The Waleses following TK & Q into the Abbey ! When I saw it i thought " what's going on here ", later I read the Order of Service that all guests were given and it clearly stated in there that the Waleses would proceed TQ TK last to enter. By now we all know they were late!
Well it's over! I have had time to relax, watch everything too many times, again and again, read too much online, get confused by what I am reading online, spend even more time double checking everything that I read that is actually wrong ...lol
I covered a lot from April 24 until tomorrow (details below). I shall briefly fill you in with my news and views:
Mon April 24..I went to the Abbey as it was the last day it was open to the public before the Coronation. I was booked on a Vergers Tour and was hoping there may be some start to getting the Abbey ready ... I wasn't disappointed ...the Coronation Theatre was being constructed! I was able to go into St Edwards Chapel (where TH retired to twice during the Coronation ), I was able to look through the doors of the chapel and face the Great West Door, I had a very close view of the Cosmatti Pavement where the Coronation Chair would sit. In St Edwards Chapel I also saw the two thrones that were on the raised dais, where TM sat after being crowned. These "thrones" were the usual ones we see the monarch and spouse sitting in ( a gift from Canada for the 1937 Coronation ) they were just recovered.
Mon May 1 ... I went to the Royal Mews to get a good look at the Gold State Coach and the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, I had seen the Gold State in 1997 but the Diamond Jubilee was new to me (at close quarters)
Fri 5 May..I went to The Mall again to try and find Marlene from Royal Musings. I had not met her before ...that took a while due crowds. Prior to that I was in Hyde Park checking out the public viewing areas and what to expect tomorrow. I chose my spot from the 4 sites available.
Sat May 6 ...up early ( too early for no reason other than excitement), a few snacks packed into a bag along with a picnic blanket, my 42 page Order of Service, umbrella and rain coat then met my friend James at South Kensington Tube ( my local stop) at 8am. We were seated on the picnic blanket at 0830...then the rain started..it did not stop..not once, it got lighter and wasn't very heavy rain, but it didn't stop.It did not dampen anyone's spirits, though I saw a few leave their spots were quickly taken by those standing around the edges. We "made friends " with the two ladies behind us and all agreed that we were ok with the rain and didn't mind if we missed anything on the big screens as we were all going home to watch it in comfort later! Coverage on TV here (UK) started at 730 and stopped at 1500. James and I left after TM stepped into the Gold Coach.
Highlights of the day in no particular order)
The enthusiasm of the crowd! Huge round of applause and shouts of approval after arry's I was Glad...the sound was VERY loud so it really sounded magnificent , the Gospel choir's Alleluja, the Crowning of TK, the Homage of the PoW to TK,the Crowning of TQ (surprised me, in a good way, I have to say)...
The respect shown ( I know it was all planned this way) by the two soldiers, heads bowed, holding the edge of the Anointing Screen where the sides "joined", those sides were not flush and they could easily have sneaked a peak!
The music...wow.I was pleasantly surprised by Andrew Lloyd-Webber's piece
The military!!! That salute (?) back at BP after the Coronation..spine tingling !
The Royal Family in their collars and mantles...very impressive to say the least, though I do have some questions ( see below)
Lovely Pss Alexandra, so frail now.
For Nellie...the Folding of the Robes!!!!! TK's pages kinda fumbled their way through it however the Queens Companions did a fine job, Lady Lansdowne was on TV that evening and said at yesterday's rehearsal she thought it went better!
The pages..ramrod straight, no sign of boredom.
Surprises of the day ( in no particular order)
The diamond cypher of TQ worn by her two Companions
Theresa May's curtsey...wow...there were some good ones but she stole the show!
The Orders that the Pss Royal wore, confused me...The Thistle Collar and Mantle with the Garter sash...that'a a new way of doing it. the sash should have been of an order lower than the order worn with collar and mantle, so it should have been the sash of the KGVO.Her stars were not in the correct order on her jacket, she had the Thistle above the Garter, that's def. not correct.
Some thoughts:
No it wasn't the 1953 replay. There weren't enough jewels and tiaras, we were told that this was at TK's request..and I get it... those specially invited guests...NHS workers, volunteers, BEM holders etc etc...not the great of our land but certainly the good.. how many would have evening dress in the wardrobe or a spare full length gown ( that fit ok!), it would have def. shown the difference between the social classes in our country ...for the world to see.
For me, being with those crowds in Hyde Park, walking The Mall a few days before really made it. I wasn't concentrating too much watching it live...however...when I got home that evening I watched on BBC the "Highlights of the Day" to prepare me for viewing it on Sun. Sun was marathon of TV to say the least...and Mon..I have watched the Coronation itself five times now, BBC and ITV screenings...there is so much you miss when you watch it once. I have rewound it rewatched rewound and rewatched so much! Have listened to two radio broadcasts to get a different perspective, radio commentary is so detailed.
There won't be another one like this I am sure, happy to be wrong. To wait all my life for a Coronation and be in London and see so much I am very blessed I feel. The passing of The Late Queen was big, huge, the country almost stopped for 11 days ALL focus on one thing. I felt that event was bigger , maybe because there was more happening?
However, I like many many others will be dining out on my Coronation exoeriences for many times to come!
And one more thing...tomorrow I am going to the Abbey again as the Theatre is still set up and on view until Sat 13 May..not missing this!!
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