It’s a Boy! A Personal View as London Celebrates

It’s a boy!  It was the news we had been waiting for all day.  I was at Caraffini, a favorite hangout in London’s Chelsea, when a woman at the next table checked her smart phone.

For me dinner was over. I grabbed my camera and headed, like thousands of others, to Buckingham Palace.

As I crossed St. James’s Park helicopters hovered overhead. Park fountains were lit red white and blue to the astonishment of resident pelicans. Beyond Horse Guards Parade I could see the London Eye also decked out in patriotic colors. What a night.

I heard Boris Johnson, London’s colorful mayor, wanted the fountains in Trafalgar Square to run appropriately blue or pink when the birth was announced. And there they were, running clear celebratory blue, welcoming the little prince. Down Whitehall the face of Big Ben glowed golden and Nelson on his column high above watched silently. July 23 was the day he lost his arm fighting for England and its future which was unfolding right now.

Time to head up The Mall for The Palace. I had been there earlier in the day. International Press were watching and waiting under white horseshoe shaped awnings in the 90 degree heat. They were reading, chatting and generally hanging out. London police were passing time posing with tourists some of whom were dressed in bright Union Flag attire – sure to catch the eye of the press who were playing the waiting game as they had been for three weeks since I arrived in London.

Now the wait was over. The Palace glowed golden at the end of the drive, and the Victoria Memorial gleamed. On the left between the trees I saw the fullest moon – also golden – rising. Even he was getting into the mood.

Crowds thronged the Palace railings. The announcement in its traditional gold frame on a gold easel was being moved at intervals across the forecourt so everyone could catch a glimpse. “It’s coming this way.” Someone behind me yelled. “OMG I can’t believe I am actually here!” Shrieked  a young American woman excitedly behind me.

I too could hardly believe that I was there. I had planned this trip back to London for a 90th birthday family celebration and to visit friends. I had almost missed this historic day. Because of a 24 hour delay in my flight back to San Francisco I was able to witness all of this excitement. What serendipity.

I moved away and walked up onto the Victoria monument which had turned into a Tower of Babel. International press were finally giving their newscasts – “Here I am in front of Buckingham Palace where everyone is rejoicing at the news of a new baby Prince.” – This message was being broadcast in Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Tagalog and myriad other languages.

The following day while on my way home across the pond there was a traditional 62 gun salute from the Tower of London and 41 gun salute from Green Park. (Click here to see amazing images of the traditional gun salute with soldiers in full dress uniform).  Bells from Westminster Abbey peeled.  But on the balmy summer night when Prince George Alexander Louis was born I was in London. It was a golden place. A new page in England’s long history has turned.

Playing the Waiting Game in London