Day 8 June 7 Harewood House, Goldsborough Hall and Harrogate

Photo by Michael Rhodes

One week has passed and now starting the second week of my long-planned 50th visit to the UK.  Today it was a tube stop at Kings Cross where I boarded a train to York, where I changed for Harrogate.  Waiting for my arrival were Michael Rhodes and his wife, Alison.  Michael publishes the Peerage News blog.

https://peeragenews.blogspot.com/

I allowed myself enough time to have a sit-down breakfast in Kings Cross, relaxing and the coffee was good.  Checked Smith's for Tatler (none), and then it was time to board the train.   The tea lady came by and the couple sitting across from me bought my tea, very nice - and  I expect it was due to helping entertain their daughter, approaching toddlerhood.  I sad thank you, and what a nice surprise.

About two hours later, the train rolled into Harrogate. where Mike and Alison were waiting for me.  Alison was driving and Michael got into the back so I could ride shotgun.  We were heading to Harewood House, the home of the Earl of Harewood.  The present earl is the grandson of the late Princess Mary (1897-1965), the only daughter of King George and Queen Mary.   Lord Harewood is a first cousin once removed of  Queen Elizabeth.

This was another beautiful day, with blue skies, puffy clouds, and great company.   

I first visited Harewood in sometime in the  1990s and I wanted to go visit again.   The house has appeared in several TV and movies, most recently, the first Downtown Abbey movie. 

https://harewood.org/

There have been numerous royal exhibits at Harewood.  The main exhibit currently on view is called Radical Acts.  Interesting, but I would have preferred to see Princess Mary's wedding gown.  

 

Henry George Charles Lascelles, 6th Earl of Harewood (1882-1947)  married Princess Mary in 1922

Henry Ulick Lascelles, 5th Earl of Harewood

Princess Mary, the Princess Royal

Lady Florence Bridgeman, wife of the 5th Earl

Nice to see family photos of the late earl, the present earl, and their families.

the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry at Harewood House in 2014 for the start of the Tour de France.   The present earl is standing next to Prince Harry.  The present Earl (David) and William and Harry are second cousins once removed.

the 6th Earl and his second wife, Patricia.   

Princess Mary

Do not sit on this chair

The future 6th earl and his younger brother, the Hon. Gerald Lascelles. the two sons of Princess Mary.  First cousins to the present queen

A  Platinum Jubilee celebration

Darling Aunt Mary

Yummy scone and tea on the terrace at Harewood

Time to visit the Bird Garden  https://harewood.org/explore/bird-garden/

Humboldt Penguins

Burrowing owl

A snowy owl

Not one of the wildlife -- Michael Rhodes

Humboldt Penguins at Harewood House

Synchronized Penguin swimming

Before heading to the church,  one more required stop -- one of the Souvenir Shops, where I bought the guidebooks, a small book on Princess Mary, a fridge magnet, and a key ring, which I will turn into a Christmas ornament.

All Saints Church, which is on the Harewood estate

After exploring the house, gardens, and a part of the estate,  we got back into our car and headed to Goldsborough Hall in Knaresborough, a few minutes' drive from Harewood House.  Goldsborough Hall used to belong to the Earl of Harewood. The house was the first marital home for Princess Mary and her husband then styled Viscount Lascelles.   Their elder son, George, was baptized in the local church.

I will be doing a separate post on Goldsborough Hall after I am done with the vacation posts.  We were given a private tour of the inside of Goldsborough Hall, which is now a luxury hotel and a private home.

Final stop:  Harrogate, which has few royal connections.   Grand Duchess George of Russia (nee Princess Marie of Greece and Denmark) opened several hospitals in Harrogate during the first world war.  She was married to Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia.  The couple was largely estranged with Marie and their daughters, Princess Nina and Princess Xenia of Russia, stranded in England when the first world war broke out.   Marie was the daughter of King George I of the Hellenes and Grand Duchess Olga of Russia.   Her brother, Prince Andrew, was the father of Prince Philip. Duke of Edinburgh.

Grand Duke George and three other Grand Dukes were killed by the Bolsheviks in January 1919.

a former boarding house, briefly the residence of Princess Alix of Hesse and By Rhine before her marriage to Nicolas II of Russia

Cathcart House

The Alexandra, a pub for Queen Alexandra, consort of Edward VII

Can you spot the mistake?

We did not have dinner at the Alexandra as Michael recommended the Fat Badger.   I chose the Buttermilk chicken with skinny fries and a caesar salad.  And a refreshing local ale!

https://www.thefatbadgerharrogate.com/

The sweet shop was already closed so I missed a chance to buy a tin of Farrah's of Harrogate toffee.  Bummer.

Back to the train station for the train to York with 15 minutes to spare for the train to King's Cross.  I checked Smiths' for the July issue of Tatler.  Queen is on the cover ... Not giving up.

Michael and I have "known" each other for several years but it was the first time we had met in person. 

We had a blast -- as if we had been together for years ... Michael and Alison were great hosts, kind, sweet, and a lot of fun. 

Thank you for a superb day!

A recent biography of Princess Mary

https://royalbooknews.blogspot.com/2021/05/princess-mary-by-elisabeth-basford.html

This is the book I bought at Harewood.  I believe it was published as a companion volume to an exhibit, commemorating the life of the late Princess Royal