When we first decided to visit London, I was thrilled to find out that we would be in time (just barely) to make the annual summer opening for Buckingham Palace.

As expected, there were security screenings to go through before entering, but they were well organized and moved quickly. I had previously purchased the official guidebook, and I was glad that I did. With the incredible amount of artwork, antique furniture, and more in the palace, it would have been very easy to miss some of the more famous pieces if you didn't know where to find them. The audio tour helps of course, but I personally found it a bit longwinded. It tried to give more information than I found I could really pay adequate attention to while still trying to enjoy the visual input as well.

It's difficult to choose any one thing that particularly stood out. The throne room was impressive, the main gallery appeared to be nearly wallpapered with artwork, and the fully set dining table was a magnificent sight. Overall, there was far too much to even see to remember in a fraction of, but it was well worth the visit.

Not everyone will get an invite to Buckingham Palace! You can, however, be like me and invite yourself during August and September - when the Queen makes her annual visit to Scotland, the palace's 19 Staterooms are open to visitors.

Buckingham Palace is the London home and office for Her Majesty The Queen. Here the Royal Family receives and entertains guests on state, ceremonial and official occasions in the Staterooms. Such grandeur and protocol is apt to make guests edgy and nervous, but the Queen herself is expert at putting people at ease. She has no pretentious airs and graces everyone, but show respect towards her.

During the tour, you advance at your own pace, with the help of an audio guide, through the richness and grandeur - it is overwhelming. The building contains sculptures by Canova and Chantrey, exquisite examples of Sèvres porcelain, and some of the finest English and French furniture in the world. Red carpets cover floors extensively, and it is easy to develop a crick in one’s neck looking up at the ornate ceilings.

History and occasion are everywhere. In the scarlet and gold Throne Room sit the coronation chairs used by Her Majesty and Prince Philip in 1953. The magnificent Ballroom, extending to 122 feet, dates from 1856 in Queen Victoria's reign to celebrate the end of the Crimean war. She and Prince Albert were fond of costume balls and music - costumes, musical instruments, manuscripts, photographs, and souvenirs from that period are on display in the Ball Supper Room.

Investitures are held in the Ballroom. Earlier, the queen would do her homework to have a suitable question ready to put the nervous recipients of the awards at ease. The sword used is on display.

The picture gallery designed by Nash contains paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Vermeer, Poussin, Canaletto, and Claude. The vibrantly coloured silk walls in the Green Drawing Room provide the perfect compliment to the beautifully coved and gilded ceiling. In the State Dining Room, the red silk damask on the walls makes a fitting background to the state portraits of Kings and Queens from George III to George IV. The dining table itself, when set, has the plates and cutlery set out using a ruler.

The Blue Drawing Room, another of Nash's spectacular rooms has 30 fake onyx columns and a Sevres porcelain table made for Napoleon. From the semicircular bow window of the domed Music Room, there is a clear view of the garden and grounds. The 39-acre garden is an oasis for wildlife, and offers superb views of the Garden Front of the Palace and the 19th-century lake.

Perhaps most magnificent of all is the White Drawing Room, furnished with French antiques and English-cut, glass chandeliers suspended from the ceiling, the delicate colours of the furnishings standing out against the white and gold walls.

Unfortunately, so much grandeur in so many rooms tends to merge as a blur in one’s memory.

Admission: Adults £9

Wave to the Queen!

Buckingham is more of an eyesore than a palace. Although one does have to see it, if one is in London, one does not have to enjoy it.

The changing of the guards can be fun to watch, if you don't mind waiting around in throngs of people for awhile. More enchanting than the palace are the parks that surround it. Hyde Park is truly beautiful with rows and rows of daffodils, which are bright and sunny. On a warm day, Hyde Park is the perfect place to spread out a picnic or read a book. On a winter day, grab a cappuccino and stroll through.

While in London, you have to see the palace, but only so you can tell people when they ask, "Yes, we went to Buckingham Palace."

The week we were in London, Buckingham Palace was open for inspection. The queue for getting tickets was matched only by the queue waiting to enter the palace grounds; however, the queue can be avoided if you have internet access. Book online and choose your time. It saves waiting, but then, I believe the English do like their queues! The other way to avoid the waiting was to go to the palace souvenir shop near the stables exit. Tickets could be booked and purchased there!

It was certainly worthwhile to see Queen Bessie's house. As a colonial from Down Under, we have a fascination for all things royal. Some of the gifts on display had a certain cringe factor, though. Really, you had to wonder what the dignitaries of some countries were thinking! Still, they did make it to the display, so were obviously kept by the Queen. The grounds were beautiful too. It was nice to see that some of the houses in London have a good backyard!

What a sight! I got there too late to see the changing of the guard which begins at 11:30 each day. It is still amazing that the guards just stand there so still. They do make regimented movements at regular intervals. After you see the Palace, walk over to St. James' park. It has been there for over 400 years. It is a bird refuge with pelicans! The Palace is located down the street through the large gates to the left facing Trafalgar Square.