A Right Royal Day

Tuesday 26th September

We departed from Balmoral Guest House at 9.45 hrs (yes our room is on the top floor, 43 stairs up Merilyn tells me (often), but we do have a nice view and we are at the back so there is no road noise) and walked, of course, to the docks to board the Royal Yacht Britannia at 10.15 hrs. And what a jolly good visit we had. Starting from the Bridge and under the guidance of a hand held speaker thing we worked our way down 5 levels with 28 stopping points, to the engine room. It really was fascinating to learn how the ship ran with an Admiral in charge, and 20 officers and 220

Drawing Room

other ranks. We saw the rooms the Queen used both privately and officially, the Royal Barge which took the Royals to a landing place on shore, such as a wharf on the Yarra when visiting Melbourne, the Silver Cloud Rolls Royce, and the engine room which was spotlessly clean with shining brass and steel fittings - just as it was when the ship was being used by the Queen - it was decommissioned in 1997. Particularly interesting were the Drawing Room - where the family and special visitors gathered to meet before meals to relax, read the paper, do jig-saws, play Cluedo or play the grand piano, and the Dining Room where official dinners were held when in a port. People like Churchill, Ghandi, Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton and leaders of many other nations had dined in this room. Apparently it took 3 hours to get the table set properly for each meal.

In the afternoon we leisurely wandered through the beautiful and very peaceful Royal Botanic Gardens. Many large trees, a large rock garden, autumn colours everywhere, very green lawns, colourful flowers, tranquil pools, squirrels jumping over the tracks, a vegie garden, orchard area and a special garden planted in memory of the Queen Mother who was Scottish. A very peaceful ending of our time in Scotland, which we have loved.