Photo via The Telegraph
Yesterday Matt and I had some friends over to pretend like 1776 never happened! We watched three hours of the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant. For the occasion, we decorated the flat with union jacks, ate coronation chicken, and gobbled up the strawberries and scones made by our friend (a real British subject no less!).
I have to say, three hours of watching people on boats, watching people on shore, watching the people on boats, wasn’t the most exciting thing to see (although the BBC kept reassuring us that “we had to be there to feel the enthusiasm” and that it was “fantastic” and “exciting”). But getting to drink some pims cup and gin and tonics with friends while practicing the queen’s wave was indeed pretty fantastic.
Did you guys watch any highlights? Just in case any of you missed it, the queen did stand the entire 3 hour journey down the Thames, in the cold and the rain, totally ignoring the plush, velvety throne chairs right in front of her: stiff upper lip at its best!
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Dear Cath,
I’m sorry you didn’t get to see much of it (or maybe that was time better spent?). I love watching all the pomp and circumstance, but I do think it’s funny that these people get fancy boats, and clothes and palaces just because of who they are. At one point the Beeb said how fantastically democratic the pageant was — they must have meant that other kind of democratic.
Still it’s great fun to pretend to be Britishy for a moment, and I did think Catherine Middleton’s Alexander McQueen looked lovely.
Wish we could have clinked g&t glasses yesterday!
xoxoxoxoxxo,
Lar
We watched too, although sadly there were no G&Ts in the house because I developed a terrible cold (and on the four day weekend too! Boo!). I love your decorations and the ship drawing:) And agreed-Kate’s outfit was hands-down the best part of the whole pageant!
So sorry to hear that you have a cold for the long weekend, Ashley! but I’m glad you at least got to see Kate-the-great — always love to see what she wears 😉
I am sorry I missed watching! I wish this country made a bigger deal about it, but I suppose it makes sense that we don’t- not being under British rule anymore etc. Does it make you feel a little bit better that London has equally as not fun weather as Edinburgh?
love, cath
We did do a bit gloating that we had some sun though it would have been just as cold/chilly, I think. Miss you mucho!!!!
I watched!! BBC America ran the pageant live on Sunday morning. Um.it looked miserable, honestly. I didn’t believe the announcers for one second when they talked about how fun it was (of course, they were dry in the studio while saying that). I thought the best was the part with WarHorse – that was really cool. Kate’s McQueen dress was gorgeous, but she’s getting some flack for wearing it!
Poor Kate always gets flack doesn’t she? And yes! I thought it looked miserable too: rain and wind and cold and life jackets. I was imagining the scene from the Cate Blanchet Elizabeth movie, so this was kind of a let-down 😉 I thought the WarHorse was cool too!
Your diamond jubilee party sounds like it was fun and super adorable. And speaking of adorable, what I want to know is whether the Queen is doing something special with her corgis to celebrate.
pimms.my favorite!!!
It sounds like you had a lovely day! I didn’t watch the pageantry but instead I caught the concert and the procession on TV. I think the concert was better to capture the spirit of the event and also the feeling of Patriotism. I also saw a few street parties and totally wish I had joined in on the cream tea and cakes!
You are so right, Winnie! I watched all the coverage yesterday and got a bit teary-eyed during the hip-hip-hooraying for the queen!
The TV entertainment doesn’t sound that exciting, but the party does!! Mmmm I could really do damage to a scone right now.