EAST Lothian’s Lord Lieutenant Roderick Urquhart said that attending the coronation of King Charles III was something he “will remember and treasure forever”.
The Lord Lieutenant – the King’s representative in East Lothian – travelled to the ceremony in London with Jeanna Swan, Lord Lieutenant for Berwickshire, where he witnessed the coronation first hand.
He said: “I travelled down to London by train on Friday with the Lord Lieutenant of Berwickshire. The excitement of the coronation had been building up, especially in recent days, and we both really felt it.
“In warm weather, I walked up The Mall and savoured the special atmosphere, along with the very many who had excitedly already taken up their vantage points for the coronation procession the next day.
“After a very early start, I set off on foot to Westminster Abbey and passed hundreds of policemen who had been up all night preparing for the crowds that were already descending on the Mall.”
The Lord Lieutenant was joined at the ceremony by East Lothian community champions including Andrew Wildgoose, formerly of Dunbar, who was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to charitable funds in 2020, as well as John Lindsay, who also received a BEM in 2020, for services to the environment in East Lothian.
The Lord Lieutenant said: “As I was going into the Abbey, I just happened to see Andrew Wildgoose. We exchanged our thoughts on the enormity of what we were fortunately about to witness and it was great to speak with him. Unfortunately, I was unable to speak with John Lindsay; however, I was aware he was attending and hope he enjoyed the ceremony.
“I was also fortunate to bump into the Duke of Hamilton before the ceremony and we spoke for a while. I know he was as delighted about the ceremony as I was, and I am sure he enjoyed it.
East Lothian Lord Lieutenant Roderick Urquhart (left) with the Duke of Hamilton in Westminster ahead of the coronation
“When we went inside, we were sat apart so I never got the chance to catch up with him after but it was great to speak before the ceremony.
“We took our seats by 8am and then reflected on the honour of being present at the first coronation for 70 years, but also remarkably the 40th in the Abbey since 1066, which was just quite amazing when you thought about it.
“I was sat in the second row inside and got a great view of the ceremony. I saw the crowns being taken down and also the King and Queen walking down with them on. You see how big [the crowns] are when you are up close. It was a fantastic experience.
“We watched as heads of state, Commonwealth leaders, faith leaders, politicians, heralds, VC holders and many others took to their seats, followed at 11am by the full procession of the Royal Family.
“Being able to be there and witness the pomp and pageantry surrounding the solemn ritual of the crowning of the King was something that I will remember, and treasure forever.
“Whether watching in the Abbey or on television, the coronation was a moving and poignant celebration of duty and service to the nation and Commonwealth. For the vast majority of us, witnessing the coronation was a first ever experience. What a wonderful occasion and a remarkable day in history it was, and all enacted flawlessly. It made you very proud to be British.”
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