Queen's Diamond Jubilee
Feb 16th, 2012, 06:34 PM
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Queen's Diamond Jubilee
I've read about a special service of Thanksgiving to be held at St. Paul's Cathedral on Tuesday 5 June. The visitlondon.com website encourages "lining the streets to watch the royal carriage procession." For similar occasions in the past, what is the route that is typicaly followed, and how early must one arrive to expect to secure a spot from which you might actually be able to see the Queen pass? We'll be in London during that time, but with so many things to see and do, as much as we'd like to see some of the pageantry of this special event, we're debating on whether to attend the Flotilla on the Thames on Sunday, or the procession on Tuesday. Your thoughts?
Feb 16th, 2012, 08:33 PM
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June 5 (and 4) are public holidays: our usual last Monday in May holiday's being moved to June 4 and June 5 is a bonus (if you get someone else to pay for it: if you're an employer, it's a malus of course).
There are actually three major events: the flotilla/fireworks along the Thames on June 3, the June 4 concert (seats only for those UK residents who've scored in the free national ballot, but audible and visible to anyone along the Mall or in the adjacent parks, which collectively hold half a million) and the June 5 service.
I mention all this because by June 5 my suspicion is we'll all be a bit Jubileed out, and I'd doubt whether the procession will attract much of a crowd. Queen Gets Carriage to St Paul's isn't quite a once in a lifetime event: it's not that different from what she'll be doing a week later on much the same route for Trooping The Colour.
The route is routinely Palace-The Mall-Trafalgar Square-Strand-Fleet Street-Ludgate Hill. The area at the top of Ludgate Hill forms a natural amphiteatre where there are usually quite a lot of viewing spots. Strand/Fleet St/Ludgate Hill are all narrow (there's a bit of a thing about watching these processions from first floor windows if you've got a chum with access), but the areas which can best hold crowds are The Mall and the edge of Trafalgar Square.
If crowds along the Mall are too deep to see anything (big if in my view, but who knows?), there's often a good vantage point on Duke of York's Steps, leading up from the Mall on its north side about 200 yds west of Admiralty Arch.
I imagine the carriages return the same way they came, but sometimes royal parties return by car so we can all get our streets back, so check. If the route remains closed to traffic, you might get a better view on the way back.
There are actually three major events: the flotilla/fireworks along the Thames on June 3, the June 4 concert (seats only for those UK residents who've scored in the free national ballot, but audible and visible to anyone along the Mall or in the adjacent parks, which collectively hold half a million) and the June 5 service.
I mention all this because by June 5 my suspicion is we'll all be a bit Jubileed out, and I'd doubt whether the procession will attract much of a crowd. Queen Gets Carriage to St Paul's isn't quite a once in a lifetime event: it's not that different from what she'll be doing a week later on much the same route for Trooping The Colour.
The route is routinely Palace-The Mall-Trafalgar Square-Strand-Fleet Street-Ludgate Hill. The area at the top of Ludgate Hill forms a natural amphiteatre where there are usually quite a lot of viewing spots. Strand/Fleet St/Ludgate Hill are all narrow (there's a bit of a thing about watching these processions from first floor windows if you've got a chum with access), but the areas which can best hold crowds are The Mall and the edge of Trafalgar Square.
If crowds along the Mall are too deep to see anything (big if in my view, but who knows?), there's often a good vantage point on Duke of York's Steps, leading up from the Mall on its north side about 200 yds west of Admiralty Arch.
I imagine the carriages return the same way they came, but sometimes royal parties return by car so we can all get our streets back, so check. If the route remains closed to traffic, you might get a better view on the way back.
Feb 16th, 2012, 10:07 PM
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The one time I went recently to watch the Trooping the Colour parade, the police were stopping people from congregating on Duke of York Steps - presumably too much risk of a domino-style crowd-topple - but they didn't seem to mind people standing up on the railing outside Carlton House Terrace (and clinging to a neighbouring tree for support).
I would imagine the full details would be published on http://www.thediamondjubilee.org/ so keep checking back there for all the details.
I don't know if they're planning a gun salute like they do for Trooping the Colour (possibly not since it's so soon after) - those usually take place in Green Park, and the time I saw it included the Horse Artillery galloping the guns into place, to music. All very grand.
I would imagine the full details would be published on http://www.thediamondjubilee.org/ so keep checking back there for all the details.
I don't know if they're planning a gun salute like they do for Trooping the Colour (possibly not since it's so soon after) - those usually take place in Green Park, and the time I saw it included the Horse Artillery galloping the guns into place, to music. All very grand.
Feb 16th, 2012, 11:01 PM
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PS:
Note that the blurb says "carriage procession". It doesn't say "Great long procession in the fanciest State coaches she's got".
The royal carriage collection extends from spectacular bits of bling even an African dictator might think a bit ostentatious to "everyday" carriages roughly interchangeable with those things you pay a few hundred dollars for rides round Central Park in.
The great massive State coaches notoriously induce seasickness in their passengers. With Her Maj 85, Hubby now in his 90s, and the processional route nearly 2 miles each way I suspect both feel they've done their stint of endangering their gastric health over the past 60 years. Expect them to use the kind of tasteful, understated, landaus they use to go to the races in.
Note that the blurb says "carriage procession". It doesn't say "Great long procession in the fanciest State coaches she's got".
The royal carriage collection extends from spectacular bits of bling even an African dictator might think a bit ostentatious to "everyday" carriages roughly interchangeable with those things you pay a few hundred dollars for rides round Central Park in.
The great massive State coaches notoriously induce seasickness in their passengers. With Her Maj 85, Hubby now in his 90s, and the processional route nearly 2 miles each way I suspect both feel they've done their stint of endangering their gastric health over the past 60 years. Expect them to use the kind of tasteful, understated, landaus they use to go to the races in.
Feb 17th, 2012, 03:58 AM
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<i>June 5 (and 4) are public holidays: our usual last Monday in May holiday's being moved to June 4 and June 5 is a bonus (if you get someone else to pay for it: if you're an employer, it's a malus of course).</i>
Oh I dunno - employers can't complain that much as they're getting a free day out of us this year with the extra "leap" day on Feb 29th
Oh I dunno - employers can't complain that much as they're getting a free day out of us this year with the extra "leap" day on Feb 29th
Feb 17th, 2012, 11:23 AM
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Thank you for the excellent information. I was envisioning all of the grand carriages being in the procession, and thought it would be interesting to see. We are planning to take the Eurostar to Paris on June 5, and I was considering delaying our departure time in order to see the procession. However, perhaps I'll just try to catch all or part of the Thames River Flotilla on Sunday instead. It seems like it will be much grander. Queen Elizabeth's coronation was the day after I was born in June of 1953, so I'd like to glimpse at least one of the Diamond Jubilee events, but I don't want to tie up my already scarce touring time by trying to do them all. I'm also concerned with how the four-day holiday and expected crowds may or may not affect our ability to see some things in London. Your insight is very helpful in making our plans--please feel free to share your recommendations.
May 31st, 2012, 08:37 PM
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>>is already camping out in front of the Strada on the South Bank for the Queen's Flotilla down the Thames.<<
For anyone wanting to move around central London on Sunday, there will be severe restrictions on movement over the bridges, and for traffic along roads, along the flotilla route for quite long parts of the day.
A rather ominous belt of rain is forecast to pass over London at just the crucial point on Sunday. A certain well-known Law is clearly at work. As ever, the best view is likely to be on TV.
However, this might mean that if the weather's looking better on Tuesday, more people might be tempted out to the Park and in front of the Palace.
For anyone wanting to move around central London on Sunday, there will be severe restrictions on movement over the bridges, and for traffic along roads, along the flotilla route for quite long parts of the day.
A rather ominous belt of rain is forecast to pass over London at just the crucial point on Sunday. A certain well-known Law is clearly at work. As ever, the best view is likely to be on TV.
However, this might mean that if the weather's looking better on Tuesday, more people might be tempted out to the Park and in front of the Palace.
May 31st, 2012, 09:31 PM
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"where is the best place to watch it?"
There hasn't been one of these for centuries, so unlike carriage processions there's no folk memory of good viewing spots. The bridge closures and the likelihood of Coronation Weather don't help either.
There's sure to be a "best places for viewing" feature in today's or tomorrow's Evening Standard. I've not seen this week's Time Out yet (takes a while to get to Deep Middle England), but have a look at one on the shelf of a newsagent, as they should have a similar feature.
Otherwise, there's a clutch of hotels around the County Hall Marriott which might have a suitable bar with a view. Or a dump called the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, which grossly abused the agreement it signed with this site a year ago and went on an orgy of spamming this forum with inane, uninformed gobbits of information no tourist need know. Don't know about its bars, but it's tallish and thoroughly deserves to be inundated with "customers" occupying any bar it might have with a view, all eking a single glass of mineral water out for the six hours it had assumed it'd be raking in the shekels.
There hasn't been one of these for centuries, so unlike carriage processions there's no folk memory of good viewing spots. The bridge closures and the likelihood of Coronation Weather don't help either.
There's sure to be a "best places for viewing" feature in today's or tomorrow's Evening Standard. I've not seen this week's Time Out yet (takes a while to get to Deep Middle England), but have a look at one on the shelf of a newsagent, as they should have a similar feature.
Otherwise, there's a clutch of hotels around the County Hall Marriott which might have a suitable bar with a view. Or a dump called the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, which grossly abused the agreement it signed with this site a year ago and went on an orgy of spamming this forum with inane, uninformed gobbits of information no tourist need know. Don't know about its bars, but it's tallish and thoroughly deserves to be inundated with "customers" occupying any bar it might have with a view, all eking a single glass of mineral water out for the six hours it had assumed it'd be raking in the shekels.
May 31st, 2012, 10:08 PM
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That's a thought, flanner, I'd forgotten them. <i>And</i> it'll be under cover if/when it rains. On the other hand, where I live we get to see the dispersing procession pass by anyway.
If anyone's reading this for general info, there's all about the river pageant at
http://www1.thamesdiamondjubileepageant.org/
There will be big public viewing screens taking the TV coverage at a number of points along the route, as well.
If anyone's reading this for general info, there's all about the river pageant at
http://www1.thamesdiamondjubileepageant.org/
There will be big public viewing screens taking the TV coverage at a number of points along the route, as well.
Jun 1st, 2012, 03:54 AM
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I have a terrible image of "Champagne Tea", I don't take it with milk or sugar but even boiled up and stuck in an old tea pot is a terrible way to treat Champers.
Still it could be worse, they could have put brown boiled tea in a bottle with yeast for nine months, turning every few weeks to move the lees........
Still it could be worse, they could have put brown boiled tea in a bottle with yeast for nine months, turning every few weeks to move the lees........
