John And Julie

It is late May 1953 and across Britain preparations are in full swing for the Coronation of the new Queen, Elizabeth II.

In Dorset, young boarding schooler Julie is particularly taken with the glamour and romance of the occasion, and quickly decides she is not nearly satisfied with watching the ceremony on television - she wants to go to London and see the Queen in the flesh!

Summoning her slightly older friend, local boy John, she requests he take her the 150 miles to the capital. Of course he refuses - they're not even 10, after all! How would they get there? Where would they stay? How would they afford it? After overhearing his parents argue and discuss his uncle, Ben, a member of the Household Cavalry, however, he resolves it is his duty to escort Julie to London and fulfil her wish.

A couple of days later, with the Coronation now just a matter of hours away, they set forth, sneaking out to catch a train from a nearby town to whisk them straight into the city. Unfortunately for John the excitement of the occasion and the speed of the engine cause him to lose his ticket and they are soon ejected from their carriage by the inspector. And so begins a cat-and-mouse game as they attempt to make it to Westminster in time to see the Queen for themselves, whilst evading capture by police and parents alike.

As John and Julie encounter lost American tourists, Scouts and Guides, a magistrate and 'borrow' a bicycle, the pair look set to arrive in London in time, but whether they will manage to get a glimpse of Her Majesty or not remains to be seen!