![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.danamladin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/london_me.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nI try in every way, I grimace, I suddenly open my\neyes, I cover my eyes with my hand, I look for a corner of the shade,\nnothing…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I’m thinking of asking someone to borrow me some\nsunglasses, at least for a photo, but I don’t want them, seeing my face, to\nthink that I’m giving them who knows what eye diseases…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I know the area, I know that there is a souvenir shop\nat the corner of the street, as you exit the square, so I head there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hats, scarves, sweaters, these are all on display, in\naddition to the classic souvenirs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That’s why I ask the seller a little embarrassed:\n“do you have sunglasses?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Yes, in the back of the store” \u2013 he\nreplies, a sign that there is no interest in such a product in December, in\nLondon…<\/p>\n\n\n\n I put all the dust from the exposed glasses on my\nface, trying on pair after pair in the hope that I will find one that suits me.\nI choose a pair that looks all right (because there are also some broken\nones…), some small plastic glasses, for which I pay 10 pounds. 10 pounds so that\nI can take a selfie…<\/p>\n\n\n\n I go out wiping them with a wet napkin \u2013 which stains\nthem beyond repair, because, obviously, they are that good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the street corner the Arabic music that the shop bosses\nhave decided to turn up, fills the atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I’m waiting for the lights to turn green for\npedestrians, when… a fancy car passes in front of me, a burgundy limousine,\nwith a waving flag. And my thoughts fly to those at home which are used by\nambassadors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hey, wait a minute!!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a fraction of a second I realize that the flag on\nthe limousine is the royal flag, that the car is the royal car and that, in the\nback seat of it, is none other than King\nCharles<\/strong>!!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n What?!?!<\/p>\n\n\n\n He’s not alone, but I don’t get to see who he’s with,\nbecause I’m trying to take the phone out of my pocket, without losing sight of\nthe car. The king turns to wave elegantly to someone who probably saw him\nbefore me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A woman closer to the corner of the street (also waiting\nat the traffic lights, like me) seems to have caught the King’s car in a\npicture. Or, at least, the cars that followed it closely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The King was gone before I could take out the phone (here I would like to put a\nlong line of angry, frustrated emoticons, if there are any…)<\/p>\n\n\n\n My first reflex is to quickly cross the street, maybe I\ncan catch the cars before they enter the road towards the Palace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No chance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I look to the left, I look to the right, the citizens\ngo about their business, I think there are only a few of us who noticed who had\npassed by. Just us, the ones standing at the traffic lights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not even 30 meters further, people are queuing for a\nGerman sausage or a glass of mulled wine. Others take pictures of the lions in\nTrafalgar or of the Christmas tree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The traffic is flowing, I don’t think anyone in\nparticular was stopped, as far as I can tell, I don’t see traffic police\ndirecting anything, no whistles, nothing. The car of the King of England,\naccompanied by other cars, simply went to Buckingham Palace through the\nintersection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I cross the square, to take my selfie with the 10 pound\nglasses and I think that, instead of acting like a paparazzo, running after the\n“prey”, I’d better simply asked the woman at the traffic lights to\ngive me the picture she had taken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stupid me, what can I say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n