Filipina nurse recalls encounter with King Charles, Camilla ahead of coronation

A Filipina nurse on Friday recalled her interaction with King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla ahead of their coronation slated for Saturday, May 6.

“‘Yung pakikipag-usap ko sa kaniya, napaka-humble niya. ‘Yung pagkukwentuhan namin about sa pregnancy ko, sa mga nagawa ko,” said Romalyn Ante in Pia Arcangel’s report on “24 Oras”.

(He was very humble during our interaction. We talked about my pregnancy.)

“Mas open siya. Siya ‘yung nakikipagtawanan, nakikipag-joke,” she added.  (He’s very open and likes to joke around.)

Ante will not be able to personally witness the coronation rites as she is based in Birmingham, which is two hours from London.

Ante is among the Filipinos who met Charles and Camilla in a reception ceremony for East and Southeast Asian communities in Buckingham Palace last February.

Coronation schedule

King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla will pass through London’s iconic landmarks for their coronation day parade. The celebration will start at Buckingham Palace at around 10 a.m. and will continue to The Mall, Admiralty Arch, Whitehall Street, to Westminster Abbey.

The royals are expected to alight from the Jubilee Diamond State Coach at Westminster Abbey where King Charles will become the 40th member of the royal family to be crowned in the historic church after his mother, late Queen Elizabeth II.

To be led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the two-hour-long ceremony will end with the couple riding the Gold State Coach to parade back to Buckingham Palace.

The parade is seen to end at around 2 p.m. with King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla watching the Royal Fly past from the balcony of the palace.

It has been 70 years since the United Kingdom witnessed a coronation ceremony. Supporters of the royal family trooped in the area near the palace and even composed a coronation song for King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla.

President Marcos to attend coronation rites

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., for his part, is in London with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos to witness the Coronation of the new king.

“Kilala namin si Prince Charles pa pagkakakilala ko sa kaniya. Dahil nga magkakilala kami, dapat naman. Napakalaking bagay na siya ay kokoronahan na hari ng United Kingdom. Dapat makapag-attend ako,” said Marcos during a press conference in the United States before leaving for London.

(We know him even when he was still Prince Charles. It would mean a lot to attend his coronation day.)

He also intended to meet British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during his visit.

“Habang siguro nag-aantay dun sa actual na ceremony ng pag-coronation kay King Charles. Ganun ang actual kasi everybody has to follow the very heavy schedule of the coronation,” he said.

(We can meet him while waiting for the coronation.) -- Sundy Locus/BAP, GMA Integrated News