Style & Society: Dressing the Georgians, The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace.
It is always a pleasure to visit one of my favourite galleries – The Queen’s Gallery, between Buckingham Palace and the Royal Mews – to see a selection of items from the Royal Collection in a comparatively small setting that nevertheless manages to fit in a huge amount of fascinating material in a broad historical context.
This current exhibition (which closes on 8 October) contains mainly paintings, drawings and prints – including Gainsborough, Zoffany and Hogarth – and costumes (not altogether surprising!) but also has a very informative audio guide and useful notes explaining the evolution of the various styles. To think that costumes, jewellery, wigs, shoes and even silk stockings have all survived for so long – particularly as it was the practice to repurpose fabrics and jewellery – is amazing.
The difference between Court costume and that of the rest of the population is examined, in the context of the turbulent times of the Georgian monarchs. The (adapted) wedding dress of Princess Charlotte of Wales looks so fragile it is a wonder it has survived.
On until Sunday 8 October (Closed Tuesdays & Wednesdays) – online or in-person booking recommended and best to get in early (opens 0930h) as coach tours arrive from 11h!
It is worth mentioning that once a ticket is purchased it can be converted into a one year pass to future exhibitions at no extra charge.
Also the three ‘royal’ shops (Queen’s Gallery, Royal Mews and Buckingham Palace’s across the road) all have wonderful ideas for Christmas gifts: bathroom ‘smellies’, kitchen ‘goodies’, books, porcelain/bone china and glass (replica!) jewellery and music. We have always loved the tea towels, jams, cakes and biscuits, and there is also a selection of exquisite bone china series. https://www.rct.uk
Crown to Couture, Kensington Palace
Knowing this blockbuster was coming towards the end of its run (closes 29 October ’23), I decided to go with a friend on one of the ‘guided tours’ when KP is closed to the general public on a Monday (and Tuesday).
The idea is that there is a maximum of 30 people in any one group, with one guide, and everyone goes around together, listening to specific details pertaining to items in that room.
I don’t know if we were a particularly unruly bunch (!) but I have to say I did feel there was a bit of a ‘herding cats’ aspect which was rather distracting.
However, the actual exhibits themselves were of course amazing, and all in such a fabulous setting! This is well worth a visit, particularly as there are numerous examples of stunning ‘frocks’ worn (by stars such as Beyonce, Katy Perry, Kendall Jenner, Billy Eilish, Anna Wintour etc etc) to Met Galas often placed near garments in similar styles from the Georgians at Court!
All this in recently restored Kensington Palace does make it rather a treat!
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Online Booking ASAP strongly recommended. Timed Entry. Exhibition closes on Sunday 29 October (closed Mondays and Tuesdays apart from Private tours. Apparently numbers are limited but you may decide when seeing the queues that it it worth paying the premium price (£35 or £31.50 for Members) for a Private Guided Tour
https://www.hrp.org.uk/kensington-palace/visit/tickets-and-prices/
Pygmalion, The Old Vic Theatre, Waterloo
George Bernard Shaw’s classic is (sort of) revived in this new production directed by Richard Jones at the Old Vic on the South Bank.
Bertie Carvel features as Henry Higgins and Patsy Ferran as Eliza Doolittle. It was fairly familiar (although not always entirely comfortable with the hint of a possible controlling relationship) but I did enjoy the evening, particularly as there was no interval so no worries about late night travel afterwards.
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On until Saturday 28 October with special (very reasonable!) prices from theatre direct
https://www.theoldvictheatre.com
BBC Singers Concert– recording at St Paul’s Church Knightsbridge
Peter Phillips, founder and Director of The Tallis Scholars, conducted the BBC Singers in a special programme celebrating the music of three figureheads of the renaissance period in their anniversary years:
- William Cornysh (500 years since his death)
- William Byrd (400 years since his death)
- Thomas Weelkes (also 400 years since his death)
and also included John Taverner’s beautiful Magnificat
The BBC Singers are in cracking form and with the beautiful acoustic of St Paul’s Church, Knightsbridge this concert of sacred choral music was an absolute treat.
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Tickets for BBC recordings are available to the general public.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows
Other recommendations for a visit, which I have yet to make myself, but which are on my ‘to do’ list…
Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel: Fashion Manifesto ,TheV&A (Sainsbury Gallery) – sold out until the end of the year, although Members/Friends can still go with only limited delays.
Design Museum, Kensington – various exhibitions, both in the permanent collection and temporary exhibition areas
Wave, Japan House, High Street Kensington (near tube station)
any number of ‘public art’ installations, sculptures etc around Central London, in parks, on high streets, in residential areas or by the Thames itself.
Linda Spiers
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