As you can imagine, a large part of my job is meeting and greeting people, especially when I’m at Camden Market. Recently, I’ve been meeting a lot of Americans, and I must say I’ve been absolutely loving hearing stories from across the pond! I get a lot of selfie requests, as the people of America seem to be struck with my traditional Town Crier uniform, and it really fills me with a sense of pride.

It also strikes me that this is proof a lot of Americans are returning to the UK, and that global tourism is picking up once more. This fills me with optimism for the future, and makes me think that 2022 really is the year to get back travelling. 

The Platinum Jubilee

With all this talk of London, there’s one event that I simply can’t miss off my agenda. Yes, it’s the year of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, and this royalist could not be more excited! It’s magnificent to think Her Majesty has been on the throne for 70 years, what a fantastic achievement! I’m lucky enough to already be securing bookings for the Jubilee, and will be at both Hitchin and Camden Market over that weekend. 

You may remember my Diamond Jubilee tour from a decade ago, where I toured towns and cities all over the UK appearing as Henry VIII and Yeoman of the Guard. I attended corporate events at The Gherkin, visited Ely’s department store in Wimbledon and even sought out my old haunts of Camden and Edgware. I should also mention that I met the Queen – a day I shall never forget!

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacons

I’ve also had the honour of being invited by Bruno Peek to be involved in The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacons event that is happening from the 2nd to the 5th June. It’s one of the official Jubilee events, and will provide an opportunity for communities and the people of the UK territories and Commonwealth to come together and celebrate such a historic milestone.

This long weekend of celebrations will include public events and community activities, as well as incorporating moments of reflection on The Queen’s 70 years of service. It’s important to remember that this is the first time a British monarch has ever marked a Platinum Jubilee.

The Queen’s Chapel of the Savoy

My much-respected friend, Philip Bonn, recently booked my services for a high-end funeral at The Queen’s Chapel of the Savoy. I attended the funeral and led mourners to a wake at the National Liberal Club afterwards.

The Queen’s Chapel of the Savoy is a marvelous building. It was built as part of a charitable foundation under the terms of the will of King Henry VII in the early sixteenth century. According to the chapel’s website, King George VI commanded that it should be the Chapel of the Royal Victorian Order on 11 May 1937.

Image credit: Lee Crosbie