Whitehall palace, on the left as one goes from Trafalgar Square to Westminster Square, was built by Inigo Jones and owes its present magnificence to his handiwork and that of his team of designers and painters. Sir Peter Paul Rubens painted the ceiling of the Banqueting Hall, one of the most sumptuous interiors in London, including in it an allegorical scene depicting the union of England and Scotland in the person of James VI and I.

In 1649 occured the lamentable occasion when Charles I was executed here. It was a bitterly cold winter's morning and the king wore extra underclothes so that he would not shiver, lest people thought that he was afraid to die. As the famous lines have it: "He nothing common did or mean, Upon that memorable scene".

The Stewart Society is being privileged to have a special visit to the Banqueting House on 24 July 1997, arranged for us by the Chairman of our London Branch, Sir Alastair Stewart of Strathgarry, Bt. If members want details of the trip, please contact Sir Alastair by writing to him at: Walters Cottage, North Hill, Little Baddow, CHELMSFORD, Essex, CM3 4TQ. Tel: 01245-222455 or Fax: 01245-226696.