Day 42: God Save the Queen!

I'm not even going to go in chronological order for today... I'm just going to tell you upfront....

I SAW THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND!  I SAW WILL AND KATE!  I SAW PRINCE HARRY!  I SAW CHARLES AND CAMILLA!  

My dreams have come true.  Ahhhhhh! I hope this movie works... try to hear the bells ringing and just look at the pure happiness on my face. :) 

Now that I've got that off my chest... I'll start from the beginning of my day.  We had history- boring.  We went to Churchill's War Rooms- interesting.  They left a majority of the rooms exactly the same as when the war ended.  There's also a museum dedicated to Churchill.  I didn't fully appreciate all that he did until going to that museum!  My opinion of him as a person is still conflicted because of what we have been studying in class but I have gained more respect for him after seeing the rooms and the museum.

(entrance to the museum)

(The main Cabinet war room- left exactly as it was)

(Churchill's personal office and bedroom)

After going through the war rooms, Kayley and I REALLY wanted to see the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Parade.  We were fairly close to Parliament Square where the parade would be starting and so we ran there to get a standing spot.  Just 15 minutes after we got to the square, the royal procession came out with all the guards on horseback.  The bells of Westminster were tolling beautiful sounds.  The horses started moving and then... that wonderful moment happened... we saw the two open top carriages pass with the royal family inside of them!  My view was very obstructed and so I jumped up and down and freaked out but I got to see them!  They were all smiling and waved at the crowd.  Kate looked particularly lovely, I liked William and Harry's top hats, Camilla's hat was much too big, and the Queen sparkled like a diamond!  I have seen in person, with my own two eyes, the Queen of England! AHHHHH! I couldn't be happier! :)  Have I mentioned my love for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge?  A.k.a. Will and Kate?  I saw them too... AMAZING! :)  I'm sorry but I didn't try to take any pictures of the parade because I was too busy just trying to see the royals with my own eyes and it all happened so fast.

(Kayley, Lauren Fine, and myself in Parliament Square waiting for the parade to start)

(My face and feelings shortly after having the experience of a lifetime!)

We went back to the Centre to watch the entire parade.  Matt and Stacey put together a tea party for us to watch the proceedings to.  We had scones with jam and clotted cream (which is like sweet butter- yummy) and juice instead of tea.  A few of us girls dressed up for our tea party and squealed while watching the parade.  It truly felt like a "British moment."  I didn't want the British-ness to stop and so the professors oldest daughters, Anna and Emily, and I watched a BBC special episode of "Will and Kate: 1 Year Down."  I love them, both the girls and the royalty.  :)

(wishing we had a big screen TV to watch the proceedings on)

(Natalie, Katie, Alissa, Whitney, myself, Kayley, and Lauren Fine in our tea party attire.  We like to dress up!)

(I can't get enough of this beautiful couple!)

To end the night, I went to see War Horse the play.  

I loved the movie when it came out and I would still have to say that I liked the movie more.  The play was wonderful in the way that they did the horses.  I was amazed at how lifelike the puppets were.  A few minutes into the play I forgot that the animals weren't real!  Just like in the movie, I cried during the play.  It was interesting to study World War I in class and then see and hear all the references in the play.  The play wasn't the best I've seen but I've been pretty spoiled here and would still say it was great!

P.S. On another positive note, I am feeling much better today! :)