The Crowning Moment
Mrs. Kastner, a very dear lady with many years to her credit, told us an amusing story about Queen Elizabeth the second’s visit to Austria.
It all happened about 40 years ago. The queen was on a state visit to Austria, and, of course, in true alpine style, everything went according to plan. The banquets and the receptions came off as expected; and the people turned out in their thousands to cheer Her Majesty on. A feeling of deep and moving historical happening lay in the air - but, that was not all!
Storm clouds were gathering, and, with great speed were moving in on Vienna. They arrived with all of their force just as the Queen was arriving at the airport to leave!
The Queen’s aircraft was unable to land – the storm was too fierce; and so, there she was, stuck fast at the airport - but not alone!
There was the Austrian president, the prime minister, the mayor of Vienna and his wife, the British ambassador, and countless other dignitaries as well; and, all in the thankless position of having to think of something to talk about!
And then, just as it seemed that the small talk was about to run out, a gap in the weather appeared, and the plane, despite the continuing storm, was able to land – a visible sigh of relief arose from the highest of the high – soon the Queen would be on her way; but that’s not the end of the story, the final salute was about to conclude this occasion of magnitude.
Seeing the Queen coming out of the VIP lounge, and holding her hat, the general in-charge of the now almost frozen, soaking, and totally fed up with waiting company of guards ordered his men to come to attention.
This was easier said than done!
The soldiers were unable to hear the commands! The wind was too loud! “Salute” cried the general. Chaos! Only those nearest to him were able to understand the command and saluted, then those who hadn’t saluted, seeing what was happening, saluted, too; but not at the same time as those who had done it to begin with. The result, a confusing array of lots of different arms moving up and down according to who had just done what; then those who had saluted first, seeing the others still saluting, saluted again. Up and down went the arms!
Holding her hat, the Queen boarded her plane and off she flew. I wonder if the Queen ever thinks of the day in Vienna when she nearly lost her hat. Mrs. Kastner will never forget it; she can remember every minute of it; she saw it all on TV. Her son was one of the soldiers in the guard of honour! A great honour, indeed, for the family.
My e-mail address: njmailboy@gmail.com
Mrs. Kastner, a very dear lady with many years to her credit, told us an amusing story about Queen Elizabeth the second’s visit to Austria.
It all happened about 40 years ago. The queen was on a state visit to Austria, and, of course, in true alpine style, everything went according to plan. The banquets and the receptions came off as expected; and the people turned out in their thousands to cheer Her Majesty on. A feeling of deep and moving historical happening lay in the air - but, that was not all!
Storm clouds were gathering, and, with great speed were moving in on Vienna. They arrived with all of their force just as the Queen was arriving at the airport to leave!
The Queen’s aircraft was unable to land – the storm was too fierce; and so, there she was, stuck fast at the airport - but not alone!
There was the Austrian president, the prime minister, the mayor of Vienna and his wife, the British ambassador, and countless other dignitaries as well; and, all in the thankless position of having to think of something to talk about!
And then, just as it seemed that the small talk was about to run out, a gap in the weather appeared, and the plane, despite the continuing storm, was able to land – a visible sigh of relief arose from the highest of the high – soon the Queen would be on her way; but that’s not the end of the story, the final salute was about to conclude this occasion of magnitude.
Seeing the Queen coming out of the VIP lounge, and holding her hat, the general in-charge of the now almost frozen, soaking, and totally fed up with waiting company of guards ordered his men to come to attention.
This was easier said than done!
The soldiers were unable to hear the commands! The wind was too loud! “Salute” cried the general. Chaos! Only those nearest to him were able to understand the command and saluted, then those who hadn’t saluted, seeing what was happening, saluted, too; but not at the same time as those who had done it to begin with. The result, a confusing array of lots of different arms moving up and down according to who had just done what; then those who had saluted first, seeing the others still saluting, saluted again. Up and down went the arms!
Holding her hat, the Queen boarded her plane and off she flew. I wonder if the Queen ever thinks of the day in Vienna when she nearly lost her hat. Mrs. Kastner will never forget it; she can remember every minute of it; she saw it all on TV. Her son was one of the soldiers in the guard of honour! A great honour, indeed, for the family.
My e-mail address: njmailboy@gmail.com
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