The Day We Met Diana, details

The day had not yet dawned as we quietly left the house, and locked the door behind us. The cold struck us like a knife when we scurried to get the car out of the garage. My small daughter was not even properly awake yet, but her mother and her aunt most certainly were. And we were ready.

American citizens do not often find themselves in the near vicinity of royalty such as Princess Diana. I was in that category until someone, the flower lady in our village, told my sister and I that seeing the princess was a must. A rare opportunity. A requirement! This came as News, but we soon saw it her way and laid our plans. We would take the Flower Lady with us!

We found Sandringham in the darkness, noting the crowds already pressing against the gates. The buzz of conversation greeted us as we insinuated ourselves as near as possible to the gate. That morning we learned more than we had ever expected to, about all things Royal!

We know now that there is a cadre of royal watchers at every entrance of every possible sighting spot in that land of the Windsors. If there were to be an appearance in the north of Scotland, these people would be there. If at Buckingham Palace, they would find their way. They knew each other well, and hugged as though they were family.

At long last, the gates were opened, and we, like crazed horses, tore out across the meadow to where the ropes were set up as a sort of corral. We four streamed out ahead, in our acute enthusiasm to be in front. We could feel the crowds behind us, scratching and clawing to get there first!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bjacques/3952869449/

We were in the front! Within inches of the path! Hurray for the Americans!

At long last, we had our fabulous look at the royal family (blog post November 19). We heard the baby christening. We met and shook hands with Diana. And we got to watch as my small one gave her flowers to the Queen Mum. 

It was all very satisfying.

There is one last bit of interest here. Remember, this was December 23, 1990. Within a week, the television stations were playing their 1990 Year in Pictures. We did not have a television, but our Flower Lady told us that she had been watching the news that night, and saw my daughter giving her flowers to the Queen Mum!

A little later, she saw the Decade in Pictures on the BBC. And once more, my young daughter was there, giving her flowers to the darling Mum. How fun is that!? 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/leshaines123/8521805788/

It is a lot of fun being an American in England. There is so much to see, so much to learn. We were treated kindly, and we were included in all neighborhood functions during our time there. They called us their 'cousins from over the sea'. It was sweet.

I highly recommend that you go. Truly! Go! You won't be sorry, my dear scone-loving readers.

And I hope to see you along the way!

the SconeLady

photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/leshaines123/8521805788/">Leshaines123</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">cc</a>

photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bjacques/3952869449/">blacque_jacques</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/">cc</a>