burning koala

So I was downtown today near the Circular Quay (pronounced “Key”…, don’t get me started) and there was this huge traffic jam. It looked like the cars hadn’t been moving for quite a while, as people were waiting outside their cars and had their doors open. I was thinking to myself that I was glad that I hadn’t been in a cab when I came upon the reason for the back up. They had closed off Bridge Street and there were police at every intersection and along the road. People were lined up along the street as if waiting for a parade, but all that was coming along was police cars and motorcycles.

Bridge Street is blocked off and people are scurrying across from both sides

I walked up the street for a bit and nothing special seemed to be happening so I asked a cop wait all the hubabaloo was about. “da Kwhehn” he said. “What?” I queried. “The Queen’s coming”. “Ahh…” I said. I didn’t even know she was in town.

Just then a spiffy cop on a motorcycle raced down the street and stopped in the intersection before me.

The two cops in front are from the Police Rescue squad and the
motorcycle cop is in his Dress Blues

And then came the motorcade. I was lucky I had the camera on the mobile phone as the Queen and Prince Philip came whizzing by. Unfortunately I had the camera on the mobile phone, so the picture isn’t all that great. Still, it was a brush with greatness, or at least fame. I did get to see the Queen waving at everyone, so that’s nice. Prince Philip, in my admittedly short time with him, was a bit of a dud.

The Royal Limo

Close-up of the Queen and Prince Philip. The Queen is the one in the hat.