Day 20: and I went to London to visit The Queen

Morning!!!! It's the final day of Queen Elizabth II's Diamond Jubilee celebration and we (and I'm not telling you how) have a front row seat.


We start in St. Paul's Cathedral in London designed by the architecht Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London in 17      . For an occasion such as this it is an overwhelming venue. On a daily basis St. Paul's is a treasure of spiritual space that provides pockets of silence in the areas under the dome. Music in this cathedral is amazing and has to be heard to be fully appreciated. Evensong services or high mass on Sunday, either are a great way to experience the space when traveling.

William and Kate got there first... she's wearing a stunning beige dress with fascinator and looking fabulous. The service at St. Paul's is the culimating event of the Jubilee Celebration, followed by a carriage procession that proves that the British really do have an upper hand at event planning.......

 At the end of the Mall sits Buckingham Palace. 20,000 people are packed in and around Queen Victoria's statue (in front of Buckingham Palace) and down the Mall, spilling over into St. James Park. There has been a huge public picnic going on waiting for the royal carriage procession to return from St. Pauls' and festivities. Now comes the tradition of an appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace by the Royal Family...... and this is what the crowd is waiting for..... The Queen.

Promptly at 3:15 the balcony doors open and a huge roar from the crowd greets Her Majesty and immediate family. Queen Elizabeth ascended the throne at the age of 26 in 1952. Most American's do not understand that she has given her entire life to representing the United Kingdom and The Commonwealth. In the last few weeks any number of publications have shown photographs of the many stages, challenges and celebrations in her life. In doing so they have, perhaps more clearly than ever before, revealed the full extent of how much of her life has been devoted to supporting the British people and their country. How much she has given of her personal wants, desires, dreams has often not been fully understood by those who have watched the more public acting out of her family. My camera caught what I hope is Queen Elizabeth II's pleasure at the admiration and expression of love of the British people during these 4 days of celebration. As she herself said, following the closing event on Tuesday, she is truly humbled ... A modest woman, placed in a lifelong postion by the actions of others and circumstance. 

                              60 years of exemplary service, how many of us could do as well.