ANZAC Day

This year I am in London for ANZAC day and have received a ticket to the ANZAC day service at Westminster abbey. I'm excited and feel that this is a good event to go to, seeing as I was at Gallipoli last year.

I arrived early and was taken in through security, this included a passport check, bag check and metal detector walk through.

The whole area was shut down and tourists were wandering by looking confused as to why the abbey was shut and what was with all the police. I felt really special.

I entered the abbey and was told to walk forward. It was a very chilled affair. There was one side for the Australians and the other for the New Zealanders. Lots of people here seemed to know each other and gave the impression that this wasn't the first time they'd attended this service.

I was sat towards the back of the abbey and third row I'm from the aisle. We had beautiful ceremony books on our seats and the organ started playing tunes at 11:45am. It was whilst reading the programme and looking at the tiles of VIP guests that I realised the Queen and Prince Phillip will attend!!

As I sit watching the guests I start to realise how big of a deal this ceremony is. I watch Nick Clegg, David Cameron, Alexander Downer, Kevin Rudd and .... Walk in with their wives. There was also portent reps from NZ and Turkey and the ... Of Westminster, but u didn't recognise them.

When the Queen arrived we all had to stand and four royal guards (in the red coats & black hats) stood up in the archway separating the front and back of the church, and sounded a fanfare with their trumpets. The queen greeted different service men and women who were at the entrance, then preceded to the front if the church, smiling and nodding at everyone as she went by.

I couldn't believe it!! Seeing a royal family member wasn't in my list. Yet here I was a mere metre from the number one!! No wanting in long lines or rough crowds, no cheering and trying to get just a glimpse. There she was in all her glory and she'd be walking past me in get way out too.

The ceremony was lovely. We heard prayers, sang songs and joined in refrains. I proudly sang out the Australian anthem when it was our turn and joined in fur the Turkish and New Zealander ones.

When the Queen left we again all stood and the fanfare began. What a way to enter a room each day, with such noise and attention. I'd have to cheer you up on sad days haha.

The abbey holds a lot of people and it took us all a little while to exit. The crowds had grown by now and watched on as we left. I walked out past Big Ben before going home, riding high on my meeting.

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