‘I’ve been to two Jubilees, her birthday and both the weddings’: Royal superfans camp out on The Mall
Over the past week a growing row of tents have been pitched along the Mall, forming a community of royal superfans.
Where there’s a royal event, there will be royal superfans.
And the King’s Coronation is no different.
Over the past week a growing row of tents have been pitched along the Mall, forming a community of monarchists all eager to have front row seats for the big day.
Bernadette Christie and her husband Bruce have travelled all the way from Grand Prairie, Alberta to join in on the celebrations this Saturday.
But this isn’t their first rodeo, in fact it’s the seventh time the couple have travelled to London for a royal event.
“I’ve been to two Jubilees, her birthday (late Queen Elizabeth II) and both the weddings,” the 69-year-old beamed.
“The atmosphere on the Mall is amazing, it’s so much fun.
“We just keep gathering more and more, then we all camp together and share our food.”
Julia Walker from Basingstoke, Hampshire arrived at lunchtime on Tuesday and has already made lots of new friends.
Its her first time camping out on the Mall, although she spent the night at Horse Guards Road with a friend for her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.
The 60-year-old is a huge fan of King Charles III and is excited to catch a glimpse of him and Queen Camilla this weekend.
“My mother was a royalist and she had beautiful books that I used to flick through and I saw a young Prince Charles looking very forlorn going to boarding school,” she said.
“At the time I hated the school I was at and there was an empathy there from then on.
“I think he’s just a lovely man, misunderstood in a lot of respects but he will make a very good King.”
Her new friend Andreea from Golders Green is also a fan of the new King.
The 40-year-old camped out for three nights for the Queen’s funeral and is glad to be at the Mall for a happier occasion this time.
“I like King Charles because he tried to modernise the monarchy which is a very good start.
“I think he will maybe do better than his mother. I think he will be an amazing King.”
Rachel from Norwich opted for a hotel for the Queen’s funeral and William and Kate’s wedding but this time she wants a better view.
“You’ve got to camp out if you want the front row,” she said.
Rachel has high hopes for the new King and thinks he’s had time to prepare for his role.
“King Charles was decades ahead of us with his organic farming and his sustainable farming methods.
“He’s had long enough training and hopefully he’s learned a lot from his Mum.
“I think he’ll do alright.”
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to line the Mall on Saturday to watch The King’s Procession to Westminster Abbey in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach.
And this group will have a birds eye view of all the action.