Form IV and V pupils at St Hilda’s started the Autumn Term with a trip from Harpenden to London. The trip was an opportunity to experience British culture and our rich history with a visit to Buckingham Palace and to an exhibition of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s clothes.
We started the day with a visit to The King’s Gallery where we saw a range of outfits worn by the late Queen Elizabeth. These ranged from very formal dresses which she wore to state occasions, to her riding clothes, and even a range of see through umbrellas with coloured trims, to match the colour of her outfit. There was an entire wall dedicated to rows and rows of different hats and a section with ‘dress-up’ clothes from when the Queen Elizabeth was a young girl. There was an audible gasp from the St Hilda’s students as we walked into the main room, which was filled with gowns, skirts and coats decorated with a dazzling array of sequins, jewels and beads. A highlight of the exhibition was the chance to see the Queens’s wedding dress, with all the intricate beading. We heard a fascinating story about where in the UK the silk was grown to make the gown, and how smelly the house became where all the silk worms were being kept!
Leaving the exhibition, the Form V girls seemed somewhat of a tourist attraction themselves, in their smart red blazers and matching St Hilda’s bags, but as we arrived at the front of Buckingham palace, all attention turned to the Changing of the Guard, which we were lucky enough to catch the end of. The girls had a chance to see and hear the guards marching and playing. Even though we have many very talented musicians at St Hilda’s School, we all commented on how tricky it must be to play an instrument and march in time!
After lunch we went inside Buckingham Palace itself and walked through many beautiful rooms including The Ballroom, The Throne Room and The Picture Gallery. Highlights included special permission to pass behind the barrier ropes to sit just inches away from the King’s actual throne. We were not allowed through the mysterious hidden and disguised doors though, so we had fun thinking up ideas about what was behind them!
By the end of the trip, our teachers had lost track of the number of times we were complimented on lovely manners, fantastic behaviour and smart appearance. One person even asked for a link to our website, so they could buy one of our St Hilda’s bags!
