who clearly worked at the Abbey came up and started chatting with us about the treasure hunt, and pointed out that we missed something at the choir loft and would we like him to show it to us? uh, YES!
So we walk back, and most of the places are roped off on this tour, but he moves the rope and asks if the girls would like to stand where the choir boys sing, so they do! We had just watched a show on the Westminster Boys Choir a few days before, so the girls and the verger (that was his title) chatted about that for a bit, and then Katie asked what the Canada plaque on the other side of the loft was for. He told us there is one plaque for the four original members of the Commonwealth, and that its where the ambassador for that country sits when they visit the abbey for a service or for the special service for that country (Canada's is observed on July 1) and he let the girls sit there, too!
Then he asked if they would like to see where the Queen sits when she attends a service that isn't a special occasion. She has a spot in the Choir loft. He opened this secret door that looks like part of the choir stalls and the Queen has a special spot right there with special embroidered pillows and he let the girls climb up into it!
Then he asked, if we had time and since we were from Canada if he could show us something extra special that was a gift from the people of Canada? uh, YES! So he takes us back towards the high altar and just to the side of it and moves a rope from some stairs and takes us up the 6 or so stairs so that we are now behind the high altar, and he explains that this is the oldest part of the Abbey the big tomb in from of us is that of Edward the Confessor, the founder of the abbey. He tells us that this is where William and Kate signed their wedding register, and then he takes us to the back of this "chapel" (it's closed off by walls sort of, but the ceiling is open to the Abbey) and tells us to look at these two chairs and tell him what we see. There's two beautiful chairs, each with a maple leaf on the front and he tells us they were a gift to the Queen's parents, and they are the "thrones" the monarch and her consort use for special occasions in the church. Here's the Queen and Prince Phillip sitting on them at the Royal wedding...
The he let the girls sit in them!!!! AND I CAN'T TAKE PICTURES!!!!!! It was SO COOL! Then he opened one of the side doors that led to the high altar, and apologized that he couldn't let us walk across the altar, but he let us stand there at the doorway and look down the length of the Abbey. Amazing.
He had to go to a meeting then, so we parted ways with profuse thanks! We rushed through the rest of tour because we had taken so long and I didn't want Liam and Grace to worry and I was so bummed because THEY MISSED IT! So sad!!!! Oh well, what can you do.
Our second last day, we went to a West End show. We went to see Roald Dahl's Matilda. I don't know what the kids expected, but they were blown away. It was so good! These are quick shots of the set before the show started. Oh, man...we had such a great trip!
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