Hordes of hardy Scots camped out in the rain overnight to secure the best viewing spots to watch today’s historic Coronation procession.
They have joined an estimated 1.2million people in the UK capital hoping to witness history, with a global audience of 300million expected to watch on TV.
Sheila Clark, 65, from Newton Mearns, near Glasgow, was on her folding chair on The Mall at 7am yesterday to guarantee a front row position.
She said: “I’m here to see the procession, the Royal Family, the children, the gold coach, the military parade that we do so well.
“I think it will be a wonderful occasion, I’m thrilled to be here and be part of it, seeing all the flags and all the people.
“You can’t get that atmosphere on TV.” The flag-lined street was quiet when Sheila arrived but filled up during the day.
By late afternoon there were crowds four-deep, setting up camp for the night to secure their position for the procession in the morning.
Annette MacKay drove down from Glasgow and secured a prime viewing spot yesterday morning.
The 67-year-old said: “It will be amazing to see the whole coronation. We don’t know when there will be another one and I don’t know if I will be young enough to do all this again.”
She spent the day making friends with other royal enthusiasts in tents, camping chairs and Union flag rugs beside her, adding: “We already have a WhatsApp group and are planning to go for afternoon tea.”
Across The Mall, Jessie Young, 81, camped out for four days and met the King yesterday morning when he popped out to greet well-wishers. Jessie, in a tartan scarf, said she wanted to be in London “to thank and support the King”.
Peter Samson, 61, booked his flight to London as soon as the date was out. He said: “Ten seconds after it was announced on the news I was on the website. I wanted to be here.”
Joining the crowds on The Mall outside Buckingham Palace, he said: “I was very impressed by the excitement, the buzz, the camaraderie and friendship. There was a real sense of occasion.”
An “ardent royalist” since he was a child, Peter, who has met the King in the past, said: “I liked him a lot. I like his eccentricity and he is a great champion of the environment.
“He does amazing work with the Prince’s Trust and at Dumfries House, bringing hope and aspiration to that area.
“And while I was a big fan of Diana, I’ve now converted to camp Camilla and am very happy to have her as Queen.” Katie Ramsay from Findochty, on the Moray Firth, got up at 2am to fly from Inverness with her mum, aunt and uncle. It’s the 30-year-old’s first visit to London and worth the early start for “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”.
“Charles has waited all his life for this,” she said. “Seventy-odd years. We don’t even care if we don’t see anything, we wanted to be part of the atmosphere and the vibe.”
Other Scots bypassed the area between Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace to prepare for other coronation events.
The Voice Project choir from Ferguslie Park in Paisley will perform at Windsor Castle tomorrow. They travelled down yesterday for rehearsals. “We’ll be watching on the TV from our hotel,” said choir director Jenny Cheung. “But everyone is pure buzzing regardless.”
But for Sheila Clark, The Mall was the only place to be. Armed with a change of waterproofs, an umbrella, a Tesco meal deal and two phone chargers, she was fully prepared for a night under the stars.
“I’m fine to sleep in my chair,” she said. “I slept out for two nights for the Queen Mother’s birthday.”
She had a special red, white and blue manicure for the occasion and wore crown earrings and a shirt decorated with Jack Russells in busbies and military jackets.
“The royal dog has changed,” she said. “The King and Queen have Jack Russells. It’s not corgis any more.”
Sheila was just four when she got the royal bug. She added: “I saw the Queen going into Buckingham Palace. She was wearing a yellow outfit and white gloves.”
As a child in London, Sheila’s mother took her to all the city’s royal locations. When the family moved to Scotland there were fewer opportunities to spot the monarch but they took every chance going.
She said: “I’ve been following the royal family for 71 years now.”
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
