As an anglophile, I was saddened that our long-anticipated vacation would preclude me being able to participate in the celebration of the 70th year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II in Great Britain.
I am the kind of person who gets up at the crack of dawn in the U.S. to see the special events across the pond, and I was mourning the fact that I would miss these, even though I’d be on a lovely vacation myself.
However, the good folks at Princess anticipated such a dilemma, and we were able to participate in a fun deck party – the only one on our cruise – celebrating the Queen and her long tenure on the throne. It was truly touching.
Cruise Director Dan directed his high-energy staff – all of whom were being blown away on the top deck during gale-force winds – in playing songs from each of the Commonwealth countries represented on the ship – Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, South Africa and England. Everyone danced and sang, and the flags of the U.K. were everywhere, even on towels and deck chairs.
But the most touching moment came near the conclusion when Dan led everyone in a round of “God save the Queen,” and everyone, Brits and most others aboard, sang along.
There is more that unites us than divides us.