The Royal Wedding - 29 April 2011

Last Thursday, the 28th, was my final day of exams. I had three to do, starting at 9am and ending at 9pm...but once they were over, all I had to look forward to was a relaxing vacation week in London, starting with the Royal Wedding. We went over to Buckingham Palace that night around 10pm with blankets, snacks, and beer to prepare ourselves for Friday's nuptials. The place was already packed with fans and news crews getting ready for the event which made for quite a few characters in costume with hats, face paint, and British flags everywhere!

It was absolutely freezing out and all we had were some throw blankets and sweatshirts so it made for quite a miserable attempt to sleep. With the noise and the cold weather, I don't think anyone got any sleep that night. Around 5am, the police stopped letting people into the area which meant it was extremely hard even to go to the port-a-potties and be able to be let back inside! The place was absolutely packed, you could barely move an inch. Luckily, we got there early and had prime seating for the whole procession.

Before we knew it, the sun was up and people were coming out of their tents. The final countdown was on until the ceremony started, and of course I had to pee. Nothing I could do at this point though, so I stood as close as I could with my camera in hand, waiting for the guests to arrive. We saw vans and vans of people with large, extravagant hats on but couldn't tell one person from the other. Then the Volvos and Jaguars went by with more important people I didn't recognize, amongst the many times the British guards went marching by. 

We then saw Prince Charles pass by. This was just the beginning. I couldn't believe I actually saw him! In person! And I was SO close!

Prince Charles

Then, it was the Queen. I actually saw Queen Elizabeth II. It was unbelievable! I know a lot of people are sick of the monarchy, but this was amazing!! Who can say that they've been to England, and actually saw the Queen...and this close!?!! But I'll tell ya, that yellow outfit of hers really made a statement....it even made the sun start to shine!

Queen Elizabeth II

Then it was more marching of the guards and we didn't think that Kate was going to drive by before the wedding, but then, of course she did! To make everything better, we actually saw Kate Middleton in her gown before heading to the Abbey. First, the car with the bridal party went by, and then the car with Kate. It was unreal. We were actually standing across from Buckingham Palace, after sleeping on it's lawn, watching the procession of the Royal Wedding. Not once in my entire life did I imagine I would witness something like this...

Kate driving by before marrying William

Since we were by the palace, there weren't any big screens for viewing the actual wedding like there were in the parks around the city. Instead, we could only listen to it. As I was standing there with my friends though, it was so moving to be with them and fully recognize that this is the end of our journey here in London, and that we finish it off with something so historical. Not many people could say that they've experienced this, but I was so proud to be experiencing it with them. I feel like this was when it all hit us that we actually survived these 4 months in London and that we successfully lived here on our own. Then the tears started rolling when we realized it was almost over. But, there was still more to the wedding, so we started smiling and cheering after the 'I do's' for the procession back from Westminster Abbey. Meanwhile...I still had to pee...

Before they came back towards Buckingham Palace, the guards were surrounding the path they were to follow, and the head guy was going around measuring the space in between the guards making sure they were standing in the right spot. When they weren't, he yelled at them and they shuffled over. It was kind of silly haha!

Then, there were all kinds of horses everywhere, until we heard the loud cheers from down the street and we knew what was coming. Soon enough, Will and Kate's carriage came rushing by and I could barely get a glimpse of it!

Will and Kate in the carriage

Will & Kate's carriage

Soon to follow, it was Harry and the flower girls and a page boy...

Prince Harry

Then a car went by. I thought the Queen was in there so we started walking away until we heard loud cheers from the crowd and even more horses. I ran over as close as I could get and snapped about a hundred pictures of the Queen in her carriage...

Queen Elizabeth II

Prince Charles then went by with Kate's parents...

Now we had an hour to kill to wait for them all to come out on to the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the kiss! We made our way to the right side of the palace, but the road was still blocked off so we weren't very close. There was a rumor that they were going to take down the gates blocking it, but we had no idea if this was true or where they would open it up from. About 10 or 20 minutes before they were supposed to kiss, they opened it up and everyone started running. I, of course, bolted and lost everyone I was with but I didn't care. My mission was to get as close as possible. The police stopped us all halfway the gates of Buckingham Palace to maintain some kind of order with the crowd. Then they slowly walked forward with the crowd of 500,000 people pushing behind them (and yes, I was one of them). By the time everyone was as far up as they could get, I was about three people away from the gate. Out of 500,000 people, I was right up front!!

The crowd behind me!

We waited a little while longer, watching some of the wedding attendees peeking out the window at the crowd, but we saw some rustling of the curtains, and then the newlyweds walked out for a wave.

Kate and Will waving from the balcony of Buckingham Palace

Then the rest of the family came out to wave as well...

The Royal Family

Will and Kate kissed a first time, but I missed the picture. Luckily, and surprisingly, they kissed again so I was able to document it!

the kiss!

As a closing, two sets of fighter jets flew overhead to celebrate the wedding...

Once it was all over, I realized how much I needed a nap...and a bathroom. There were so many people around that it took forever to get home. There were police preventing people from going into the tube stations at certain entrances which meant we had to walk even further amongst the million other people.

As brutal as it was for not sleeping for 32 hours, having to pee for 6 hours, and camping out for 17 hours, it was well worth it in the end. I got to experience something I will remember for the rest of my life and be able to tell my grandkids about. It is an amazing story that I am proud to be able to go home with and it was truly the most memorable moments of my life. It was a time here where I really felt a part of the British culture with all the British spirit I felt that day, and I am so happy I was able to be a part of it.