As I await my trip to London, which is only a month and a half away now, I have been lucky enough to have had the opportunity to watch many programs on the British Royals, the castles, the history of England, courtesy of PBS, the Queen's Jubilee and the upcoming Olympics. It's a wonderful prelude to my vacation.
Last night I watched a program about the Queen's collection of jewelry, crowns, antiques, artifacts, paintings, even her swans that grace the River Thames! The swans are counted yearly by a man titled the Swan Marker, a tradition kept since the 12th Century! He dons a swan feather in his official cap. I just love it!
In this wonderful and varied Collection, there is an item I did not know existed! The Musket Ball that killed Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar (1805)! It is housed at Windsor Castle in a very elaborate pendant locket! It is a bit morbid, in that it actually carries some of the braid and cloth from Lord Nelson's uniform. He was hit by a sniper from on high, the bullet entering his shoulder and running through to the spine, where it was lodged. Causing paralysis, and him bleeding out, he died on the ship, HMS Victory, with his surgeon Dr. Beatty and officers around him. He did know, though, that the battle had been won. 
Of course, Lord Nelson was THE hero of the sea battles during the Napoleonic Wars. He was given a state funeral, with procession up the Thames, and a resting place in the crypt at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. I have paid homage there a couple times.
The surgeon, it is said, removed the lead ball, and had it placed in a locket, wearing it for some time in tribute. It was later presented to Quenn Victoria, becoming part of the Royal Collection of historic objects. You can see it in the Grand Vestibule of Windsor Castle!
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