Close Encounter With The Queen

Once in a lifetime an unexpected encounter with someone very famous happens. May 1999 was our first visit to England, and we were playing the typical tourist by riding the top deck of a red double decker tour bus in London. We were making our way along the tour route when we came upon Westminster Abbey. Noticing a large crowd in front, and asking the tour director what was going on, he nonchalantly replied "oh, it's just the Queen attending a special memorial service for thus and so". (have no idea who 'thus and so' really was). Grabbing Margaret (my wife's) hand, running to get off the bus, she began yelling "what are we doing"? My response..."tell ya' later, just keep up".

To make a long story short, by the time we reached the entrance where a large crowd gathered, the Queen had already entered Westminster Abbey for the service. At that point, the crowd began leaving. I did not move, so Margaret asked why we weren't leaving?, to which I replied..."she went in, she's got to come out"!!

In the meantime I began a conversation with the chauffeur of the Queen's Rolls Royce. Idle chit chat, doncha' know, gov'ner. Forty-five minutes later the crowd inside began coming out, with the Queen and Queen Mum being the last to exit. By then, of course, I was standing almost in her way with my camera ready. Instead of asking me to move out of the way, she stopped, smiled as if to say "take your time", and graciously allowed me enough time to shoot an entire thirty-six exposure roll of film (before I became digitalized).

Needless to say, this was an experience I will never forget, nor will I forget her kindness.

Thank you, (bowing) Your Majesty!