It was just over a month ago when I was at my desk in London working as an intern for ABC News when I was asked by the bureau chief if I wanted to work as an assistant for the Royal Wedding (as you do). For a moment I thought he was joking. After all, I had only been working there for three days and honestly felt a little overwhelmed and that I was failing epically at the tasks given. But before this rather epic, globally televised and highly glamorous offer came my way, I had been researching and catching up on the latest news headlines when the boss approached me to ask:
“Can you call the Ministry of Defence? I want to clarify something I’ve just read about the Royal Wedding. Their number is on google.”
“Of course no problem,” I replied confidently but panicking to myself. “What am I going to say to the army?” I thought.
View looking at onto The Long Walk at Windsor Castle from ABC News temporary studio space. Photo by Elizabeth Pennington. 15/5/18.
After being forwarded to the British Army’s Communications Department, the conversation went something like this:
“Good morning. An odd question but I am calling from ABC News and I have read on the Ministry of Defence’s website that the Army will ‘make a staircase’ at the Royal Wedding. I am just wanting to clarify what that means exactly?”
“Pretty much what it says. The soldiers will form a line on the stairs.”
“Right, ok. Brilliant… That’s all I need to know. Thank you very much. Goodbye.”
Having made a note of the exact response, I took it to the bureau chief and headed back to my desk. Five minutes later, he had returned. What followed next only added to the surrealism of my day:
“Do you want to help us to cover the Royal Wedding as an assistant?”
ABC News staff press badges for the Royal Wedding. Photo by Elizabeth Pennington. 14/05/2018. Windsor
“Sure. Yes, absolutely. Thank you.” I said gleefully and that was the end of that...
Fast for six weeks however and I found myself in Windsor looking at the grandeur and beauty of Windsor Castle. It was just before 8am and I was stood smiling to myself as I made my way to the location for my first day of work, past the many, many Union Jack and American flags that lined the houses and many excited tourists from around the globe as they posed for photos outside of the castle.
This opportunity was one that I always thought would be amazing to have, but never did I think that it actually would happen. I’d been working as a journalist for just over a year, often covering what I like to call ‘hard-core’ journalism, working in countries like Bosnia on post-war documentaries, in rural Uganda at an HIV/AIDS clinic and in Serbian refugee camps. The contrast seems almost comical but for me, it’s a way of seeing a totally different side to the industry that I am only just venturing into by taking the “journalism crash-course.” It was learning everything on the job in the truest sense. From seeing the glamorous hair and makeup, the designer clothing, the live reporting and the pre-wedding champagne celebrations…
World Media press tent from inside the Windsor Castle Grounds. Photo by Elizabeth Pennington. 19/05/18
. . . And then there’s the not so covered and at times the not so glamorous aspect of the job. There’s the food shopping - remembering to cater for around 90 staff, the labelling of envelopes, and spending a considerable amount of time phoning pretty much every major home furnishings store within a 5-mile radius to find four white, 8-foot long curtains for our temporary studio.
By the time the big day arrived on Saturday 19th May, I felt at ease. I was a regular in the local supermarkets, I had seen countless lighting rigs, cameras, makeshift makeup stands and hundreds of press from around the globe, each fighting for the best hotel room in order to get the shot from the window, looking directly at Windsor Castle. . . It felt like one giant masterclass, working with some of the World’s top journalists and producers from around the world.
View from inside the Windsor Castle Grounds, Windsor. Photo by Elizabeth Pennington. 19/05/2018
I was based inside the Windsor Castle Grounds, much to my excitement and amazement, helping to escort guests who had attended the wedding, for interviews with ABC News, delivering food to the correspondents, who were just about saved from dying of hunger, standing in awe at seeing some of my favorite journalists and running around getting lost in the madness.
The day began with the same buzz of excitement that had been there since the week before, only this time, heightened. There were thousands of people lining the streets making it almost impossible to move, all waiting since early that morning or having camped out to see a 10-second glimpse (literally) of the newly crowned Duke and Duchess of Sussex. From where I was based, just over the large stone wall from where the wedding was taking place, the journalists, producers, Royal Media team and I were all huddled around a small television borrowed from the BBC crew stationed just opposite us, to watch the ceremony that was happening just over the high stone wall from us in St George’s Chapel. The sound of the choir and preacher, combined with excited cheers from the crowd was something to behold. Around forty minutes later, after the newly married couple had left the Chapel, their carriage rode past us and more applauding and congratulatory cheering followed, both from the press and the adoring crowds. Then just as soon as it had begun, it was over. Just like that, as the Duke and Duchess made their way through the narrow Windsor streets waving to their well-wishes and fans.
Working as an assistant for ABC News, helping to cover a moment in history will be a moment that I will never forget. From the long days and early starts, from the 'fan-girl moments' of seeing my favourite journalists to the many shopping trips, it has been worth every single second.
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