A Day with The Queen... & A Smile from Charles


I admit that some of the things 
I get to do are completely ridiculous.

Life in England has given me the chance
to partake in some amazing moments & celebrations...
and I haven't lost the hunger to try & find them.

One of the more memorable of these came today,
the day the Queen & I crossed paths.


(And for real this time... not across the street like at the Royal Wedding.)

This year marks the 400th anniversary of the translation
of the King James Bible.

Today in Westminster Abbey,
the Queen, Prince Phillip, & Prince Charles
that was led by the Archbishop of Canterbury.





And, gosh darn it, I did, too.

My friend, Grace, inherited some tickets
that an old friend won in the lottery 
held by the King James Trust.

When Grace's husband couldn't leave work,
I got to play second fiddle...


and was the happiest fiddle in the world.





Grace, being responsible & prompt,
got there early when the doors opened 
and scored seats on the front row.

I, being late & a maniac,
was happy to see her prime location upon arrival.





After about an hour,
the crowd grew silent...
the scene from outside the door illuminated in camera flashes...
and the party started.

The Queen walked past & nodded hello.
Prince Phillip walked past and nodded hello...
but when Charles walked by and saw two euphoric, grinning Americans,
 broke his composed face and smiled at us.

I pretty much blacked out after that.

The End.




Actually, I do remember the service.

It was gorgeous
and a great tribute the huge impact
that this translation has had on the world.

The choir was, in the most cliche terms, angelic 
and we listened to the thoughts & prayers 
of some faithful leaders of the Anglican church.




Afterwards, the Royals all processed out
and, so kindly, nodded at us once more...


We made our exits from the Abbey with the crowd...





and glowed all the way home.




I'm not sure if this would be your cup of tea...
but it sure was for my taste!

The BBC news clip is here... 


*Around the 1:32 minute mark, you'll see my big white flower in the bottom right. :)


*crappy iPhone pics by me
*gorgeous real photos by Grace Glendinning

28 comments:

  1. AMAZING! Oh so amazing!

    And so was your post on the royal wedding! WOW!

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  2. Oh my gosh that is SO COOL!!! I lived in England for a year so I share in your love of all things British. :)

    Absolutely AMAZING!

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  3. You both look lovely! I love your bag!
    xo,
    http://peppermintandivy.blogspot.com/

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  4. Oh how marvelous.
    Jump at every opportunity or curtsy on!
    pve

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  5. I've been following since my pals and I studied in Oxford this summer, but this is the first time I've commented. Such a fantastic experience - I'm so jealous!

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  6. Freakin amazing. You are the coolest girl ever! And I bet if you asked Prince Charles would have totally taken you out afterward. What a charmer you are!

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  7. WHAT? I mean seriously. I have seen some pretty freakin cool things on your blog before but this takes the cake. How do I get your life? This is amazing!!! (And totally gives me faith that Prince Charles is way cooler than everyone thinks.)

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  8. Your life is so glamorous (or ridiculous as you put it)!!! That is awesome! Yes, totally my cup of tea. I can remember walking through Buckingham palace about 7 years ago when the queen was in Scotland for the summer (or something like that) and thinking "holy cow. I'm walking on the same steps and carpet that the queen walks on!" What fun stories you and your hubby will have to tell your future children!

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  9. This is incredible! What an experience. You lead such a beautiful life!

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  10. Seriously, how do these things happen to you?! Amazing!

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  11. Wow this is an amazing post. Looks like it was so fabulous!
    xo
    Sharon

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  12. That's amazing!! Totally saw your flower in the video! And love that Prince Charles grinned at you, I would have died!! Lol.

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  13. What an amazing opportunity! Thanks so much for sharing the photos.

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  14. i knew it was only a matter of time before you got to see the queen. i knew it. :) ahhhhhhh!

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  15. I'm so jealous- you're friends with the Royal family now! What an amazing, once in a lifetime experience!

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  16. How FANTASTIC! I just got the chills.

    http://eatlovebikini.blogspot.com/

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  17. AHHHH! So amazing. Your adventures abroad make me so envious!

    Now you just need to have a similar encounter with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge...the wedding was close though!

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  18. all i can say is you would ;)

    oh charles i bet you made his day! he he

    so fabulous

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  19. how fun! I would have died too if the royals were that close to me!

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  20. Aah that's amazing! I'm kind of really jealous :)

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  21. So Fun!!! I wanted to ask you some of your London favorites. My husband and I are staying in London for two nights before we fly back home to the states for Christmas. I have some shopping to do but wondered if there were a few fun restaurants we should try? Do you have any favorite boutiques? Anything that screams Christmas in London? I know this is a lot to ask....but any info would be great! We are staying at the Cadogan Hotel.
    Thanks, Pamela

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  22. Oooh, how sweet that you got a smile from Charles. I'm totally smiling for you.

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  23. Do you live in london? I'm moving there in January!!!

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  24. That is sooo cool!!! You have some pretty amazing adventures!!!

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  25. What a marvelous day to bear witness to!! You two look lovely as clearly all those royal noticed!!

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  26. As a royal historian (and the Queen's most ardent supporter) I truly envy your event this day. What a great adventure you must be having!

    I have not yet had any offers to come and be a royal historian in England (probably because I am not connected to academia. What, no freelancing? lol). My dream job is to "commute" to England every few months to do research in many a hallowed hall!

    Until next time!

    Mandy Littlefield
    mandysroyalty.org

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