(London) In a tide of British flags, the excitement of witnessing a piece of history mounted on Saturday on the route of the procession that took King Charles from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey where he is to to be crowned.
Caryl Hall, 55, with a portrait of the king on her shoulders and a plastic crown on her head, said she was “enthusiastic” and welcomed the “friendly, happy and patriotic” atmosphere.
However, not far from there, six anti-monarchy activists were arrested as they prepared to demonstrate against the coronation, according to protest organizers. Thirteen activists from the environmental group Just Stop Oil were also arrested near the route planned for the procession.
PHOTO PAUL CHILDS, REUTERS
Demonstrators showed their disagreement with the coronation of Charles III.
But these arrests do not prevent the excitement from continuing to mount on the route of the procession.
The King and Queen Consort Camilla left the palace at 5:20 a.m. EST in a procession and Charles will be crowned at 7 a.m. EST in the abbey, just before his bride.
The tents of those who spent nights there to secure a place in the front row gave way to other equipment: now the camping chair is king.
“Moment of History”
A few rows behind, Caryl Hall opted for a telescopic plastic stool on which she perched hours before the passage of the procession so as not to miss a beat of the show.
Arrived from Manchester (north of England) but originally from South Africa, she came with her family, including two teenagers who were nosedive from fatigue at the start of the morning to attend “this moment of history”.
Behind the barriers, the Union Jack is worn in all forms. In flags, t-shirts, hats, or even wriggling at the end of small springs mounted on a headband.
PHOTO PAUL CHILDS, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Steven Taylor, 61, opted for the bow tie, which brightens up a white shirt and a black suit.
It is “a very special occasion”, “a very royal occasion”, enthuses his wife Phyllis, wearing an elegant floral pink dress and a white hat.
For Steven Taylor, it is also an opportunity to “say goodbye to our previous queen” Elizabeth II.
Allegiance
On the agenda for the retired couple from Glasgow, whose late arrival severely dampened their hopes of getting a good view of the show, a return to the hotel after Charles and Camilla’s outbound procession to watch the ceremony at Westminster Abbey on television.
And also lend, to respond to the controversial invitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, allegiance to the king. To do this, they even prepared the text, printed and laminated: “I swear that I will swear true allegiance to your majesty, and to your heirs and successors according to law. So help me God.”
PHOTO STEPHANIE LECOCQ, REUTERS
People along the route on The Mall
Coming from the Manchester region, Alison Marschall, 40, opted for camping seats installed at the foot of the steps set back from the Mall, on the Trafalgar Square side. “A good place,” she says, sitting in a row with her children and their cousins, all dressed in the colors of the Union Jack.
“Tired but happy”, his son Ben, nods when his mother explains the importance for them of being here, when some of his comrades are not “interested” in the event.
The little troop plans to rush to the Mall as soon as it opens in the hope that the aerial parade will take place, and a visit to the Tower of London on Sunday to admire the crown jewels.
When the ceremony is over, Charles III will be the 40e sovereign to have been 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.