“I believe I will take a protracted nap on Friday night time after which keep up all night time to look at it reside,” says Clarice Siebens, who was chosen to witness Queen Elizabeth III’s coronation in 1953.
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Airdrie residents Allison Raher and Jill Munday are tenting in London this weekend with lots of of different royal watchers to benefit from the pomp and pageantry of the coronation of King Charles and Camilla, the Queen Consort.
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Touring to England to witness the coronation, Raher mentioned she and Munday had not initially deliberate to camp on The Mall, a stretch of highway in Westminster, London, that runs from Buckingham Palace to Admiralty Arch close to Trafalgar Sq. .
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“Once we bought right here, there have been individuals sleeping right here and we determined we have already come this manner, we have now to do it. We went to a tenting retailer down the road, purchased a tent and right here we can be for 48 hours,” Raher mentioned over the cellphone from The Mall.
With a big Canadian flag hanging subsequent to their tent, Raher and Munday attracted a variety of different Canadians to their small campsite, together with vacationers from Okotoks and Regina.
Raher and Munday work collectively in well being care in Alberta. Raher mentioned they have been moved by the historic significance of Queen Elizabeth’s demise and determined to attend the coronation collectively.
“It is the type of historical past you simply do not get to witness anymore,” she mentioned. “We simply needed to have the ability to witness the historical past and take a look at this ceremony that has been carried out for lots of of years.”
Whereas Munday is extra the royal watcher between the 2, Raher mentioned she is fascinated with the traditions of the monarchy.
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“It is fascinating to see how in every single place right here is embellished, there are flags in every single place and each enterprise has coronation issues,” she mentioned.
Regionally, British-themed shops such because the British Pantry in northwest Calgary and the British Tea Home in Excessive River noticed a rise in prospects forward of the coronation.
Rebecca Mason, proprietor of the British Teahouse, mentioned the store has seen many Canadian and British expats are available for tea and imported treats.
“We’ve individuals booked in on Saturday for afternoon tea or full English breakfast to have fun,” Mason mentioned.
She additionally bakes the official coronation quiche, utilizing the recipe launched by the royal household.
St. Thomas United Church in Calgary is internet hosting a Coronation Large Tea on Sunday, impressed by the standard Large Lunch occasions held by the Eden Mission throughout the Commonwealth. The occasion has attracted consideration from BBC Information, who will interview the organizer as a part of reside protection of the coronation over the weekend.
The hospitality workforce on the church hosts an annual spring tea and determined to additionally have fun the coronation as it’s 70 years for the reason that coronation of Queen Elizabeth, church spokesman Dan MacDonald mentioned.
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“The Eden Mission is an environmental stewardship group that King Charles could be very concerned with, and environmental stewardship can be one thing that our church could be very enthusiastic about,” MacDonald mentioned.
The tea will embody treats resembling scones, clotted cream, sandwiches and desserts. MacDonald expects about 50 to 100 individuals to attend the occasion, which is open to the general public from Sunday at 11.30am. Half of any donations raised will go in direction of the Eden Mission.
Calgarian Clarice Evans Siebens was 17 years previous in 1953 when she was invited by Loblaw grocery magnate Garfield Weston to witness the coronation of Elizabeth II. She was amongst 51 Grade 12 women from throughout Canada chosen for the life-changing journey 70 years in the past.
“Nobody actually traveled a lot, and I had by no means been out of Alberta. It opened up the world to us,” Siebens mentioned on Friday.
Siebens and the opposite “Weston women” sat on stands alongside Oxford Avenue in London, and he or she remembers seeing the primary tv she ever noticed, rising up with out electrical energy on a farm outdoors Nanton.
“There have been TVs suspended the place we may watch the coronation in our stands after which see every little thing move in entrance of us – it was actually fairly magical,” she mentioned.
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About 25 of the Weston women have stayed in contact and are lifelong pals, Siebens mentioned. They’ve gathered for a number of reunions over the previous 70 years, and some thought-about touring to England for Saturday’s occasion.
“We determined it is likely to be somewhat too crowded for people who find themselves 87 or 88 years previous,” she mentioned with amusing. “However I believe I will take a protracted nap on Friday night time after which keep up all night time to look at it reside. I talked to a couple of the ladies who plan to do the identical. It is likely to be foolish, however I need to see it reside.”
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King Charles tells his topics to ‘consider the hole’ as they journey to the coronation
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King Charles greets well-wishers outdoors the palace earlier than coronation
The Canadian delegation attending the coronation consists of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Gov.-Gen. Mary Simon, in addition to, amongst others, the Calgary astronaut Jennifer Sidey-Gibbons.
Alberta Lt.-Gov. Salma Lakhani will be part of the College of Alberta in a particular celebration on the Botanical Backyard.
“His Majesty’s coronation is an thrilling new chapter, and it’s also a strong affirmation of the historical past, traditions and continuity that underpins our system of presidency and the basic ideas of democracy, human rights and the rule of legislation that lie at its coronary heart . of who we’re as Canadians,” Lakhani mentioned in a press release.
“I’m honored to function His Majesty’s consultant in Alberta and I believe we are going to see a really considerate period with our King of Canada.”
sbabych@postmedia.com
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