The Queen and I

I spent the morning watching the Queen's Barge plod up the Thames surrounded by the Flotilla boats of all shapes and sizes. It was really a crashing bore but I kept with it in the hope it would improve.It didn't except for the bit when the choir was singing in the pouring rain and blinking like mad to keep the rain out of their eyes. They looked like drowned rats.The women had raccoon eyes.
Watching the Queen on T.V.is pretty dull. Seeing her in person is also pretty dull but for the excitement of the crowd around you.You think something thrilling is happening but it's not.
I first saw the Queen when she was Princess Elizabeth.This was when we lived in London. Her train came through the bottom of our street one summer night. We were all there with our little flags waving like mad as the train rumbled by.It was dark and there was nothing to be seen.My sister had a ride on my Dad's shoulders. I had to leg it. It seemed an awful long walk for little tired legs and no Princess in sight.
Next I saw her twice in one year when the Royal Yacht Britannia came to Toronto. She was walking around the street after the ship docked. She seemed very small with shiny hair and pink cheeks.I saw her a few days later when she opened the Golden Mile. She was standing up in a car waving to us. She looked hot and pale and grumpy.Poor thing was pregnant with Prince Andrew.
That was my contact with Royalty in the flesh. I was going to take my offspring to see Princess Diana when she came to Kingston but I had no idea where I could leave the car. I consoled myself with the thought that I would be better organized next time she came to visit. How did I know she would get divorced then die on us?I'm still kicking myself over that.
I don't know should I ever have the opportunity again that I would brave the mobs to have a peek at Royalty. I would prefer to be introduced. Much more civilized. I missed my shot at that when I forgo my invitation to a garden party in the Queen's honour when she and I were both in Vienna at the same time.More kicking.The food would have been great and there would have been an introduction!