The three royals were greeted with cheers on Friday afternoon as they hopped out of their cars around 1:45 p.m. local time. Princess Kate, 41,Prince William, 40, and King Charles, 74, separately strolled along the streets to greet the well-wishers who came out to see them. The spontaneous meet and greet in the sunshine, despite intermittent rain showers, delighted those who camped out on the street before thecrowning ceremony.
The royals seemed to shake as many hands as possible, and festive fans were bedecked with flags, bunting and other patriotic pomp.Prince Williamleaned down to speak with a young girl and boy holding an Australian flag while well-wishers told King Charles they traveled in from Germany, Ireland, Italy and more.
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“I shook his hand and chatted with him. He saw my hat and asked me where I am from in Canada and said he liked that part of the world,” Lovel Vining from Toronto told reporters.
“It was a real thrill to shake his hand. To be able to chat to the King on the eve of his coronation is incredible,” Vining, 69, continues. “I think he looks great, really well. There is a lot going on, but I think he’s doing really well — he has difficult shoes to fill. But he’s been preparing for this for a lifetime, so I think he will do a brilliant job.”
“I wouldn’t miss this for the world, this is a bucket list item for me,” he added.
Justin Nakrin, who is visiting from New York, agreed that being in London for the coronation is “the experience of a lifetime.” Justin, 31, and his mother Rosaria also came to the U.K. in September forQueen Elizabeth’s state funeral.
“That was a solemn occasion, but this is more of a celebration, the street parties. It’s like a festival,” he says of the atmosphere.
Rosaria and her son got the chance to meet King Charles, recalling, “I told him we were from the States and he said, ‘I hope you’re not camping.’ I told him I am 72, and he said, ‘That’s incredible.’ "
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While connecting with the crowd, the sovereign even spoke Welsh!
“I was waving a Welsh flag and Charles saw it,” Keri Pullen tells PEOPLE. “I said ‘Prynhawn Da, Your Majesty,’ which means ‘Good afternoon, Your Majesty,’ as he shook my hand. I said, ‘Rydw i mor falch,’ which means ‘I’m so pleased,’ and he said, ‘Diolch yn fawr iawn,’ which is ‘Thank you very much,’ and then he said I’m so pleased to see a Welsh flag here.”
“He was lovely. Nothing but delightful,” adds Keri, 78, who lives in Hampshire but is originally from Wales. “I couldn’t believe my luck.”
As the King chatted with well-wishers, cries of “three cheers for the King” rang out from some on the St. James’s Park side of the Mall. AsPrince Williamand Princess Kate moved through the Green Park side, one American fan had a lucky exchange — mingling with the royals for two days in a row!
Christy Butler from Flagler Beach, Florida shookPrince William’s hand outsidethe Dog & Duck Pub in Sohoyesterday and got to meet King Charles today.
“He said ‘You’re American! You’re not camping out here, are you?'” Butler, 41, tells PEOPLE. “I’m shaking.”
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At one point, Kate spoke on Texan Debbie Hoover’s phone to her aunt back in Tennessee. After breaking her leg, Hoover’s aunt was unable to join family members for the trip to the U.K.
“Are you feeling okay?” the Princess of Wales asked as she held the phone to her ear. “I hope you get better soon.”
A little further along, Sicilia Hendry from Claygate, Surrey, southwest of London, was in the crowd which Charles first stepped towards.
“He greeted his people with respect. He was rather doing the kind of job a King should do — greeting his people,” Hendry, 61, tells PEOPLE. “Tomorrow we will welcome him as he is crowned king of the U.K. and hope he can change the outlook in respect of our relationship with the Commonwealth and the rest of the world.”
Crowds cheered as Charles gave a final wave and retreated into the gates of the royal residence on foot, whilePrince Williamand Kate got back in a Range Rover.
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Manuela and Giavanna Paz, a grandmother and granddaughter visiting from New Jersey, tell PEOPLE they were thrilled to spontaneously see the royals.
“I told her we would come and see the Queen and then she passed away so I thought the coronation would be a wonderful trip and I knew she would love it and look at her she is so happy!” Giavanna, 21, says. Manuela, 67, even got close toPrince Williamand Kate!
“Oh my goodness, I was screaming and crying! She is so approachable, so much more beautiful in real life. I shook her hand and told her her children were beautiful and she thanked me,” Manuela tells PEOPLE of her exchange with Kate. “And I shook William’s hand.”
The royals have been out and about since the morning on coronation eve.
On Friday morning, King Charles andPrince Williamwere among the royal family members who attended another rehearsal for the crowning ceremony atWestminster Abbey.
King Charles left Westminster Abbey through a side door at Dean’s Yard, looking cheery and shaking hands with the man escorting him before getting into the back of his car — a quick exit as the rain came down. The monarch was very smiley and had a spring in his step.
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Meanwhile, there was a palpable sense of excitement as Prince William’s cavalcade of cars approached and entered through the gates of the Dean’s Yard. The crowd cheered and waved as the heir to the throne exited — andPrince Williamreturned the gesture as his car headed off in the direction of Buckingham Palace.
King Charles,Prince Williamand Princess Kate then attended aformal lunchat Buckingham Palace. The royals welcomed governors-general and prime ministers of the realm who are in London for tomorrow’s coronation.
Kate Middleton and Prince William.King Charles.
Kate Middleton and Prince William.
King Charles.
The Prince and Princess of Wales mingled with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, New Zealand’s Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and others at the reception, while King Charles appeared jovial as he chatted with other guests.
source: people.com
