I think a lot of us didn’t realise how much the Queens passing would effect us, whether you are a Royalist or not for so many of us the Queen is someone who has always been there, someone we probably never thought wouldn’t be there.
With my past career and through my Dads work I met a few of the Royals, but never had the privilege of meeting the Queen, though in some way it felt like I had.
One story with the royals I always remember was when I was Cabin Crew flying back to Heathrow withPrincess Beatrice on board and when we asked her to fasten her seatbelt (as we were coming to land) she said “oh so sorry I was just looking for Grannies house” loved that.
With her passing I just felt I wanted to go to London and just pay my respects- it was such a last minute decision. Sunday night I finished teaching my relaxing class at the Dairy, came home and said to my Husband, Phil, that I really wanted to go to London and with that booked the 1st train out of Southport the next morning.
The train from Wigan to Euston was just full of people travelling to the funeral- the atmosphere was just unbelievable, everyone was talking to each other and expressing how they were feeling, saying why the felt they wanted to be there and where they were heading to.
Once we got to London we were told the viewing points were all full, but to head to Hyde Park to watch on big screens, again everyone was in good spirits and as we headed across the car free roads (very weird feeling for London) we were all of a sudden told to get to the sides. I was stood next to a lovely security lady who told me the reason why we had been asked to get back off hen road was because the Royal Family would be heading passed in the cars to go to Westminster- as they then did.
I then settled down to watch the funeral in Hyde Park- what an amazing memory. Especially when we all stood for the 2 minute silence- the whole park stood still, not a murmur and then everyone sang the national anthem- I was in tears
After the funeral I saw a lot of people heading in one particular direction- I decided to follow them and realised I was on the road where the hearse would travel down just after Her Majesty had transferred from the gun carriage to the car- as we all waited we could hear the chiming of Big Ben and the gun salute, we could even hear the music and footsteps from a few roads back of the procession.
I was stood next to such a lovely couple, I know his name was Brad, we chatted for a while and then everywhere went quiet, followed by cheers and clapping as Her Majesty’s hearse drove passes. I was so in the moment that I didn’t video or take any photos, but the amazing Brad took one for me.
No one wanted to move – we all just stayed there. The most historical moment we had all been witnessed to. Still seemed unreal, but so pleased I had made the decision to go.
The Queen who gave her whole life to her country and worked up until 2 days before she passed
Thank you for your service- gone but never forgotten.
