| Date and Time |
Narrative |
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| Friday the 6th September 1997 |
The day before the funeral service... |
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| 11:20 AM |
Leave home for London with mother and a rucksack packed with food, drinks,
clean clothes, flasks of coffee and plastic rubbish bags & umbrellas
in case of rain.
Stopped for lunch on the Motorways services, reasoning that this might
be our last chance for a hot meal for a while. |
|
| 2:30 PM |
Arrive in the Mall. We are quite surprised at the large numbers of people
who are already around, but realise quickly that most are not planning on
staying the whole time until the funeral, as they have no provisions, and
no waterproofing.
We made our way to 'our' tree, and started to pitch camp, ready for the
night ahead.
PICTURE LINK HERE
The weather did not look good. It was overcast, and it looked like rain
could fall very shortly!
PICTURE LINK HERE |
|
| Approx 3:00 PM |
We notice the Royal Standard has been raised. |
|
| Approx 3:05 PM |
The Royal Standard is lowered to Half Mast.
The crowd notice the standard and there is a lot of speculations as to
why this has been done. I suggested that there are two Equerries
inside the Palace arguing about whether is should be down or up and that
someone will lose their job over this.
Little do I realise how close to the truth I was! |
|
| Approx 3:10 PM |
The Royal Standard is once again hoisted to the top of the flag pole.
PICTURE LINK HERE |
|
| 3:20 PM |
Rain! First a little, then lots and lots of Rain. Even huddled under
our umbrellas with our waterproof clothes on, we still seem to be getting
wet!
We decide to take cover under our tree, but notice that it doesn't seem
to have as as much foliage as we remembered. We take cover under the next
tree. |
|
| 3:45 PM |
Further confirmation that the media of the world are here; we are met
by a journalist (Brandt, or Brant I didn't ask how he spelt his name) working
for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
He wants to know all about why we are here, so we tell him of our desire
to pay our respects to Diana, and of our previous camping exploits in the
Mall, and all about 'our' tree.
Brandt asks if I would like to be interviewed for a live broadcast on
CBC news. I agree to talk on Canadian National Television. |
|
| 16:15 PM |
The Queen and Prince Philip are driven from Buckingham Palace to St.
Jame's Palace for a private visit to the Chapel Royal where Diana lies.
PICTURE LINK HERE
The crowd wait expectantly for their return. |
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| I will be finishing this |
page in the next few days. Please come back. |
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