As the UK Bank Holiday weekend gets underway here, the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations kicked off this morning with the traditional Trooping The Colour parade.
We watched the action from Horse Guards Parade on TV with my father, in the living room of my parents’ new care home (I wrote about this journey that we’ve been on last week, and I continue to be so grateful for all the kind messages and words about it).
Eyes sparkling, my dad tracked every move on the screen as the troops marched in perfect formation down The Mall, leading to Buckingham Palace—a sea of synchronised red and black.
I reached out and took his hand in mine.
I was thinking of when, decades ago, we drove down The Mall, when he received an award from the Queen. I don’t remember much about being inside the Palace, other than staring down at my shoes walking up a wide, red carpeted staircase.
But I do remember my mother taking me shopping for my dress, at Bentalls department store in Kingston.
(Warning: excessively pointy collars incoming.)
I was all about that red, white and blue piping. Meanwhile, how gorgeous and understated is my mum with her delicate brooch?
As my dad watched today’s celebration from his armchair, my mother had been wheeled outside to the garden, where the home had put on special entertainment for residents and their relatives (my dad had opted to watch the parade instead).
I spotted her from a window upstairs, just as the singers were serenading them with Sweet Caroline in the sunshine.
Bunting blowing in the breeze, some residents sang along, others nodded or waved purple flags from their seats with the same enthusiasm as the crowds on The Mall.
I could see my mother was totally enthralled.
My dad, too, watching the small screen.
I was doing OK, until they got to that line, right before the chorus.
“Hands, touching hands,
reaching out …”
I couldn’t keep the tears in.
If you’re interested in what’s happening over the Jubilee weekend from our little corner of the UK, I’ll try and post some stories on Instagram!
And I’d love to hear what you’re up to, wherever you are.
Oh, and this is fun: a Platinum Jubilee Celebration playlist on Spotify (should you get the urge to hold an impromptu kitchen dance party. I just might).
More soon, but I did want to share these words from Anna Quindlen’s memoir, Lots of Candles, Plenty Of Cake, which for me so perfectly sums up the power of sharing our stories.
That's what is so wonderful about reading, that books and poetry and essays make us feel as though we're connected, as though the thoughts and feelings we believe are singular and sometimes nutty are shared by others, that we are all more alike than different.
—Anna Quindlen
This. Exactly this.
Thanks so much for reading, I’m so happy you’re here and I’m excited to be working on some ways of sharing more of your stories here in the months ahead.
Have a lovely weekend, with love,
Jen XX
What a great memory to hold on to.