大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War website by John Young from 大象传媒 South East Today on behalf of Amanda Bolton, and has been added with her permission. Amanda Bolton fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

I was seven years old on VE Day, living in Hungerford in Berkshire. With my grandparents and mother, I took the train to London.

I remember so clearly the afternoon, standing outside Buckingham Palace. Everyone was shouting 鈥渨e want the king!鈥� We were standing on a grassy verge by the side of the railings 鈥� I don鈥檛 remember precisely where, but I remember being very worried that I was going to trample on the tulips! They were, I think, yellow and red -- I was constantly trying to put my feet on either side of them 鈥� I think I succeeded! It seemed to me it would have been sacrilege to have trampled on them.

We continued to chant 鈥淲e want the King!鈥� Suddenly the doors opened 鈥� the King and Queen appeared, with the princesses. I suppose I learnt that day that if you shout loud enough, you get what you want in life! Things have changed so much towards the Royal Family, though. We were taught that they were the tops 鈥� you cheered them, it was just what you did 鈥� but now, I鈥檓 not so sure. I was upset by the way Diana was treated. But I鈥檓 still a royalist at heart. And the tulips lived to fight another day!

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