Well-wishers set up tents outside Westminster Abbey hoping to bag the best view of the big day
Well-wishers set up tents outside Westminster Abbey hoping to bag the best view of the big dayThe makeshift campsite outside London's Westminster Abbey has swelled as more and more well-wishers set up their tents hoping to bag the best view of the big day. Surrounded by broadcasters from around the globe, a long line of multi-coloured tents, many adorned with royal memorabilia, grew opposite the abbey. On Tuesday, Terry Hutt (75) set off from his home in Whaddon, near Royston, dressed from head to toe in red, white and blue for London to reserve a prime spot outside the abbey.
Super fan: Terry Hutt sits outside Westminster Abbey, waiting for the
start of the royal wedding. Pic/Getty imagesHe will camp out until tomorrow morning to ensure a perfect view of the wed ding. Terry said, "I'm there for the royalists, I'm there for the Queen, who has never done anything wrong. I'm there for Diana's children, who have grown up very nicely. "I reckon he will make a good king and she will make a good queen."
Despite warnings from forecasters that heavy rain could blight the big day, he said he would not be deterred, adding, "I have been with eco-warriors in the wet - it's nothing to me." Terry had his first brush with royalty at the age of 4, when he met the Queen Mother travelling around London during the Blitz. He said his passion for the House of Windsor had not diminished over the years.
"Although I see the Queen every so often, it's always just as if I'm looking at her for the first time," he added.
Not the only one Faith Nicholson (49), from east London, flew back from holiday in Spain to join the gathering crowds. "I'm here for the atmosphere, not just for the event," Nicholson said. "I'll stay here if it rains. I don't have an umbrella or anything, I really don't care. I just want a good view of William and Kate." Anne Daley from Cardiff pitched her pink tent yesterday and has been turning heads with her tiara and Wales T-shirt. She is accompanied by her pet spaniel, Camilla, who is also donning a tiara and veil.
kate's forest Kate Middleton has ordered more than four tonnes of foliageu00a0-- including eight, 20 foot high treesu00a0-- to recreate a lavish English country garden inside Westminster Abbey. Under the guidance of her 'floral artistic director', Shane Connolly, half a dozen English Field Maples have been installed in the historic church to create a 'Living Avenue' under which guests will walk to their seats. Each of the trees have been placed in a planter personally designed by Mr Connolly and handcrafted by artisans on the Prince of Wales's Highgrove estate. The entire scheme is believed to have cost up to ufffd50,000 (R37 lakh) ufffd-- not quite the 'austerity' wedding St James's Palace originally had in mind.
