I haven't ever tried. It's CRAZY busy. Wall to wall people trying to get a glimpse or get close enough to shake the King's hand. I was saying to my in-laws that I was really surprised they still do that. I mean, the king really doesn't RULE anymore....he's more a nostalgic figurehead than someone who has actual power. But still...he's a beloved person in the public eye and there's a certain...I don't even know what to call it, but just like in England, even though the Royal family isn't really in charge, they are still a respected entity and thus also inspire envy in some, which can put them in danger. Several years ago, someone drove into the crowd in Apeldoorn. (back when we still had a queen and it was Queen's day, on April 30th) That's where one of the palaces is, though my understanding is that the royal family no longer owns it...it's a museum now and not a working palace, so I don't think they have ever actually lived there in modern times, but I could be wrong. But some guy tried to crash into the bus where the Royal family was riding through. He ran through barracades and killed several people and ended up crashing into a monument I think? He died a few days later. I remember watching stuff on TV when they went through his house. He lived in the same town where my DH's family grew up and I think he might have been a neighbor to one of DH's uncles...I am thinking the uncle was able to see the police when they entered the guy's house, but none of our family knew the guy as far as I know. But that's just one of the reasons I'm surprised they still visit a town every year, and they still shake hands with the "common folk", etc. You could probably look up videos of celebrations to see what it's like....I have NO desire to try to enter that kind of a crowd. I remember last year, they sent a reporter out and there were people out there to get a good spot at like 5 am....HOURS before the parade started. It's kind of like waiting in the standby line for FOP without being assured you'll even get to ride. No thank you!!!
Fun fact though, my "choir" director got to perform for the queen a couple of weeks ago. Or he got to direct a project group with a school or something, and the kids were chosen to perform for Queen Maxima. We had an evening off from rehearsal because he was preparing or actually performing that night. So, really, T knows you, and you "know" me, and I know the choir director who has met the queen, who is married to the king....so technically not even 7 degrees of seperation.
