The Coronation: what it felt like to be there
From a (very) early start to being feet away from Charles and Camilla, The Royal List's eyewitness account from the front row
As King Charles knows Coronations are all about a waiting game. And, after 11 hours of waiting, from waking at 2am, arriving on Whitehall at 4.45am and getting increasingly soggy from 11am onwards, The Royal List was rewarded with two glorious moments - face-to-face with a beaming Charles and Camilla. Firstly on their way to Westminster Abbey and then, newly-crowned, in the glorious Gold State Coach.
Their Majesties faces radiated happiness, their magnificent crowns dazzled and that glorious coach shone like the Sun as it travelled to Buckingham Palace from Westminster Abbey. If only the real Sun had popped out. But typical British spring weather didn’t dampen anyone’s spirit on our section of a crowded pavement. The atmosphere - royal festival vibes - will remain lifelong joyful memories.
From before dawn, everyone was determined to make the most of this historic day. At one point, The Royal List joined in singing ABBA’s quickly-renamed Dancing King! Well, he is a renowned great dancer. We made friends with American tourists, policemen, septuagenarian ex-scientists, security guards, hotel doormen and families who had travelled from all over the UK. Many having spent the night sleeping on camping chairs.
Forget the inevitable drizzle, tens of thousands of people flooded the processional route to catch a glimpse of Britain’s first new monarch in 70 years. Held in the 1,000-year-old Abbey, some parts of the deeply religious Coronation ceremony date back to the 8th century. Although, our live feed of this ancient service was thanks to a bit of modern tech, a small tablet shared with our new friends.
However, as the rain turned heavy, right next to us lining up and down Whitehall was the unabashed pageantry and pomp of a 4,000-strong military parade. The largest spectacle since Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in 1953. As Charles and Camilla left the Abbey, the bells pealed, gun cannon boomed, and the next part of the Coronation fairytale was getting ready to receive marching orders. The horses, the sailors, the soldiers (the soldiers), the bagpipes, the beefeaters - the sounds and the sights were so magnificently overwhelming and heart-swelling.
There in the midst of it all - the Royal Family - when you see them, however fleetingly, in these close quarters, they appear as they really are, vulnerable and human. Yes, William and Catherine smiled brightly out of their carriage window. Their children, especially Louis and Charlotte, waved enthusiastically. The next Coronation is now a waiting game for the Prince and Princess of Wales. And it’s anyone’s guess what the next Coronation will look like.
In the meantime, we wish King Charles and Queen Camilla a happy and glorious reign. If only we could make enough noise as these three cheers for the King and Queen. The party may be over for some time when it comes to the next big royal event… but there’s always Charles’s 75th in November. Now, we can’t wait for that!
The big day: our fave bits from inside the Abbey
Princess Charlotte’s mini-me moment: Catherine and eight-year-old Charlotte nailed the mother-daughter twinning goals with matching Alexander McQueen ivory dresses and glittering Jess Collet x Alexander McQueen headpiece in silver bullion, crystal and silver threadwork.
Proud Page of Honour Prince George: The second-in-line to the throne helped his grandfather by carrying his robes for his big day. The Prince was dressed in a red uniform based on the Page outfit used in King Edward VII’s Coronation and made for George’s great-grandmother’s 1953 Coronation. Meanwhile, Prince Louis in a blue tunic and trousers, rather fittingly meant all three siblings nailed a patriotic dress code, wearing red, white and blue!
William’s intimate pledge to his dad: As heir to the throne, the Prince of Wales had an official role at the Coronation.
He pledged allegiance to the King and as he did so Charles looked visibly moved. Prince Harry, sat in the third row, left for the States and his son Archie’s fourth birthday as soon as Abbey ceremony finished.
Penny Mordaunt’s epic carrying of the Sword of State: The leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Privy Council, became the first woman to carry the 17th-century Sword of State into Westminster Abbey in the procession and giving the jewelled sword of offering to the king.
She also held the 4ft, 8lb sword aloft for much of the service. All while looking impossibly chic in a Safiyaa cape and dress and Jane Taylor hat. The Guardian called her ‘the Pippa Middleton of the Coronation’.
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