House of Windsor

Part 63

Dear Diary, 

Today was brilliant! Today Lilibet officially celebrates her birthday with the parade. 

We got dressed early this morning and we set off to Buckingham Palace in a private, enclosed car. We were dressed in casual clothes so we crouched down to hide from the paparazzi. We got into Buckingham Palace where we got dressed into our clothes and Kate, Camilla and I met the others in the balcony room. There was a change in my clothes. As it was cold today, Katie at the last minute made me a replica of Kate's yellow coat, the one she wore when she was pregnant with George.

The parade will start at 10:30am and will finish at 1pm. Lilibet and Phillip will ride in a vintage carriage followed by Charles, William and Anne who will ride on horseback. Kate, Camilla, Harry and I will follow in another carriage and behind us will be Princes Andrew and Edward, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice and the Countess of Wessex and in a final carriage will be the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandria. 

In our carriages (or on the horses), we will travel down the Mall and to Horse Guards where the event will take place. Kate and I with other members of the family will head inside to the Ministry of Defence to watch the parade. 

After the parade, we would head in our carriages back to the palace to watch the RAF flypast that would include the Lancaster bomber, Spitfires and the Voyager. 

Eventually we headed downstairs to head into the carriage. Camilla took her seat beside Harry and I sat down beside Kate. We held hands. I've never met Harry but he seemed really friendly. Harry tapped my back when we were getting in. 

"You'll be fine" Harry smiled. "I'm really nervous" I shaked. They all tried to cheer me up. 

"Don't worry. When you get out there, and you're smiling and waving and enjoying it. You'll be fine. You'll wonder why you were nervous later on" Camilla smiled. Kate told me a story before we set off. "I was in the same boat as you. Then I feel no nerves now" Kate smiled. I felt better and eventually it was time to set off. 

Today was actually quite cold but I was fine. Kate, Camilla and I wore tartan blankets over our legs and we were nice and warm. Eventually Lilibet and Phillip set off and we followed exactly 4 minutes later. 

As soon as we got out the gates, the crowds uproared. Kate waved and the crowds cheered but as soon as my bare hand raised from inside the carriage, the crowds cheered louder. We arrived at Horse Guards and eventually it was time to salute the colour. Harry saluted while the three women bowed our heads as a mark of respect. 

Our carriage then disappeared into the archway and we quickly got out and dashed upstairs. Kate and I took our place at the window and we sat on the windowseat. I looked out in wonder. It was a glorious parade. 

The colour parading this year is the Grenadier Guards. In 2005 was the last time they paraded as they were busy in Afghanistan. So this year was special. Eventually off in the distance, we heard the Kings Troop firing the 41-gun salute in Green Park, just around the corner from the palace. 

Eventually Kate and I had a conversation. "How nervous are you now?" she asked. "Not at all" I grinned. "We told you'd like it. The best part is the fly past" Kate smiled. I nodded and continued to watch. Kate then leaned forward and pointed ahead. "Look there's William" she smiled. I smiled and looked on again. 

Eventually we headed off in our carriage again to the palace. We got inside Buckingham Palace and headed to the balcony room. We all stood on the balcony and waved before eventually we heard about 10 miles off, the roar of aircraft. There was 6 elements of the parade.

First element was the Support helicopter force of Merlin. 

Second element was the Dakota from the RAF Memorial Flight. This plane was one of the many used in WWII and especially in D-Day which we celebrated just a few days ago. 

Third element was the Lancaster bomber with the Spitfires either side. Both WWII aircraft and seen in Normandy when we visited too. I loved watching this as I learned about these aircraft models in my school before I met Kate. 

Fourth element was the Istar transport I think and it was really noisy! I put my hands over my ears but it was still wonderful to see. 

Fifth element was the big figure of the C-17 accompanied by the Voyager, the largest aircraft of the modern RAF. 

Then the sixth element was my favourite. Over London, the sky light up with red, white and blue steam. We knew it was coming. In the distance we saw it. The red arrows! It was glorious! They came flying towards us like bullets and shot through the sky. It really brightened up the sky which was grey after the glorious weather we had yesterday. 

Lilibet loved it and as soon as it done, everyone almost died laughing as me and most of the other young royals were shouting out "DO IT AGAIN!". However we watched it online when we got back to Kensington. 

When the planes disappeared from sight, the sky returned the grey colour it was earlier as the coloured smoke started to fade away. We then headed back inside and we then headed back to Kensington. 

I got into bed and fell asleep. We were all exhausted as we were up so early. However, I phoned Jack and he said he managed to see us on BBC World News. He said I looked gorgeous. I miss Jack. In the future, I hope to live with him in America, except, I'd have to leave Kate, and William, and George and every other person I could name behind here. 

This is the only struggle. It is always hard for me to let people go.