A Royal Family Run

An early London bell for the clan - and they answered it! - which meant we actually were able to log one of those rare experiences - a father/son/daughter group run.

And as you can see, some were all in for this experience

Our destination this fine morning was nearby Regent's Park, along with the adjacent Primrose Hill.

A bit of London park history:

Known as the "jewel in the crown," the Regent's Park (and Primrose Hill) covers almost 500 acres.  It used to be known as Marylebone Park, until 1646 when John Nash, architect to the crown and a friend of the Prince Regent, developed it into Regent's Park.  It was initially intended to feature a summer palace for the prince, although it was never built.

In the 1930s, Queen Mary's Gardens were built in the park.  During World War II, the park was bombed, and rubble from buildings destroyed in the blitz was dumped on the lawns.

Fun fact: (at least for me) - the park was part of a vast forest once known as Middlesex!  Can't leave the college or the county behind me, it seems.

Regent's Park has also had its fair share of film time on the big screen.

What flicks might you know it from?

Well, most notably, this one, in Harry Potter's first movie when Harry frees Voldemort's boa constrictor from the London Zoo, which is on the grounds of Regent's Park.

It's also been featured in Spy Game, About a Boy, an American Werewolf in London, and for nearby Primrose Hill, Bridget Jones: the Edge of Reason.

But as anyone who knows us Cooks is well aware, we're considered somewhat of a family of Disney fanatics.  Which hearkens us back to 1961's 101 Dalmatians, and most of the film's opening scenes, set in Regent's Park.

We didn't spot a dalmatian during our run, but we did manage to come across Girl with Jaguar, a 2009 sculpture by Tom Harvey.

So, obviously, Wakanda Forever.

Time to head out of Regent's, and over to nearby Primrose Hill 

Heather wasn't too happy about the hill part of Primrose, but she was still all smiles when we got to the top 

Primrose provides some spectacular views of the London panorama, one of six protected views of London.  The hill itself is 206 feet above sea level. The trees are kept low so as not obscure the view.  Once upon a time, duels were fought atop the hill.  (Heather and Andrew contributed a brother-sister exchange to the lore.)

Running up the hill, we passed Shakespeare's tree, which was planted in 1864 to celebrate the Bard's 300th birthday.  (A replacement tree was replanted there the same year I was born.)

Can't tell you what a thrill it is for me to explore new roadways, hill, paths, and hidden treasures, while logging some running miles with some of favorite runners on the face of the Earth.

It's moments like these I'll remember forever.  At least this morning, I was King of the Hill.