The Day I Had Been Waiting For - The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Celebrations Begins
- krista6207
- Sep 19, 2022
- 8 min read
Many moons ago, as some already know, I decided I wanted to attend a big royal event. I didn't know what, but I did want to experience at least on in my lifetime. The Queen's Platinum Jubilee was the perfect opportunity.
I have always admired the Queen. I can't say that for every member of her family. But she has always served with grace and dignity and demonstrated what life long service can look like. She's always been there, and while not always being popular (i.e. 1997) she has always tried to be relevant and present in the goings on of her nation and the Commonwealth.
It happened to be that when I was planning my trip to England that the Jubilee fit in perfectly into the planning. Even when others suggested I should go in July or August when Buckingham Palace would be open for touring, that could not convince me to change the dates I had chosen (plus, the dates worked well with my home and work life, see earlier blogs).
As I had become more familiar with London, I tried to plan out my route of how I would get to the festivities on June 2nd. Certain roads were closed and other transit was either delayed or not operating. A cab would have been expensive and maybe even difficult to get.
Having spent as many evenings as I had poking around The Mall, I decided the following: I would take the bus to Trafalgar Square and walk down The Mall and see what I could find for a spot. I had no intention of being there at stupid o'clock. What would be the point? Being an exhausted tourist, travelling alone didn't sound very safe. If it meant I didn't get a great spot, then so be it. I was there for the historic moment regardless of where I was on The Mall.
I was at the bus stop just after 5 a.m. and the morning was beautiful! The sun rises a lot earlier in England, so the sun was rising as I was making my way to the stop and my intended destination. I also discovered that the night route I was taking was actually the best route I'd taken the entire time I was there. It was more direct to many of the stops I would have liked all along!
Just before 6 a.m. I was in Trafalgar Square and was finally able to see what it looked like without people crawling all over the lions. The quietness of the moment was a bit eerie, as it was usually bustling with people and traffic.
I walked through the Admiralty Arch and down The Mall toward the Palace. Eventually, I chose to pop over to the west side of The Mall and found myself in what I deemed a pretty perfect spot. First, I was in the front, I'd be in the first row, so to say. Secondly, it was just before the turn to Horse Guards, which means I would see everyone I wanted to see coming and going. I was near an elevated press/camera stand with a walkway underneath. This would allow me to still see everything that was coming without it being obstructed. And, I was under a Canadian maple tree.
And, best of all, I planted myself on top of a rubber cord cover, so I wasn't standing directly on the ground, my back would thank me later!
The ladies beside me were from Portsmouth and had been there since about 1 a.m. They were great to chat with and talked about how long it took them to find a parking space so they could take the train in, chatting with the Bobbies during the night and how they were still waiting for one member of their group to return from McDonald's with some tea.
About that time, I did realize, I hadn't thought through some practical aspects of this. What would happen if I needed the loo? What about if I was hungry, I only had a couple of granola bars and some gum with me. And water? Would I be able to stand this whole time, I was surrounded by others with lawn chairs and blankets.
Well, I decided I would take my chances with needing the loo; I'd ration my liquid intake and I'd have to just suck it up sitting on the ground, after all I wouldn't have to worry about hauling around a chair either.
I planted myself on the ground, on my cord cover and leaned myself against the fence. If these fences were meant to keep back aggressive crowds it could support me leaning on it!
As it was, I had a really great time. The others around me were great to chat with; many were interested that I had come from Canada - alone. But then, I had one woman tell me how much she loved Canada but wouldn't visit until Trudeau was no longer the leader. I asked her "what did he do to you?" I'm not stupid, I figured it had something to do with the "Freedom" convoy earlier in the year, that didn't make headlines until about 3 weeks into the event. So, that's what she started on. So, I let her finish and then, I set her straight on a few points. It was THREE weeks before he invoked the Emergency Act. She didn't realize the abuse that Ottawa residents were taking or the chaos that was taking place. That they were anything but peaceful for the most part (insert stories here from family and friends who live there). She finally told me to "calm down". Now, I was calm. I knew I'd encounter this. She finally admitted that she didn't know any of these things. Well, no, because those weren't the sexy details for the international media. About an hour later, after she had got up, her friend apologized for her comments and that was the second time she'd had to apologize for her friend that day. Really? It was like 7:30!
I passed the time chatting, taking photos, watching all the Bobbies, the canon wagons going back and forth and of course, the street sweeper.
The gun wagons went back and forth about three times. And the street sweeper tried to keep up with the deposits left by the horses.
We had a fantastic Bobby by us (they were stationed about every 10 feet). He had a great sense of humour, personable and he kept us up to date with any of the plans that he was told (and could share). He had a special button he was giving to kids that he met on The Mall and we kept wanting one, but he said they were for the kids. Challenge accepted, we were going to get a button before this was over!
About 10 a.m. the parade of horses, guards, etc started to change and we knew it was getting closer to parade time. I was so excited. I realized I needed to get up, so, I got my legs out from under the fence (long legs need to stretch) and before I knew it, I was hoisted up and was standing, thanks to all those around me who thought I needed help. Now, I will never know if I needed help getting up! Then, it was time for a group photo. I wanted to remember this event and those I had spent it with. While everyone else had a phone camera, I had a camera, which it will henceforth be known as the Posh Camera.
Shortly after this photo was taken, the parade began. I have never experienced anything like it in my life and may not again. The British do pomp well. Very well.
Not long after the parade had begun, protesters jumped the double barricades and ran in front of the marching guards. I saw it all happen from my location. But at first, it looked like a photographer getting out in front for a photo. But within seconds, police were on the protester and had him moved to the other side of The Mall. Then another one went out. Minutes later, they were carrying out protesters right in front of us while the pom and parade continued.
The only time I encountered too much pressure or any sort of pushing while I was at the front of the barriers was while these people were being carried out by police. Everyone behind me wanted to get a good look at them and share their thoughts about what they had done. Some had been tazered and weren't terribly responsive, others, covered in horse manure. One girl was crying her eyes out. I actually found myself saying out loud "well what did you expect was going to happen?" For such a celebratory crowd, the air was blue around me with profanity and choice phrases while the protesters were being carried past.
Then I jokingly said to my new English friends, three weeks doesn't seem so bad, now does it. They all laughed.
And then, we went back to celebrating! The disruption did make us all wonder, would the Queen attend Trooping the Colour? There were so many reports of what she was and wasn't attending it was difficult to know what was accurate.
Now, it was time to see some Royalty!
The first car we recognized as the Royals zooming past us, included the Duke and Duchess of Kent. Then, we were pleased to see the carriages approaching.
Just when I thought I have a great camera to take photos of those I've been waiting to see, I found myself not taking as many photos and actually was watching the scene before me.
And now, we awaited Prince Charles, Prince William and Princess Anne on horseback. Did you know the horses they were riding were gifts from the RCMP!? (Learned on September 19 during commentary for the Queen's funeral - spoiler alert).
A moment or two later, the Queen's car came up The Mall. It was empty.
So many wondered, why would it be included if it was empty? I thought about it and realized that because these events are planned with military precision, even if Her Majesty chose at the last minute to remain at Buckingham Palace, the car would still need to go to keep the timing.
Shortly after, the street sweepers came back out. The crowd had fun, cheering them on, giving them applause and waving. The driver started waving back to cheers! Who says you can't have fun while all the others are watching Trooping the Colour? And they did have a dirty job to do.
My location was in close proximity to Horse Guards and the cheers could be heard from where I was standing. Yes, it would have been lovely to have received a ticket for that event, but having been able to see what I did with the parade, I wouldn't have traded the experience (and I was in sneakers. No sneakers at Trooping the Colour!).
At 11:55, the Queen's car came back down The Mall towards the Palace and we awaited everyone returning to the Palace.
The parade was concluded with Cadets, Scouts and Girl Guides and other youth organizations marching down The Mall. They were followed by the attendees from Trooping of the Colour, in all their finery, sidestepping horse dung as they made their way towards The Palace.
One of the bonuses of my location was when The Mall was going to be opened up after the parade, we'd be some of the first to be able to head towards the palace for the flyover. After the fencing started to be moved, those who had been waiting in the parks and side streets were also let into The Mall. I have never seen so many people in my entire life! The best description was that someone turned on a faucet and out came thousands of people!
I opted to not take the opportunity to head towards The Palace. I wasn't interested in being in the sea of people by myself. So, I hung around where I'd already been for six hours and waited. When there was space to move around, I moved out a bit into The Mall (and partially under a maple tree) and watched the flyover. It was spectacular! I opted to enjoy it verses trying to get good photos. Although I didn't get great photos, they are representative of what I saw in those moments.
After the cheers of the flyover had died down, the crowds began to disperse. I had a choice, I could go back to my flat and have a nap, or I could slowly make my way closer to Buckingham Palace. The barriers were down and it appeared we could get closer. Of course, the stage was in the way and it wasn't a clear view. I was going to take my chances and move my way towards the Palace.
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