Living in London means I’m pretty much force-fed gossip about the Royal Family. For most that was more than enough for them and they escaped the city to make the most of a long weekend while the rest of us stayed for the Royal Wedding. I was in two minds if I wanted to go or not but figured if I’m going to call myself a traveller I may as well go and see something I would never get the chance to again.
Not so keen to camp out for the night I arrived at 6:30am and picked out my spot at Horse Guards Parade. Which after looking back over the tv footage was a pretty decent spot if I do say so myself. I was directly opposite the marching band and right up front to see everyone pass.
The day resulted in about 6 hours of standing in one spot as moving even to go to the toilet would have resulted in my giving up my prime place. The upside was that I got to know some lovely people around me as we all enjoyed the day together. To my right was a mother with her baby boy who had come up from Belgium to see the wedding. To my left was a family from the Isle of Wight who kindly offered me a hot cup of tea while we waited. Then behind me I had an American couple who I think were the most excited by the big event.
To some people it might have just been an over the top who cares event but for the people around me from England, Belgium, American (and this aussie) it was a great day out where we got to cheer and take in a moment that will go down in history.
I could have posted a million photos for you all but I think this video should capture most of what it was like for me as I pushed and shoved my way through the crowds on Will and Kate’s wedding day. Enjoy.
Brilliant video – the atmosphere must have been electric! I opted out of the crowds and watched it on tv at home – Kate looked absolutely stunning. Made me feel very proud to be British!
Becki I had another family just near me with their kids and they were loving it. Running around with painted flags on their faces and big flags that they used as a cape. They went crazy when the whole show started.
It was a really good day in the end, even if my feet were killing me. While I didn’t get to see as much as you did on the TV you are right the atmosphere couldn’t be beat.
Sounds incredible – and i’m sure you’ve been inundated with all the highlights on tv anyway!
My friend was out for drinks in London on Thursday night and a group of them went up to Westminster and Buckingham Palace – her pictures are amazing. So many people were camping out and there were some great banners too – she said the atmosphere was electrifying even then.
What a great ‘I was there’ moment too!
Becki you are right about all the TV parts although I did have an ulterior motive as I wanted to see if I appeared on any of the footage. We had TV cameras right behind us and were waving like crazy a few times.
I saw so many people there at 6:30 with tents and some just sleeping on the ground in sleeping bags. Pity they hadn’t woken up when I got there as it was too late to get a spot by then haha.
And you are right it was a great “I was there” moment.
you rock the Royal Wedding, mate!
I’m so jealous that you got to be there! If only I had stayed a couple extra weeks! You had the perfect spot for it too!
Well Cailin let that be your punishment for going to Iceland without me 🙂
Nice! You got some great shots. Judging by the scale of the crowds on TV, I would have never imagined getting a spot like this was possible. I definitely think you made the right choice by going. Though, I’m a little disappointed you didn’t paint your face.
Thanks Randy. When I saw the people streaming into the area at 6:30 I thought my foolproof plan of getting there extra early had failed. Right up the mall there was people everywhere and at least 5 deep on the fence already.
Once I got right around to Horse Guards however the fence had at most 1 layer deep. Even by the end where I was standing didn’t get overly crowded, I think there was only 2-3 people deep behind me.
haha I left the face paint to the kids who seemed to enjoy it a lot more than I ever would have.
What a cool experience! I can’t believe you were able to get so close.
Wow, great video, Chris! You really did have a terrific viewing spot. What a great memory for you. I’ve been too busy since Friday to see what the hooplah looked like…I’ve got to say, Will and Kate look very “fairy tale prince and princess” to me (in a good way).
Thanks Gray and yes I was really happy with the spot I got, especially after the marching band stopped and camped themselves directly opposite us for the day.
I have to agree with you about Will and Kate too. For some reason it felt like an event that you could relate too. They are the same age as me almost so I’ve grown up as they have to a degree. I think that’s why the event was more of an I have to go to this sort of thing.
You got such amazing photos!! I loved the video. I’ve been dying to see what you were going to post. Wow! So cool you got to be there. As you know, I watched most of it on TV. But it was ROUGH here on the west coast, in the middle of the night!
Thanks Abby. I have to admire you will to be up in the middle of the night to watch it. I didn’t have a screen to watch the wedding but we did have a speaker blasting out the entire ceremony so I think I did well with my spot.
You had such a great spot! I’m glad you went. It is a moment you probably will never see firsthand again.
Suzy that’s exactly why I went, it’s not something I will ever see again and those are moments that are worth the trouble of getting too.
I don’t think I woulda made it 20 minutes without having to pee, so I tip my hat to you sir. 🙂
I spelled my name wrong? Really?
Well it is a difficult name to spell…
Hey, nice one! I watched a bit from live news and she looked sooooo beautiful and it is nice to see how people are enjoying this ceremony, no matter how people were sarcastic about it.
You had a nice spot! 🙂
Oh to have been there in person! But you did an awesome job of sharing it–love the video. I don’t care what the haters say–the wedding was an awesome moment for the world to share.
Exactly Marsha. So many people got behind it and turned out to make it a great day. Everyone loves a fairytale wedding and I think this was as close to one as we will see.
Wow you were very close! Nice video. I watched all 6 hours with some friends…made cucumber and salmon cream cheese sandwiches.
I just cried a little bit. Great video Chris, talk about being at the right place at the right time… or did you plan that?
Wish we could’ve been there. I bet the atmosphere was just amazing!
You got an pretty good spot! And wow, I wouldn’t make it for 6 hours without having to pee. 😀
Wow, you were really close. I enjoyed your video.
Hey Chris, I am glad you enjoyed the event. I won’t pretend I’m jealous though. I spent the morning playing cricket and having a few beers, trying to avoid the day.
If this event was taking place in a country other than my own I would have probably gone to see it.
Great video.
Mike that’s ok I’m kinda jealous you did all that while I stood there not moving for 6 hours. A beer would have been awesome but then with no toilet nearby it wouldn’t have been a fun running back and forth.
Great photos — saw them on FB and was impressed with how close you were, especially since you didn’t camp all week or over night 🙂
Heather there was no way I was camping out all night. The tents people used and rubbish left over by them at the end of the day was crazy. Some people seemed to have just walked away and left their stuff behind.
dude – so cool that you got so close. and 6:30am is dedication. i did not watch. because i figured you would let me know all the highlights. thanks 🙂
You didn’t watch or listen to my radio interview that morning… for shame Erin for shame.
Those were awesome photos! What a great spot you picked! Even as a guy, I found this event very interesting. What a great experience being there and getting those photos!
Jeremy the whole event didn’t have half the appeal to me as it did the the female portion of the crowd thats for sure. Still it was interesting to see the whole event play out with the soldiers march in and so forth.
I was really hoping to find at least one travel blogger who went to check the wedding out! Even though I don’t really care about the royals all that much, I would have totally gone if I’d been in London. As Barbara Walters kept repeating over and over, this isn’t something that happens all the time.
You sure did have a prime spot! Wow. Great photos, and nice video. I really enjoyed it!
haha Amanda glad to have been able to report back for you. It’s one of those events you would expect to find us at though, not like members of the Royal Family get married every day.
I’m not fond of the Royal Family, but you did have a damn fine spot. This reminds me of the Olympics in Vancouver. Did it go over budget? Yes. Did it change the world? No. But, it was a great party and built up our Canadian pride.
I’ve never high-fived that many people in my life, and never will again. I agree, twas a unique experience you had!
I think you hit the nail on the head Jeannie. It’s a big event that everyone gets involved in and brings people together. Nothing wrong with that in my mind.
Love the video – it makes me wish that I had gone now.. Although standing in the same spot for 6 hours would have made me very grumpy! Good stamina!
I had offered for you to come with Lauren but I will admit standing there for such a long time killed me. I went home and slept for like 5 hours to recover from it all.
I was totally cynical about the whole thing before it happened, and then the anti-Royal Wedding sentiment irked me more than the crazed fans. And when I watched it live, I thought, “Wow, it’s amazing to wake up to positive news in the world for once.”
Whoa! You got close– amazing photos of the royals! As an American, I’m glad we don’t have a monarchy and wouldn’t want my tax dollars to pay for their over-the-top wedding. However, since I’m not footing the bill, I’m fascinated by it! I admit to watching the event on TV. One question– were you able to leave your place in the crowd to use the restroom, or did you have to stay there for hours to hold your spot?
Such a cool experience!
Wow you had a really awesome vantage point!!! I so wish I had been there, I’m so jealous! And to think if I had stuck to my plan to be in the UK by Mar 2011 I would have seen it! GAHHHH!!!
I have deliberately not read any of the other comments, coz I don’t want to be influenced by it. I was exactly in your position thirty years ago (yes!) when Charles and Diana got married. Also at the time contemplating whether to stay or flee. I’m glad I stayed because I remember the detail and the electrifying atmosphere to this day. Your blog was great and your little video clip the one I chose to save as a memory. This time I could only watch from afar and yours was a brilliant version, including the music!!! Txs
I didn’t pay attention to it here but I agree if you are in London how could you not go, very cool photos.
Good for you, going to experiencing something you’ll not get another chance too! At the very least, sounds like you met great peeps!
Not that I would have taken that cup of tea, mind you, with nowhere to go to pee! ha
great video and looks like you got lots of good pictures as well!
Great photos. We watched it on BBC World here in Turkey and it made me laugh to see the crowds interviewed. You’re right. The Americans were definitely the most excited bunch in the crowd! 🙂
Julia
Oh wow. You got such awesome, brilliant photos and the video is really nicely done. It must have been such an incredible experience and I bet you’re glad you went through with it. We had a Royal Wedding party and watched it on TV.
This is the first time I’ve read a firsthand account of the royal wedding. It is so cool that you went to see what you could see. I would have done the same thing. Did you actually get so close that you were able to take that bottom photo, Chris, or did you get it from somewhere else? That is close!!
Sabina the bottom photo does have the advantage of camera zoom but I’d say my position wasn’t any more than 30 meters or so away from where the carriage passed by.
must have been an awesome feeling being so close …
I tried my best NOT to watch it, but my wife was staying up until 1 am (Pacific Time US), so I stayed up for grins. I later found myself anxiously waiting to see what funny hats would come parading out next.
Awesome video, you can really feel the energy and you captured a piece of history! Good on you for staying put for 6 hours!
Love this! Bob couldn’t understand why I cared so much about the Royal Wedding, but I thought it was awesome! Wish I would have been there with you.
Wow, great photo collection. Such a prime location, you get a lot of good short distance photos! Too bad I didn’t know you were going to be there, or I would have tried to spot you on tv that day!