Visiting a Queen

I arrived today back in London hoping to see the Queen’s cortège and it was taken to Westminster Hall. And I was not the only one. Apparently the crowds had filled the viewing spaces fairly early so there was no more access. I was told I could go to Hyde Park and watch on screens that were set up. This was tempting, but it was a fair walk away. 

I considered my options and decided to look at joining the queue for the state viewing. As I walked along the Thames I learned that the line stretched all the way to Blackfriers bridge already- with over three hours until they even started the public viewing!!

I debated my options, I’d come back to be a part of this moment, and I wanted to see the Queen’s procession with the Royal family walking behind. Should I find a pub with a screen? Go visit a cathedral and take advantage of all the tourists spots likely being empty? Standing beside the London Eye I noticed it barely had a line….wait. The Eye!! A quick Google showed a great view from the top of the procession route. A 30min round trip, the procession starting at 2:22 to reach Westminster at 3:00. Some quick math led me to get a ticket and up I went- with a few others who had the same thought. And we reached the top, with a splendid view of the Horse Guards Palace as they marched through with the gun carriage for the Queen.  The yellow of the Royal Standard quite visible even from our hight, and her family solemnly pacing behind. 

Next my thoughts turned to the viewing. The lines were already long as predicted. I only had one night and very little patience for queuing so I decided the middle of the night would be the best time to join. As I rested at my hostel I met two other travellers- a Canadian and a Brazilian who had rushed to London after the news to be here for the funeral. We agreed to head out together tonight. 

The line tracker showed a queue of about 2.4 miles when we set out before midnight, it seemed reasonable. Of course it was longer than expected- we joined close to London Bridge. We quickly made friends with a woman in line with us, she was an American ex-pat living in London.  For the most part the line moved steadily (but slowly) along the Thames. There was one annoying delay- turns out they closed the hall for an hour to clean around 2am.  We finally got to Jubilee park about 4 hours in and got our wristbands.  After about 5 hours we were at Westminster Bridge and were told about another 5-6 hours to go. We were shocked. We’d already travelled so far! We were so close and could see it!!  That’s when we learned the line estimates didn’t include the zig zagging queue on the grounds beside Westminster Palace (which my watch measured at about another mile of walking!). I reached a low point, and was angry. I wanted to leave. I wasn’t willing to wait that long!! Just to see the coffin of some one I’d never met!! I was close to walking back to the hostel. 

But, I’m also stubborn. I also wasn’t willing to concede that I just wasted over five hours standing outside for nothing. So, I stayed. We asked every marshall we passed what their guess was. Everyone had a different estimate as there really was no way to predict it. In the end it wasn’t as bad as we thought. We crossed Lambeth Bridge and the sun rose as we slowly weaved around the park. 

We spotted a BBC reporter doing interviews as we passed. This helped passed the time as we entertained ourselves posing and “acting natural” as we filed past. Then pulling up the news coverage and finding ourselves on the BBC. Laughing and joking about it, and watching the man behind us trying to duck out of sight as he’d called out from work that morning.  And then we realize we were at the end of the queue. We had finally made it to the security check point. 

Westminster Palace is a beautiful building. It was wonderful to see inside. There are beautiful stained glass windows. The hall had incredible wooden beams supporting the roof. And in the centre on her catafalque was Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The royal standard draped across her coffin, with the coronation crown, her staff and rod of state resting on top. It was actually hard to believe that she was in there, a woman who has always just ‘been there’ surely couldn’t be dead now? 

The mood was somber. A hush over the crowd as we filed slowly passed. There were several different branches of the military standing in vigil. Her Beefeaters and the Buckingham Palace guards, police officers and horse guards.  I took my moment to reflect on what I was seeing, an era that was ending. And a woman who did devote her life to making her country a better place. Perhaps not all decisions were good or fair, but she was only human with an immense responsibility to go along with her privileged opportunities. I think it will be a loss to future Prime Ministers to loose access to her candor and experience in their meetings. 

As we filed out, the guards were gathering to change out those on vigil, allowing another group time with their sovereign.  As we left the palace into another morning, we checked the timer that had been started when we joined the queue. 

Just shy of 8hrs.  A long wait for a moment alone in reflection. And then out into the world. Where so much has changed and yet nothing truly has. And I had a train to catch to Wales.