The Queen & I

*These next couple of blogs are a little late since these past couple of weeks have been crazy, but enjoy!  


  Last week, Queen Elizabeth II came to visit the Chester Zoo to open the the new Jubilee Gates that were built for her Diamond Jubilee. The entire Giants team and I met around 7:30 that hazy morning to put up 4 different variations of the Queen that were built by some of the local schools and community groups. To no surprise, by the time we got there there was already a pretty large crowd gathering together in hopes that they would see her highness open the gates.

        After we put the Giants together, we moved them to the massive roundabout that is in front of the zoo where we awaited Lizzy's arrival. Sadly, we found out that we wouldn't be able to see the Queen open the gates, but we would see her when she drove in, and out of the zoo, which is better than nothing I suppose. For the following 2 hours, there were several packed cars and school buses that were entering in waves into the zoo. Then, around 10 or so, we saw what was the beginning of a massive motorcade turn into the zoo's entrance. Several motorcycles later, we saw her, Queen Elizabeth II, alongside her husband Prince Phillip, drive by us with a smile and a wave. While at the zoo, she opened the gates, gave a speech, and then about an hour later, left to go to Warrington to open the Jubilee Park that they built for her.

       A few days later, one of my bosses, Kristine, was invited to Buckingham palace to meet her face to face, and when Kristine got back she mentioned that when she was talking to the Queen, Elizabeth asked her about the history of the giants, how they moved, and a bunch of in depth questions about the company which is kind of cool to think about.

      It was overall an incredible experience. I would have never guessed that during a normal study abroad trip, I would be able to do something like that. That would be like someone coming over to the states and seeing the president. Anyway, this was one Queen event down...now all I have to do is get done with the Jubilee event in a few weeks. Despite there being such a big divide between those who like and dislike the Queen, it has been crazy to see how many stores and people have been decorating for the event. Even the streets of Chester have been decorated in red, white, and blue flags and posters. I'm sure that the whole jubilee event will be bringing in a huge crowd.