The Royal Wedding

I have been in the midst of some serious crowds in my day. Numerous Canada Days in Ottawa, the Palio in Siena, the chaos of music festivals, not to mention working right around the corner from Oxford Street which is overflowing even during the tourist-light months. But none of that compares to being one of the million-strong mass under the balcony in front of Buckingham Palace on Friday, 29 April when the royal newlyweds kissed for the first time as man and wife.

My work colleagues were teasing me for getting so excited about the Royal Wedding. None of them were going to head down around Westminster Abbey or Buckingham Palace for the bank holiday, choosing instead to watch the wedding on TV, attend a street party, or ignore the day altogether. I think, whether you’re a royalist or a republican, the historic magnitude of watching the first day of the next generation of the royal family was an opportunity not to be missed. But maybe that’s just the Commonwealth-raised anglophile in me.

My friend Lexie is visiting from Canada, and I have to give her credit for being the force behind our plans that day. At 7am, I met up with Lex, her brother James and his girlfriend Hilary, sister Poppy, and mom Christiane, in front of Green Park station. We were well prepared for any weather (it is the UK after all), and equipped with a cooler of snacks and Pimm’s, and fold-out camping chairs. We were not as festively dressed as some – there were many brides out there, Union Jack-inspired costumes and even a few Kate and Wills – but we were ready for anything.

We went through the park towards Buckingham Palace where there were quite a lot of fences up blocking the way through to the gates. People were already kicking off and shouting at the security cards so we did eventually get access to what was previously going to just be the media bullpen. Once we had found a spot across from the balcony and set up our chairs, we got ready for a four-hour wait until the wedding and a six-hour wait until the couple was to appear on the balcony.

I have to say that the wait wasn’t all that bad. The weather was pleasant, we made some new friends in our area, we had snacks and drinks, and the media set-ups provided lots of entertainment. I stalked Matt Lauer and Meredith Viera where the Today Show coverage was being filmed, saw Fearn Cotton shooting spots for the BBC, and even got interviewed by Mary Hart for Entertainment Tonight – though our bit was apparently cut.

Just after half-ten we saw the Queen and Prince Philip depart for the wedding. She looked lovely in yellow but didn’t smile much while Philip had an absurd but endearing smile plastered on his face. Apparently, by this time, Prince William and brother Harry had already traveled from Clarence House to the Abbey, followed closely by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall (Chuck and CPB).

Soon the loudspeakers around the Palace began playing music as Kate, her father and her sister Pippa arrived at the Abbey, and the four-minute procession up the aisle began. We heard the whole ceremony echoing around us and, I swear, the clouds parted and the sun came out. We popped open the Pimm’s and toasted the royal couple as they became husband and wife, that moment when millions around London, and billions around the world, erupted into cheers and applause.

More waiting was then in store for us as Kate and Wills (now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) climbed into their ornate carriage and led a procession from the Abbey, up Whitehall, through the House Guards and along the Mall to Buckingham Palace. As the procession progressed the gates holding back the crowds were gradually removed, and throngs of people waving Union Jack flags came flooding towards the Palace. It seriously looked like the plebes storming the Bastille in 1789. I was terrified as they came closer and closer.

But we were still in good position and, when the royal couple came out on the famous balcony, we had a great view. I don’t need to tell you what happened after that, since I’m sure it was covered in the media around the world. There were a couple of kisses, a scowling little bridesmaid, the RAF jets overhead, and a grumpy Queen who eventually decided she had had enough and seemed to make everyone but Kate and Wills go inside.

And then the newlyweds clasped hands, turned away from us, and Kate looked back one more time to see the millions of people gazing up at her. Scoff if you must, but it was truly a significant moment in history and I felt very moved to be a part of it. The events of the whole day are something I will be able to tell my children and my grandchildren in years to come.