I didn't know that!!

It was a delightful day last Friday. Sorry I did not write about it but was a very long day. We left out 8a.m. heading to London. The first stop was the London Eye. I had never really had a desire to ride it but it was included, the crowd was small so why not. It was a very nice ride since we had plenty of room. It also made a very pretty picture at the end of the ride, you are warned about this so you know where to stand. While we were at the top we had a very clear picture of Big Ben and the Parliament building. Then we rode the boat down to Tower of London area. We did not have time to go into the tower but we had time to walk around shop and just people watch. Then back on the boat back down to the Parliament buildings.

We first went into the jeweled tower which use to store the crown jewels. They are now at the Tower of London. In the Jewel Tower they had artifacts and important papers. Then we walked over to the entry where the Queen enters the one time each year she addresses Parliament. Her scepter arrives before her and she come in to the Robing Room to be fitted with her Royal crown and cape. Then she waits! The Queen is not the first person greeted by visitors of state or even the PM. It is done with the Queen last as "no one rules the people"
(I didn't know that). Then after the MP, Archbishop and all have come in to say hello they go and are seated in the House of Lords (no special setting first come first serve). The Queen is then settled into her throne robing room. She sends her court of arms the 1/4 mile across the hallways and he knocks on the door it is opened he says The Queen demands your attendance and the door is then slammed in his face....another gesture the people do not answer to anyone.

He knocks again harder with a black rod and the door is open and the people come over to greet and escort the Queen into the Lords Chamber. If you even have a chance to go in there I don't care how tired you are don't sit down. It get them all in a dither as no if allowed to set in the seats of the Lords even when it's empty. I stood at the box where William Churchill gave his speeches and pounds his fist. The marks are still in the table. I stood where Margaret Thatcher and many before her. It was a goose bump moment! Then we went over to the Commons Chamber. Very much the same. I learned if you are on a committee and have a question you can send it in writing. The list of questions are typed up there may be hundreds of them but they'll pick three or four at random to discuss and answer. Everyone but the Prime Minister know the question and who asked them. That is one of the reason they were so impressed with Tony Blair. He had such good research he would come in with a 8 inch hard back book with taps. He had sent people out to gather information. With there help he had a pretty good idea of who was asking the question and a list of questions they might ask all color coded and tabbed. I didn't know that the prime minister was not allowed to know the questions in advance. I'm not sure why they think this is better. The Queen is there once a year to give her speech of what she wants government to accomplish the next year. It should be a do able plan as government writes the speech (I didn't know that). We've always been told the Queen was a figure head but she actually does have veto power. Now to show you what a really smart lady she is she has never used it. But she got it. (I didn't know that). Also debates on laws have to be approved by here. The only debates she has continuously refused is the taking away the right to declare war by the monarchy. (I didn't know that). We went on this tour with about as many Brits as Americans we were all amazed at the beauty, the continued traditions that are exercised and find our about three laws a day are passed each and every day! Now the draw back from that is the British Constitution is not written in a way to grant freedoms......it only takes them away. This did not set so well with our British friends. They mumbled the rest of the trip we loose three freedom a day and shook their heads. The last part of the tour was the Westminster Hall. It is the oldest part of the original palace. It was designed Rufus Alexander son of William the Conquer in 1013. I stood on the step in the place where King Charles I (1649) pleaded for his life. Only to receive a death sentence. Queen Victory, Wallace and Fox all pleaded and lost.