“Fabulous”, “spectacular”: a conquered and colorful crowd cheered the newly crowned King Charles on Saturday, who greeted the crowd with Queen Camilla from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
Thousands of people had gathered on the route of the procession bringing the sovereign and the queen back to the palace in a carriage. Before the appearance of the royal couple on the balcony, part of the crowd ran to get closer to the gates of the palace.
Philip Hay, a 50-year-old Briton, says he is “extremely proud” to have been able to attend this historic, “fabulous” event for the United Kingdom.
It was “worth the wait” abounds next to him Danny Burnard, 53 years old.
The two friends, who came specially from Spain where they own a business in the yachting industry, braved the rain, like thousands of other admirers of the royal family, and watched the ceremony on their mobile phones.
It was “spectacular” rejoices Ann Hallacy, 63, but “two hours is still a long time”, judges this retiree from Cambridge.
The king had wanted a ceremony shorter than the three hours of that of his mother Elizabeth II in 1953. The spectacular procession, involving 4,000 soldiers also followed a shorter path than in 1953.
“It was great”, despite the rain, said Sam Day, a woman who arrived on Friday to be sure to be in the front row on D-Day.
She claims not to understand why Prince Harry, who left for California with his wife Meghan in 2020, wanted to abandon all this pageantry.
“If he comes back, we will always love him,” she swears.
Once past the “Gold State Coach”, the carriage adorned with gold in which the royal couple joined Buckingham, some fold up their bags and camping gear, looking tired but happy.
Many also rushed to the palace gates to see the royal family on the balcony.
It was the highlight of a day and a wait that started very early on Saturday, and for some several days ago.
In the morning, Caryl Hall, 55, with a portrait of the king on her shoulders and a plastic crown on her head, said she was “enthusiastic” and rejoiced in the “friendly, happy and patriotic” atmosphere.
Arrived from Manchester (north of England) but originally from South Africa, she came with her family, including two teenagers who are nosedive from fatigue to attend “this moment of history”.
Yet nearby, six anti-monarchy activists were arrested as they prepared to demonstrate against the coronation, according to protest organizers.
Nineteen activists from the environmental group Just Stop Oil were also arrested near the route planned for the procession.
But these arrests did not prevent the excitement on the route of the procession, where the tents had gradually given way to camping chairs.
Behind the barriers, the Union Jack was worn in all forms. In flags, t-shirts, hats, or even wriggling at the end of small springs mounted on a headband.
Steven Taylor, 61, had opted for the bow tie, illuminating a white shirt and a black suit.
It’s “a very special occasion”, “a very royal occasion”, enthused his wife Phyllis, in an elegant floral pink dress and white hat.
The retired couple from Glasgow planned to return to the hotel after Charles and Camilla’s outward procession, to watch the ceremony on television.
And also lend, to respond to the controversial invitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, allegiance to the king.
Charles III is the 40th sovereign crowned in Westminster, during a religious ceremony with a thousand-year-old ritual, but which the sovereign wanted to adapt somewhat to make it look more like the United Kingdom of today, with more diversity.
06/05/2023 16:16:59 – London (AFP) – © 2023 AFP
