Lionel Gougelot (in London), edited by Laura Laplaud / Photo credit: JOHN LAMPARSKI / NURPHOTO / NURPHOTO VIA AFP
Two days before the coronation of Charles III in London, His Majesty’s subjects have been rehearsing for weeks, under the moved eyes of the British. A historic moment broadcast on television for the second time only, 70 years after that of Elizabeth II. Europe 1 is on site.
The big day is approaching in London. The coronation of Charles III will take place in the British capital on Saturday, 70 years almost to the day after that of his mother Elizabeth II. A historic day for Her Majesty’s subjects, culminating after the religious ceremony, the royal parade, the procession between Westminster and Buckingham Palace. An event that will take place in front of televisions around the world and hundreds of thousands of people probably massed on the course.
Painstaking rehearsals in the middle of the night
The parade has been the subject of meticulous rehearsals in recent days and again this week on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday. For the English who attended, it was a prelude to the historic moment on Saturday.
In front of the cadenced step of the Scottish guards, Lesley hardly holds back her tears of emotion. He who came back specially from Australia to attend the coronation of Charles. “My grandfather was part of the Scots Guards. We came back to celebrate his memory and the close bond we have with this country”, he explains at the microphone of Europe 1.
Patriotic feeling
In the middle of the night, this parade regulated to the millimeter, rehearsals of what will be the royal procession, brings back the patriotic feeling of Julia. “It’s absolutely fantastic. My daughter is from the Royal Air Force and she marched at Her Majesty Elizabeth’s funeral. She has since had a baby. She can’t be here today. So I thought to myself, I must come.”
“It feels good to bring the country together”
What, according to Paul, put a little balm in the heart of a country in crisis. “The country is not doing well and with these celebrations, we are putting that aside a bit. It feels good, for a while, to come together, to bring the country together. It makes us a little proud. So we are celebrating this coronation.” A coronation which, according to his supporters of the monarchy, will make England the center of the world on Saturday.