Days 7 & 8 Two Nights on the Mall

Our group was interviewed for one of the daytime programs on Friday

My Air BnB Hosts already knew I was a bit odd as this was my second stay with them, so they were not totally surprised when I told them I would be camping out for two nights on the Mall.  

Walked down Coppermill Lane to the High Street in Walthamstow. My upper respiratory problem came back.  My doctor had prescribed a second round of the Z-pak (Azithromycin) if I needed it - and Wednesday night I realized I needed it - a slight fever so let's nip this in the bud. I also wanted to buy an OTC antihistamine so I stopped at a pharmacy & asked the pharmacist what OTC drug I could take with the Z-pak.   He recommended a product, which I purchased.  

I stopped at several stores, where I bought a blanket, toilet paper, a chair, a sleeping bag (the latter in the Argos section at Sainsbury's), water, and snacks, finally stopping for lunch at the 17th & Central Shopping Center food court.  Walked toward the Walthamstow Central tube stop for the Victoria Line to Green Park, crossing at St. James's (the closest crossing to where we were staying).

I also had a visit from the New York Post's Nicole Lampert who was able to find me. We chatted for a bit and she handed me a bag from a bakery with two yummy fruit tarts.  Thank you, Nicole.

[Nicole had interviewed me before I left for London and she said she wanted to meet me .. the Mall is the perfect place.]

Pam and I arrived in mid-afternoon and settled in for our two nights with many new friends. 

with Nicole Lampert @Nicole Lampert

My foot, my bags, settling in on the Mall

I did sleep for most of Thursday night.  I spent most of Friday night in the chair, wrapped in my sleeping bag and blanket

        

 

The flag belonged to another American.  What Revolution!  @Pamela Friedman

Interviewed for Italian TV.  Also did several British networks and Romanian TV (by the same person who interviewed me in Bucharest in 2021)  @Pamela Friedman

Our group.  Mel also arrived on Thursday.  She is dressed for the occasion with a lovely tutu

Claire celebrated her birthday on Friday.  She kindly shared her tent with me

Katharine came earlier in the week. I was having phone issues so she lent me hers to order the air mattress from the Argos on Holborn.   Took the Tube there, got the air mattress, and then bought dinner at Tossed, a salad place.  Got back on the subway at Chancery Lane and headed back to Green Park.

The original guidelines stated that no one would be allowed into the viewing areas until 6 a.m.  On Thursday, the police were not permitting camping on the Green Park side, sending everyone over to the St. James's Park side of the Mall

An artist was capturing the scenes on the Mall

By Friday afternoon this was the scene on both sides of the Mall all the way to Trafalgar Square

 

This is my favorite one

                                        

                         

 

the King leaving Clarence House for the Palace reception on Friday evening

On Friday, May 5, the police allowed camping on the Green Park side.  In the mid-afternoon, we saw a growing police presence - and guessed we were getting a walkabout.  The King came to the St. James's Park side but not down to us.  The Prince and Princess of Wales greeted people on the Green Park side near Clarence House.

The King returning to Clarence House

Yes, there were bathrooms.  The St. James's Park loos were open all night.  There were also loos near us which were designated for disabled and senior citizens. 

St James's Park

I bought a pair of earrings

Of course, I had to walk through the park (a limited area was open to the public) and see the ducks.

We  had a wellness check  -- and the police checked bags and tents 

A rather sweet sniffer dog

A patriotic dog

On Friday evening,  the King hosted a reception at Buckingham Palace for foreign heads of state and other international guests   We saw Dr. Biden leave the Palace as her car went down the Mall.  The Americans, including me, cheered Dr. Biden and shouted USA, USA.  The First Lady noticed us and waved.

One of my Twitter followers, Brent, messaged me as he wanted to say hi  - and he had a bag of goodies The St. James's crossing was now one way so I had to walk down to the next crossing and walk back on the other side to see Brent who had crossed over to my side and was waiting .. so I crossed back over at  St. James's.  We chatted for a bit and I thanked him for the bag of fruit, water, napkins, and loo paper, which I shared with others.  A splendid feast ... thank you, Brent.

By nightfall, more people were arriving and had to settle for space in the park, rather than by the barriers.  My friends Michael and Alison were coming from Harrogate and planned to arrive by midnight.

We were in touch through WhatsApp, but it was dark and I could not find them as I had hoped they could join our group.

It was time to go to sleep.  The police informed us that everything had to be cleaned up and packed away by 6 a.m.

It has been assumed by some that the crowds would not compare to the Platinum Jubilee.  The assumption by the media and others was incorrect.  Massive crowds.  

What a magnificent crowd to be a part of the night before the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.   

A special thank you to Katharine, Mel and Claire!!