Superfans Anita Atkinson and Stacie Scrimshaw embrace as they meet for the first time – united in their love of the Royals.
The pair, decked out in Union flag leggings, hat and jacket yesterday, are usually 4,000 miles apart.
But this paper brought together Anita, from County Durham, and Stacie, from Minnesota, US, for today's historic occasion.
Anita, 66, said: “It’s heartening to meet a like-minded person and it’s great for the monarchists’ cause that people from all over the world come to a celebration such as this”
They camped on The Mall to see the royal carriage pass from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey.
After the procession, Anita, who has a £20,000 collection of royal memorabilia, said: “It was amazing. The King and Queen looked spectacular in their ermine in the Diamond Jubilee Coach.
“The King looked in awe seeing the crowds and how many people were here. I have studied the monarchy for 45 years and waited my whole life to watch a coronation.”
Nurse Stacie, 53, who has been fascinated with the royals since Charles and Diana’s wedding in 1981, said: “I’m so happy for Charles, God knows he has waited for this.
“This is a part of history. Who knows if I will ever see another coronation. It’s amazing.”
She paid £1,000 to fly to London last week and has been camping in just a sleeping bag on The Mall to secure her spot for the Coronation procession.
She said: “I remember getting up at 3am when I was 10 to watch Charles and Diana’s wedding and it was magical.”
“Then I realised there were real princes and princesses – they weren’t just in Disney movies.” Since then Stacie has made 15 trips to royal weddings, jubilees and Trooping the Colour ceremonies.
Stacie added: “No one in the States understands the passion I have for the Royal Family so it’s wonderful to meet someone who does.”
Anita began her collection in 1976 with the Queen’s Silver Jubilee and now has 13,500 items. Some 2,000 relate to King Charles – including a Cow & Gate dried baby milk tin from 1948 when he was born, with a Food of Royal Babies label.
Stacie also has thousands of souvenirs, including a £3,580 signed picture of Charles and Diana from 1985 and a Harrods childhood riding helmet with Di’s name pencilled inside.
Seeing the Coronation was especially poignant for grandmother-of-five Anita, who went to Windsor for the Queen’s funeral. She said: “When the Queen died I couldn’t stop crying. I don’t think anyone could fill the Queen’s shoes.
“But we know Charles is a caring man, who cares about people and the planet.”
