The Queen in a Storm and an Up and Down Day
Mrs. Kastner
It was 10 years ago. I was having a coffee with Mrs.
Kastner when she told me the following story. It was all about the
Queen and a storm.
Queen Elizabeth the second was on a state visit
to Austria and she was having a wonderful time. But, then, sadly,
came the end of her visit, and Queen Elizabeth the second was waiting
for her plane to go home. And, she was looking forward
to home and nice cup of hot tea in front of the fire. But, then came
the storm!
And, it was fierce. In fact, so fierce
that the Queen's special plane was unable to land. And, there was
the Queen stuck fast at the airport. But, she wasn't
alone.
There was the Austrian President, the prime minister,
all the government ministers, the British Ambassador, the Mayor of
Vienna, and many more important people as well. And, all having to
think of something to say! Small talk with the Queen - and in
English – it was a stress.
But, fortunately there wasn't long to wait. The Queen's
plane was soon able to land and a feeling of relief
came over the meeting. Soon, the Queen would be on her way home.
But, this is isn't the end of the story. There were the soldiers.
And, the soldiers were wet, cold and miserable.
They had been outside the whole time in the storm.
They had been waiting to give the final salute. And, when the Queen
finally came out to go to her plane the general in charge ordered his
men to salute. But, that was easier said than done.
The wind was still very strong, and not all the soldiers
were able to hear his command. And, so it was that
only the soldiers nearest the general actually saluted. And, then
came the ups and the downs. Seeing that the soldiers at the beginning
of the line had saluted, the ones further down the line saluted as
well. And, then the ones at the beginning saluted again to catch up.
And then the ones down the line did it again. And, this went on for
at least three or four minutes. An up and down show. And, holding her
hat, the Queen boarded her plane. And, I wonder if she ever thinks
back to that up and down day in Vienna - the day her hat nearly blew
off in a storm!
And, Mrs. Kastner? She certainly
never forgot that stormy afternoon. She watched it live on TV. Her
son was one of the soldiers in that great guard of honour.
And, Mrs. Kastner was proud. There was her son saluting the Queen.
Not only once, but four or five times in a row!
Hold onto your hat, it might blow
away!
Vocabulary
fierce – wild
guard of honour Ehrengarde
how terrible – wie
schrecklich
looking forward – sich
freuen
miserable - unglücklich
she'd (she would)
state visit - Staatsbesuch
stuck fast - steckengeblieben
(the) whole time – die
Ganze-zeit
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