Today we took a tour of the Houses of Parliament. Parliament consists of three parts: the House of Commons (some 650 "MPs" elected by the people to represent them), the House of Lords (some 800 appointed-for-life "Members,") and the Monarch. The balance of power between these three parts has changed over the centuries and today the role of the Monarch is mostly symbolic.
Our self-guided tour took us about almost 90 minutes, and it was barely enough time to admire the building alone. The tour began in Westminster Hall, the only part of the original Palace of Westminster which survives in its original form, dating to 1075. The rest of the Parliament building looks medieval, but it dates to the mid 1800s, after the original Palace of Westminster was destroyed in a fire.
Alas, I could not take any photographs beyond Westminster Hall. There was a lot to see and to learn. I especially liked the Tudor Room with its portraits depicting Henry the VIII and his six wives. The highlight of the tour was exploring the House of Lords followed by the House of Commons. Fascinating!
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Westminster Hall
In this hall King Charles I was tried and condemned to death by Oliver Cromwell |
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Details from "St. Stephen's Porch"
The public entrance to the Houses of Parliament |
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| Doorway in "St. Stephen's Porch" |
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| Westminster Hall |
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| Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben) under renovation |
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| Victoria Tower, Houses of Parliament |
What an education you both are getting over there I have to say. Good for you John and to share with us. You picking up the accent now?
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