London Charing Cross

Woke up with a very bright spring & bounce in my step this morning. The four day long weekend has commenced! …the alarm was set for 6:30am but I was already awake and up well before that went off in anticipation of making sure I could find a good vantage point along the Mall…Met Marta at the St James Tube to discover that millions of other people had the exact same idea and when we arrived there was already a crowd five lines deep along the entire length of the Mall, leading up to the Palace!

Clutch the pearls when I tell you that it was an extremely full on day! The reality was that I was hemmed in (sardine-style) a square foot of ground for five straight hours, barely able to move an inch with other people constantly encroaching on my personal space. I became extremely hungry and thirsty and obviously would have liked to be able to use a restroom! I knew though, that leaving my square foot of prime Real Estate would have been jubilant suicide! It would’ve meant forfeiting it forever to the hoards of other people around you!

I was going to resist applying & revealing my true feelings about the day but, the reality was, yes, it was wonderful to know you were part of real history making stuff but anybody who was watching it on TV would have seen way more than we did as part of the crowd! I hope that doesn’t sound ungrateful… Don’t get me wrong, I feel extremely privileged and grateful to be here for this historic moment in time but today was extremely full on in every way shape and form! (I haven’t been sleeping that well, perhaps not recovering as easily from jet lag as I get more “mature” 🤦‍♂️😜

We all hoped to get a glimpse of Her Majesty being escorted down the Mall in, at least, a land rover, but watched her come out onto the balcony on the huge screen set up in St James Park…we did get to watch all the other significant Royals pass by in coaches though, including William, Charles, Camilla, Kate and the 3 Royal Rugrats!

I’m sure, with a more rested perspective I’ll will gratefully appreciate the opportunity to stand among the masses as a part of Royal history but right now I’m spent; exhausted & overwhelmed…

Noteworthy side events where the crowd went wild were when 5-6 protesters who jumped the barricades and were instantly set upon by extremely efficient bobbies and carted off to the full roaring “boos” of the masses. The other notable cheers went out to the street sweepers (which, I’m certain, wouldn’t have made the telecasts…) as they busied themselves scooping up the horse 🐴 do-do… they willingly played along; giving a Royal wave as they essentially vacuumed up the mess 💩

So, in retrospect, it was an enjoyable day…just HUGE in every way! Every street in London is flooded with crowds: every eatery has lines waiting to get in; including McDonalds & Pizza Hut! London is like a rock concert on steroids! The absolute and total gratefulness and love for Queen Elizabeth is palpable and so genuine! It is beautiful to witness this emotion ❤️❤️❤️

As my body, once again, fills with hydration I am, even now, beginning to realise the significance of my place in this historic and jubilant celebration! God save our Queen 👑Read more