On Tuesday, Belfast played host to two rather distinguished guests: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. This trip was a rare event, as it was only the second time the pair had visited Northern Ireland since the outbreak of the Troubles in the late 1960s. I happen to be a rather big fan of the royal family so naturally I was so excited for this huge event.
Fortunately, the stars aligned for me and my supervisor let me choose a day to take off during the week (I worked Monday through Saturday the previous week). Thus on Tuesday morning, I woke up and headed off to St. George’s Market where her majesty was expected to visit at noon. , I got there at 9:45 AM, ready to hunker down for the wait with a book and freshly baked scone. Security to get into the market was surprisingly relaxed, far less security than boarding a plane.
Though I came prepared with a book to read, I instead spent most of my time talking with the people who sat down at my table with me. Chatting with the elderly gentleman and a grandmother-granddaughter pair made the day even more positive, as it was fun to discuss the common enthusiasm for the Queen as well as my experience in Northern Ireland. It was surreal to tell them how I only had three weeks left before returning home.
As it neared noon, the excitement grew palpable and people started lining up around St. Georges. The Queen was planning to make a small loop around certain stalls and then accept a gift basket and small pillow for Prince George. By another stroke of luck, I got in the front row along the path she would take around the market. At almost exactly noon, she and her group arrived and promptly set about their prepared journey. After a few minutes, the roars of the crowd grew louder and the Queen walked past my section, smiling serenely and taking in all the views. She was tiny in person, but had an incredibly regal and poised air about her.
In another fifteen or twenty minutes she had accepted her gifts and was off to her next event. Though the actual viewing of the Queen was so short, I was so excited to have been so close to her and seen her while in the UK. It was an incredible way to celebrate a great five weeks in Belfast so far.
Haley Hickey
Trinity '17
Fortunately, the stars aligned for me and my supervisor let me choose a day to take off during the week (I worked Monday through Saturday the previous week). Thus on Tuesday morning, I woke up and headed off to St. George’s Market where her majesty was expected to visit at noon. , I got there at 9:45 AM, ready to hunker down for the wait with a book and freshly baked scone. Security to get into the market was surprisingly relaxed, far less security than boarding a plane.
Though I came prepared with a book to read, I instead spent most of my time talking with the people who sat down at my table with me. Chatting with the elderly gentleman and a grandmother-granddaughter pair made the day even more positive, as it was fun to discuss the common enthusiasm for the Queen as well as my experience in Northern Ireland. It was surreal to tell them how I only had three weeks left before returning home.
As it neared noon, the excitement grew palpable and people started lining up around St. Georges. The Queen was planning to make a small loop around certain stalls and then accept a gift basket and small pillow for Prince George. By another stroke of luck, I got in the front row along the path she would take around the market. At almost exactly noon, she and her group arrived and promptly set about their prepared journey. After a few minutes, the roars of the crowd grew louder and the Queen walked past my section, smiling serenely and taking in all the views. She was tiny in person, but had an incredibly regal and poised air about her.
In another fifteen or twenty minutes she had accepted her gifts and was off to her next event. Though the actual viewing of the Queen was so short, I was so excited to have been so close to her and seen her while in the UK. It was an incredible way to celebrate a great five weeks in Belfast so far.
Haley Hickey
Trinity '17