A kilt at The Palace.

[GMan]

Pure class Hamish, but coming from you I have come to expect it.

[Inchessi]

That must have been a thrill. Great Pics.

[andyfg]

Outstanding Hamish!

[Standard]

definitely one to be recalled in my autobiography!!

Take care,
Ham.

So, when is the release date, and when is the signing party? This should be a truely fun event.

[O'Callaghan]

Photography is forbidden inside any of the Royal Palaces but is permitted in the grounds outside the buildings - with the exception of St.James Palace and Clarence House! We chose to use Buckingham Palace as our photo background as I was well aware of the restrictions we would face later. Yes, if I'd been carrying a camera in a bag on my shoulder, I would have been obliged to hand it over at St. James' Palace door, then reclaim it on leaving. On this occasion I took my wee Sony Cyber-Shot one which slips into the smallest pocket. I declared it at the airport-style security point as we entered the Palace, but was permitted to take it inside - possibly as we were a small group of invitees and not the general public. St James' Palace is not open to the public and so no courtyard area is set aside for photography. The open-sided Friary Court at the Tudor building fronts onto Cleveland Row and may therefore be used as a background but one cannot cross into the Court from the pavement/sidewalk.

Take care,
Ham.

I don't think that Buckingham Palace is exactly open to the public either, not the way the White House is, for example, although I have a vague idea that they have a small picture gallery that may be, but I've never been to see that. This was some time ago, and we took in a 35mm camera, which I don't recall having to leave and then pick up either. It seems they do trust invited guests to observe the rules and not take pictures. We weren't allowed onto the grounds when we were there, we had to go straight to the correct room and straight back out afterwards.

One thing has changed though. We parked on the Mall, which required a permit that came with the invitation, but now it seems you can't even drive along the Mall, something that I've done countless times in the past. I suppose they might still allow access just to park if you have an invitation, but I don't know. It's almost moot when you take into account having to pay a 'congestion' fee just to drive in inner London atall. Taking that into account, I think most people would opt not to drive there anyway.

ETA: For those who don't know, the Mall is a road, not a shopping centre, LOL!

[bchunter]

Thank you for sharing a bit of your world with us, Hamish.

[kiltedinUSMC]

What a awesome event to attend! I really do love that suit.

[dfmacliam]

Wonderful pictures Hamish, and a beautiful guest... You, Sir, are a class act... Thank you for sharing your evening with us..

[mbhandy]

Possibly the result of it being not what one knows, but whom one knows!

Take care,
Ham.

Now isn't that normal.
I am one of those kind of people that falls into things and situations and then wonder how I got there.
Thanks for the Pics.

MrBill

[unaspenser]

Sounds like a wonderful day, Hamish! You look so dapper in your pinstripes. Let us know how the book turns out!