If I had endless amounts of money the one thing I would absolutely do is spend a night in Hampton Court. I would make the largest donation ever, so they wouldn't refuse me. It took me 6 hours of travel time and seven buses to get there and back, but it was one of the best decisions I ever made.
The palace is half 16th century Tudor, made famous of course by King Henry VIII, and the other half is baroque architecture transformed by King William III. All I have to say is that the palace is an incredible blend of the two styles, and thank goodness William ran out of money rebuilding it because so much of the Tudor architecture would have been lost. For the 17th century sections though, props to Sir Christopher Wren once again.
Historical actors make my life. Why am I not in this line of work? Henry VIII and Katherine Parr's wedding was amazing and surprisingly believable. I bowed at the feet of Henry VIII. I can understand the world's obsession with this man even today, not just because of his scandalous life or six wives, but because the guy had a real presence. A charisma that could dominate a room, enchant everyone around, and a power that could equally command emotions of both fear and love. I very easily (and happily) found myself shouting "God save the King," falling to one knee every time he entered the room, averting my eyes, and answering with "Your Grace," or "Your Majesty" when he spoke to me. Which he did, freaking Henry VIII spoke to me, or at least as close as I am going to get to Henry VIII. It was like being star struck; I know a little silly to be over an unknown actor, or a guy whose been dead for centuries. Either way though, it feels pretty good when a King, even a false one, acknowledges you. It makes me think that I would have been a damn good courtier.
Poor Henry VIII, the first monarch to have a completely secure throne in years after the bloody, gruesome, and tragic War of the Roses or Cousins' War where Henry's father, Henry VII, came out the final victor. So naturally Henry's greatest fear was to lose the throne again because everyone was completely sick of war by that point. Could you imagine spending everyday of your life fearful because you didn't have a son to follow you? It became his obsession, which is why we have divorce, and multiple marriages. Still a popular trend, nice one Henry. The happy ending to Henry's life is that he did get a beloved son, Edward, from the pious woman he considered his only true wife, Jane Seymour. Unfortunately, Edward died at age 15, only six years after he was crowned. The real tragedy of the story is that the powerful, charismatic Henry would never know that he in fact did not need a son because his little princess Elizabeth, with her fiery red hair, possessed extremely similar qualities. We do know that Elizabeth I was the most successful of Henry's three children, she had a long, stable reign, and lives on in English history as one of the most celebrated monarchs of all time.
Moral of the story: do not long for what you do not have, appreciate what you do because you never know where it might lead. I don't think I have a shot at being Queen, but never under estimate the power of a determined woman.
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