Confessions of a Royal Watcher

I posted yesterday about our experience at the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant.

I still can't believe we got pictures of the Royals.  

On Monday, we stayed in and watched the Diamond Jubilee Concert on TV.

I'm so glad the skies cleared on that day.  It must have been amazing to be there.

I loved Prince Charles referring to the Queen as "Mummy."  Too cute!

And her smile is just precious.  

On Tuesday, a Royal Procession and a Balcony Appearance were scheduled.

I was still flying high since I'd seen the Queen on Sunday.

(Don't argue with me.  Just smile and nod.)  

So, we decided that we just wanted to get out

and be a part of the atmosphere for the last day of celebrations.

If there was a sighting, then great.  But, if not, that was okay too.

This time we made sure to bring Sugar Bear along for the ride.  

We started with a quick visit to Selfridges Department Store and Hamleys Toy Shop.  

Hamleys is a massive toy store that has been around for over 250 years.

Check out the Queen Elizabeth II image in the window.  It's all LEGOS!

 Another Royal sighting!!  All LEGOS!  Pretty cool, huh? 

I really must work on my royal wave.  Frantic hummingbird hand is so not proper form.

We popped in to a Pub to escape the rain and have a Gin & Tonic in honor of Her Majesty.

You thought I was joking about the tiaras didn't you?

Then we started to make our way towards the palace along every other person in London.

The police and event staff were doing such a great job of managing the crowds.

But, this meant that the closest we could get was to Trafalgar Square.

 Which was actually fine because there was a big screen so we could see the balcony appearance.

 52 days until the Olympics start!! 

And the flyovers were right over our heads.  

 WWII era Dakota flanked by King Air aircrafts

 

 WWII era Lancaster Bomber flanked by Spitfires and Hurricanes

The Royal Air Force Red Arrows

Everything ended with a gun salute, a rousing rendition of "God Save the Queen" and confetti cannons.

Another exciting, wonderful Diamond Jubilee experience!

I've been thinking a lot about why I'm so intrigued by British Royalty.

There's been  a lot of commentary lately about Americans and their love of everything British.  

It usually includes some good-natured ribbing after that whole Revolution thing. 

For me, it ties right in to my love of history.  From a little girl, I've always loved a good story.

Historical novels just pull me right in to an exciting and romantic world of damsels and knights of the realm.  

And the British monarchy is living history, isn't it?   

Queen Elizabeth II can trace her lineage back to King Alfred the Great who ruled in the 7th Century. 

And who can resist a good love story?  William and Kate fit that niche quite nicely.

And sadly, tragedy always plays a part in a good story.

I remember crying as I watched the wedding of Charles and Diana

and then again, as I watched her funeral procession.

And, as I've learned more about Queen Elizabeth II,

I've really come to respect and admire her as a woman.

 I've flitted through life a bit, landing here and there but never really settling in.

And here is a woman who made a commitment at the young age of 26

and has spent the last 60 years faithfully fulfilling that commitment.

I deeply admire her steadfast nature and inherent loyalty.

So, I will gladly own up to being a proud American with a soft spot for the British Royalty.

What about you?  What draws you in?

Selena

xoxo

Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant

All year, the United Kingdom has been buzzing about the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.  

I blogged about it a few months ago and the wonderful event has finally arrived! Yay!

 

It's a celebration like you've never seen.  

Red, white and blue is splashed over everything and bunting has been strung across this nation.

It is truly a sight to behold!  

 Everyone got a four day weekend to celebrate!

As a proud American living in London and the wife of a Brit,

I am so honored to be a part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations 

and to experience first-hand the love that the people have for their Queen.

She is an amazing woman who has devoted her life to the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.  She is a very beloved Queen.

Via (Reuters)

"I declare before you all that my whole life,whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service"

Queen Elizabeth II

I was thrilled to celebrate the life and service of such a remarkable woman.

 I've been looking forward to the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant since I read about it last year.  

One thousand vessels floating down the Thames river 

along with the Royal Barge carrying the Queen and the other Royals. 

Sugar Bear has been here for two weeks and we've been running around like crazy.   So, we decided earlier last week that because of the weather and the crowds, we would just watch from the comfort of our couch.  We stocked up on munchies and Pimms to fortify our celebration and polished our tiaras.  

But the morning of the Diamond Jubilee Pageant,

I woke up to all of the excitement on the TV and twitter and I just couldn't stay home.

This was a once in a lifetime event and I was not going to miss it.

TE decided to join me and Sugar Bear decided to watch from the comfort of the flat.  

I put on my cute little US/UK flag scarf, a raincoat and baseball cap

and we headed out to see what we could see.

Was it crowded?  Yep!         Was it raining? Yep!  

Was it spectacular? ABSOLUTELY!!!

I'm so glad we decided to join the one million other spectators lining the seven mile route.  

It was crazy, stressful, frustrating and wonderful!

We took a tube to Pimlico Station and then walked down to the river.  

People have been camping out for the best spots and the crowd was already huge, 

so we had trouble finding the ideal viewing spot.  

We settled ourselves with a limited view of the river over a 5 foot wall and a few rows back.

We were also close to one of the big screen TV's so we wouldn't miss out on everything.  

Everyone was in great spirits and showing lots of red, white & blue.  There were periodic outbreaks of song and cheers of "God Save the Queen!"

 After a long 3 hour wait, the boats came into view!!!

There was a lot of wrestling for space

 and crowd etiquette was a bit lost in the excitement of getting a good view.  

By the time the boats came into view, the lady behind me 

had somehow managed to not only get herself and her son in front of me,

but she was smart enough to bring a step stool!

So my view of the flotilla was in little spurts of popping up onto my tippy toes and straining to get a look.

TE is 6'4", so he had a little bit better luck and he was in charge of the photos for this one. 

 

The first boat was carrying the Jubilee Bells that chimed along the route.  

All of the church bells along the way responded in kind.

You can hear them here.  Lovely, aren't they?

Next came the Gloriana, a rowbarge especially commissioned for the Diamond Jubilee. 

All of the boats that came next were man-powered.  There were hundreds of them.  

Look, Momma!!!!  The Red Hat Ladies had a boat!!!! 

(I don't think that's what they really were, but I got a kick out of the red hats & purple shirts.)

 The Vikings are coming!

The people on the boats were so honored to participate and looked to be having fun.  

All of the Commonwealth Nations participated.

  

These boats carried all of the flags of the Commonwealth.  There were several rows of them.

Excitement was building as we knew the Queen was getting closer.  

This is the boat that was used for her to board the Royal Barge.  

And there is Princess Anne!

More dignitaries and VIP's... and then someone yells "There she is!!"  

The Royal Barge is in sight!!!

Everyone starts yelling, waving their flags, blowing horns and everyone surges forward to see!!

I was straining desperately to get a view but I just couldn't!

The boat was passing by and everyone was so excited.  But I couldn't see!!! 

I was jumping up trying to see and starting to panic that I would miss my first Royal sighting!

At one point, I actually reached forward to push a kid's jacket out of the way so I could see.  

Another lady in front of me standing on a stool, saw my hand and looked back.

She must have seen the desperation on my face.  I'm sure I looked a sight!

She said "Can you see?"  

I think my chin actually quivered as I responded "I can't see anything!"

"Here! Quick!!" and somehow she managed to hop down and help me up onto the stool.

I grabbed on to the back of someones coat and put my hand on her shoulder

and got up onto that stool just as the Royal Barge was going past!

I spotted a white hat and squeeked "I see her!!!!"   

I stuck my hand up in the air to wave, let out a Texas whoop,

hopped down off the stool and burst into tears!

Hot mess.

The poor lady must have thought I was losing it.

I thanked her and she told me I could stay up there for a bit.

But, I think I'd had enough.  The adrenaline, excitement and frustration all had taken it's toll.

Time for a Gin & Tonic in a nice, comfy pub. 

Then TE took pity on his excitable American wife and got us a taxi home.

(No way I was getting on a Tube with that crowd.) 

We watched the rest of the pageant from the couch.

When we got home and reviewed the photos, I realized the white hat I saw was actually Camilla. 

As you can see in the bottom right in picture above, 

the Queen had actually popped down into the boat to collect her wrap just as they came into our view.

But, I'm in complete denial.  I saw the Queen.  I don't really care about any evidence to the contrary.

(Don't burst my bubble.)

Oh!  And check out William, Harry & Kate!!  In this pic, Kate is searching the crowd for me. 

"Wills, do you think Selena will make it?"

"Oh, Wait!  I think I see her!  Is that Selena behind that 5 ft. wall over there?"

 "It is her.  I'm so glad she made it!  Hi, Selena!  

Why is she crying and pushing that little boy?"

Celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee with my Englishman. 

A once in a lifetime event that I will never forget.  

xoxo

Selena

P.S. This is my first blog in two weeks and I've missed you guys!!  But, Sugar Bear was here and we have been filling every minute with fun and memories.  I'm sorting through the 2,500 plus photos and have a ton of blogs posts to write.  Fair warning.  I also have another Diamond Jubilee post. Thanks for reading!

*All photos taken by me or TE unless linked otherwise.