Personal Reminiscences of the Coronation of HM Queen Elizabeth II

by Vera Duggan (1917-1997)

(featured in the UK Daily Telegraph newspaper, June 2, 2003)

On the 28th of May we attended the Royal Garden Party. The car called for us at 2.30pm and in The Mall we met a long stream of cars also bearing the Buckingham Palace label. Progress down the Mall was very slow, but we reached the Palace at 3.45pm, where what looked like thousands of people were lining the gates. We felt like Royalty as we drove through the gates past the Guards. We drove through an archway to the main entrance where police were waiting to open the car doors for us. We then walked through the entrance hall -- a very large imposing one beautifully carpeted on red, and with the walls bearing portraits of previous Kings and Queens. Through a large foyer, beautifully furnished, and out on to the terrace, down many steps onto the glorious lawns of the garden -- large enough to take 7,000 invited guests without seeming in the least overcrowded. I cannot adequately describe the wonderful colours of the gowns and costumes of the Commonwealth guests, but in the glistening sun the scene was truly magnificent.

Quite soon after we arrived the Queen appeared accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, the Duchess of Kent, Countess Mountbatten, and many other members of the Royal Family. The Queen wore a floral pink dress with pleated skirt, and a small pink hat. Princess Margaret wore a grey organza dress, with pink overskirt and a pink petal hat. The Queen Mother wore white and they all looked very beautiful. We had a wonderful view of them. After a while we went for the refreshments. The buffet was in a large marquee and the tables and chairs were out on the lawn. The tea was delightful -- lovely cakes and savoury bridge rolls and tea. It was a glorious day and whilst we had tea, it was a wonderful site to look across the lawns and watch the other guests.

After tea we walked round the lake, and later watched many visitors being presented to the Queen. She received them all under a large marquee. A truly wonderful day and one I shall always remember.

On June 2nd we rose at 3.30am and left Bournemouth for London once again. We got through London surprisingly easily. It was only when we reached the Strand that we met a lot of traffic. However we finally made it to Trafalgar Square where I had to leave the car and cross the Square to the Canadian Pacific office. Crowds of people were already lining the streets, but I showed may pass and had no difficulty on getting through. There were hundreds of people there, including many I already knew. They had television so that we could watch the Coronation Service in the Abbey, there was lots to drink and it was really wonderful. Later we had lunch, with strawberries and ice cream for dessert. Then we went onto the balcony to watch the procession from the Abbey. We had a marvellous view, they passed the building twice and I saw Ernest very clearly, looking wonderful in his uniform. We were so lucky not to be affected by the weather, and I felt sorry for the throngs of people out in all that rain, but they did not seem to worry and stayed in their places to see it all through. But it was upsetting to see many people carried away on stretchers. Of course the procession was just too wonderful for words -- the colours were magnificent, which is what one misses on the television. The Queen's coach is glorious, as are and the colours of the different uniforms. I am sure that no other country could stage such a magnificent procession - so wonderfully organised. I felt really proud to be British, and the patriotism of the British people is really wonderful -- in spite of the dreadful weather they endured it all in order to cheer our Queen.

Ernest came to the office afterwards. He knew all the important people of course and we had quite a time after his arrival. It was then that the photographer took our picture in the office - the crowds outside can be seen through the window - hence the reason for it being so close to the camera.

 

 

5th of June -- today was the highlight of the whole Coronation for us. The car called for us at 8pm and we drove into town - there were still many thousands of people about. When we got to the Mall, because we had the Buckingham Palace label on the car the Police were so courteous to us ! We entered once again by the same main entrance where I left my cape in the cloakroom. I am very proud of the fact that I paid a visit to the ladies' toilet in Buckingham Palace ! We waited for a while in the red-carpeted main hall watching other guests arrive. It was indeed a wonderful sight. I thought Ernest had a lot of gold braid, but most of the men were in uniform and I never before saw so much gold braid. Against all the beautiful gowns of the ladies they looked magnificent.

After a while we mounted the beautiful marble staircase up to a long corridor lined with more pictures of late Kings and Queens, into a large Throne Room. This room was all in beautiful shades of red - long rows of seats, and a dais at the top of the room covered with a red canopy and two thrones in red and gold. The band was playing selections from the shows. The walls of the Throne Room were of red tapestry to match the furnishings, and ceiling was gold. The seats were in tiers and we sat in the third tier; when the Royal Family entered we had a great view of them all. After several guests were presented they made their way down the room. Fortunately we had by now left our seats and wandered to the centre of the room, so that as they walked down the room they passed right by us. I had to curtsey and Ernest bowed. The Queen looked really wonderful -- her dress was a dream - heavy white satin with diamantes all over in pattern. I thought it was her Coronation gown, but I'm not sure. She wore a tiara in the shape of a crown and looked beautiful. Princess Margaret wore a dress similar to the Queen's but not so elaborate. The Queen Mother was in pink and looked lovely. The Duke was in the uniform of an Admiral - he looked so nice and they both smiled and chatted to one or two people. I felt so excited to see them so close up and to be a guest in the Palace -- it all seemed like a dream.

The Royal Family passed along the corridor and out of the Throne Room, and I guess they must have left as we did not see them again. We then left the Throne Room and entered the Reception Rooms where champagne and savouries were served. These rooms were really magnificent -- there were the most wonderful candelabras with thousands of candles burning and not one was out. Everywhere so wonderfully kept. There were gold centrepieces and beautiful carpets and tapestry walls. All the servants were in gold livery with powdered wigs. There were so many very important people there - the Maharaja of somewhere had so many stars that one could scarcely see his uniform. Ernest met one or two VIP's who had come over on the ship with him. He also introduced me to the Duke of Edinburgh's Equerry who had been present on the royal voyage. Having celebrated with champagne, we wandered through the other reception rooms. The Palace is really wonderful, and the scene presented by the gowns and uniforms is one that I could never imagine. I am afraid that my gown looked very insignificant by comparison, but I felt quite comfortable in it, and it was quite suitable for the occasion. We left about midnight, and as we left there were still crowds of people outside, who shouted to the chauffeur to put on the lights in the car so they could see who we were. It was the most wonderful night of my life -- so difficult to describe, but I hope this has provided some idea what it was like.

So ended our wonderful Coronation celebrations, which I shall remember always.

                                                                                               Copyright  © 2003-14 P J Sharp