Continuing the photography and royalty theme in London, today it is off to the Queen’s Gallery, to see “The Heart of the Great Alone”, the Antarctic photography expedition featuring photographs of Scott and Shackleton by Herbert Ponting and Frank Hurley respectively. Staged for the 100 year anniversary of Scott’s ill-fated journey to the South Pole, it doesn’t paint Scott in a particularly sympathetic light in comparison to the heroism of Shackleton. It is well worth the entrance fee and highlights the difference between the tragedy of Scott’s final expedition and Shackleton’s ultimately successful, but harrowing, rescue of his own.. It also puts into perspective visiting Shackleton’s grave on South Georgia Island for the third time during this trip. This is, after all, the man whose wife requested he be buried in the the place he loved – South Georgia. Makes getting stuck in the changing of the guard during the ‘short cut’ across the front of Buckingham Palace bearable 🙂
A quick trot around the Royal Mews (included in the entry price for the Queen’s Gallery) before an afternoon salon appointment finds this handsome man waiting for his afternoon meal.
I had never visited the Royal Mews before, and they are worth a visit – relatively uncrowded, with all of the Royal Carriages on display, including the Australian State Coach.
