In February, Queen Elizabeth II became the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years on the British throne.

From some reason we foreigners don’t understand, her birthday is never celebrated until June, possibly to take advantage of the weather. We took advantage of a day off as a staff by going into London on Thursday, the first day of the celebration.

There were thousands of people in town, and the trains and stations were absolutely packed. But Horsham is early on the train line to London, so we all had seats and chatted happily among ourselves on the ride to town. At Victoria Station we joined the crowds moving through Green Park and found a pretty good spot on the Mall only about six rows deep from the front.

I had brought my selfie stick and by holding up my phone as far as my arms could reach was able to capture some shots of the various horse guards and mounted military bands that paraded by. Everyone was good spirits and there was no shoving or shouting to be heard, except for the raucous applause when the troops went parading by. We caught a glimpse of what might have been a few royals, but we make no claim to have seen anyone notable.

After the troops had paraded both up and down the Mall, the crowds were allowed to leave the barricades and move forward to surround the Victoria Monument in front of Buckingham Palace. We opted instead to find a place in Green Park where we could see the flyby of the Royal Airforce in formation going over the skies.

The Queen is a remarkable woman, and a most devout Christian who has served her country with devotion and resilience. Her reign for 70 years on the throne will likely never be matched, and her legacy of service is a model for heads of state around the world.

From quietly confronting tyrants to using her considerable diplomatic skill in expanding the Commonwealth, she has helped her country to navigate a treacherous world with a sure and steady hand. She well deserves the outpouring of affection we witnessed in London today.

June 2022