[caption id="attachment_1360" align="aligncenter" width="940"]
This is the Queen approaching the Mall before she goes onto Parliament[/caption]
Yesterday, during my half-term break from school, Mum and I decided to have a nice day out in London. We went up to the London Eye and to the National Theatre (both posts coming soon!) and then,after a long day in the boiling hot sun, we went to rest in the Rubens Hotel, which was fantastic. One of the reasons it was so great was because it is literally opposite the Royal Mews entrance of Buckingham Palace.
In the morning, after a delicious breakfast, we went into the lounge which faces the Palace. Mum noticed there was no traffic on the road and lots of police officers were crowding around.
Then someone told us that it was the day the Queen was due to open Parliament and we heard a rumour that the British Monarch was soon going to leave to go to Westminster. So, we stayed in the room (called the Palace Lounge!) and anxiously peered out of the window.
[caption id="attachment_1361" align="aligncenter" width="768"]
This is our view from the Rubens Hotel, of the Royal Mews[/caption]
A crowd was beginning to appear outside and soon we could see horses with carriages plodding around inside the Palace grounds.
After about ten minutes and lots of views of random horses, the gates opened. Surrounded by police from all angles, carriages left Buckingham Palace and started to begin a journey left. Nearly all of the carriages were empty except a few. Someone said one contained Prince Philip, but I am not sure.
After all the horses had gone, followed by some big cars, the crowd started to leave to walk to the front of Buckingham Palace. Not wishing to miss the possibility of seeing the Queen, Mum and I left hurriedly and followed the mob.
[caption id="attachment_1362" align="aligncenter" width="940"]
It was strange to see Buckingham Palace without lots of traffic driving around it![/caption]
We came to the front of Buckingham Palace. I couldn't believe how many people were there. The queue went on forever, but it was strange because the roads were blocked off, so there was no traffic.
We stood with a clear view near the entrance, but then luckily a policeman notified us that the Queen would no be going anywhere near us if we stayed there, so we walked further up. He told us to go and stand on the Mall as she would be coming around the Fountain and then down that road.
[caption id="attachment_1364" align="aligncenter" width="768"]
Someone kindly gave me a flag to wave![/caption]
For the next half an hour, soldiers with bayonets, and horses went by. Then Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, appeared in a black car with a crown on the top smiling and waving. She drove into the Palace, so perhaps she had been somewhere else that morning.
At around 10.45am we heard the national anthem playing and then a carriage came by carrying Prince Charles, the future king. Everyone cheered and he smiled. He looked very happy.
[caption id="attachment_1363" align="aligncenter" width="940"]
This is Prince Charles![/caption]
Finally, at around 11am, and after lots of shouting by the soldiers in front of us, the national anthem started playing again and a golden carriage trailed after a massive group of soldiers. Inside that carriage was my monarch, the Queen.
[caption id="attachment_1365" align="aligncenter" width="940"]
This is the Queen! Can you recognise her?[/caption]
She looked out of the window and did the royal wave thing. It was so cool seeing royalty.
Normally I would say something like "it was a brilliant day out" or "you should definitely go.". But I cannot really say that about this experience. However, if you go to the Rubens hotel in London, always be on the lookout. You never know who you might see.
More history:
The Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London
An awesome visit to Hever Castle (with video!)
Labels: Blog, Buckingham Palace, history, London, opening of Parliament, Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II