January through Instagram

Corgi watching in Windsor | Having a House of Cards moment in Federal Triangle | Metro architecture | French Toast Sunday | Admiring all the houses in Georgetown | Cosy desk decor | Looking ahead to spring | Vivacious heels from Russell & Bromley | Visiting Windsor Castle

A winter trip to Windsor

That period between Christmas and New Year can often feel like a hazy one. You're never quite sure what day it is, what you're supposed to be doing and which shops or attractions are open. Luckily, I put one of these vague days to good use, taking a trip down the motorway to lovely Windsor.

Windsor hasn't changed much since my childhood and I was pretty excited to be visiting Windsor Castle to see some of the Queen's dresses and the Queen Mary Doll's House. The Castle was decorated for Christmas, with sparkly berry wreaths adorning many lamposts and lights, garlands around doorways and a huge Christmas tree (the gift of the Chinese Premier) standing proudly in the Great Hall. A little toy Corgi sat sweetly underneath!

I love walking through the royal palaces, imagining the many hundreds of years of history that has played out and the important figures who have come before me.

Fashioning a Reign, the exhibition of the Queen's dresses was on a smaller scale to the one in Buckingham Palace, and featured many outfits that the Queen had worn at Windsor, some from trips abroad and a selection of quirky hats. Several of the first dresses were not in glass cases, and it was great to get up really close to the pieces to see how they were made, as well as spot where insignia had once been pinned. What struck me was how tiny the Queen is- even though I have met her in real life, the clothes really echoed her petiteness.

We also visited St. George's Chapel and saw the Changing of the Guard (such a British institution!) before exploring the town of Windsor and having a delicious lunch at Byron. I also purchased a pretty cool Royal wall decoration, all of which will be revealed in due course!

Knights of the Garter- can you spot the Prime Ministers?

Celebrating The Queen

Cecil Beaton

This week marks the Queen's 90th birthday. There will be many celebrations up down the land for her official birthday in June, and I'm betting that my hometown will have many street parties planned!

For many of us, Queen Elizabeth is the only monarch we've ever known. She's always been a part of British life, a familiar face at state and national occasions, so much so, that she's almost like part of our family.

I've been fortunate to meet the Queen and other members of the royal family on several occasions. The most memorable was when my Dad received the OBE from Her Majesty at Buckingham Palace. It was such a special day, and myself and my Mum were lucky enough to be able to sit in the front row. It was a day that none of us will ever forget!

My Dad!

The Queen has met every US President since Eisenhower and her earliest British Prime Minister was Winston Churchill. She's visited 117 countries, travelling at least 1,032,513 miles during her reign. She also sent her first tweet in 2014! I wonder if she has an iPad?

Queen Elizabeth is undoubtedly one of the world's fashion icons, and I'm excited to be going to a special exhibition which will celebrate the largest ever display of the Queen's wardrobe. Fashioning A Reign: 90 Years of Style from The Queen's Wardrobe opens on the 21st April at Holyrood House before moving to Buckingham Palace on 23d July. Here we'll be treated to fashion from ten decades ranging from royal couture to ceremonial and military dress. Many tartan items will be on display at Holyrood, and at Windsor, evening gowns and day ensembles will be cleverly contrasted with fancy dress costumes worn by the young princess when performing family wartime pantomimes at the Castle. It's one not to be missed!

2016 is set to be a pretty special royal year, and I'm looking forward to taking part in the public celebrations that will be taking place over the next several months. How will you be celebrating the Queen's 90th year?

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