Thank you to all who sent messages and have checked in to hear how things have been since arriving in London. Thank you for sharing your stories of what the Queen meant to you and the impact she had on your life. I feel so honoured that you have entrusted me with your stories, your heartfelt wishes and condolences. Your messages have compelled me to entrust you all with a very candid sharing of my experience in London so far. It feels daunting, because it leaves me feeling vulnerable, but I want to lead by example and encourage others to be brave and bold when it comes to sharing our true and authentic selves on social platforms – because sharing experiences is an important aspect of connecting understanding those around us, and understanding is how we build upon inclusion in our society.
I have found it to be an intensely emotional experience. As a person who tends to feel and absorb the emotions of those around me, I knew full well when I accepted this invitation that I would accepting a challenging responsibility to attend the funeral in person, but it has been more raw than I expected.
The day after we arrived, I walked alongside the queue of people waiting in line for hours to pay their respects to her Majesty with tears streaming down my face. The queue was such a strong visual representation of the impact that her Majesty had on so many lives. I looked at the faces of the people in the queue, older people who knew the Queen for so many years of their life, families with younger children, and I saw many Australians too. I could feel the deep love and respect they had for her Majesty, and could acutely feel the loss and grief they were processing. For hours afterward, I couldn’t shake a deep sense of sadness I felt that all these people couldn’t attend the funeral, and yet, I was. This further strengthened my resolve, as one of the representatives of everyday Australians attending the funeral today, to carry these heartfelt feelings with me, on behalf of all the people who cannot be there.
But there have also been lighter, more joyful moments which I will cherish – such as spending time with the other everyday Australians searching for gifts for our loved ones back home so we feel they have shared part of the experience with us, marvelling at how wonderful the weather has been during our stay, and the deep and profound conversations with the incredible Australians who have been along the journey with me –which I will share reflections on in due time.
No matter how challenging and the emotional cost of today is, I am forever grateful and humbled to be a small part of this momentous occasion and will strive to do my best to represent Australia – the country I am so proud to call home.