Gainesville native experiences queen's Diamond Jubilee

LONDON - It's something she never saw in the states... a Gainesville native now living in London was among those celebrating Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee earlier this week.

"Even with the Olympics in Atlanta, I don't ever remember being anywhere that drew that big of a crowd for basically one person," said Kathleen Meehan, a Gainesville High School graduate who know lives in London with her husband Tim, a citizen of the United Kingdom.

More than 1 million people lined the Thames on Sunday for a river pageant, despite dismal weather, and hundreds of thousands packed the Mall outside Buckingham Palace on Tuesday for a glimpse of the royal family.

"There was a lot of security," Meehan said. "We were on a bus and we passed Trafalgar Square, and there were barricades and policemen setting up, and it was still days before."

She said an event like this only comes around once in a lifetime if you're lucky. The only other monarch in Great Britain to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee was Queen Victoria in 1897.

"We've never seen so much Union Jack bunting... it's everywhere," said Meehan.

The Gainesville native said the massive turnout is simply a testament to the people's love and adoration for their queen.

"Her 60 years on the throne and her devotion to her country and her people is just absolutely incredible," she said.