In Halifax, about 60 people filed into the residence of Nova Scotia’s lieutenant-governor shortly after 6 a.m. local time, as the new monarch moved through the drizzly streets of London towards Westminster Abbey.
The tables in the visiting area were elegantly set and the guests were served tea, coffee, scones and muffins, with each person greeted personally by Lt.-Gov. Arthur LeBlanc and his wife, Patsy LeBlanc, who was wearing a bright red dress for the occasion.
Noelle Lavoie, 20, and her mother Cheryl Lavoie, 48, of Halifax were among those who had won a lottery draw for their seats, and they sported fascinators — the mother’s white and daughter’s pink — purchased online for the occasion.
“My great-grandmother was British and was a big monarchist and she would be thrilled to know I was here today for this,” said Cheryl Lavoie, as the broadcast continued behind her.
“I see ceremony, I see tradition. I picture this going back 1,000 years or more,” she said.
Your Midday Sun
Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond.
By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
Thanks for signing up!
A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.
The next issue of Your Midday Sun will soon be in your inbox.
We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again
Article content
Advertisement 3
Story continues below
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince William, Catherine, Princess of Wales, and their children Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis stand on the Buckingham Palace balcony following King Charles' coronation ceremony in London, May 6, 2023.Photo by Hannah McKay /REUTERS
Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Prince Louis of Wales, stand on the Buckingham Palace balcony as they wait for the Royal Air Force fly-past in central London on May 6, 2023, after the coronations of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.Photo by LEON NEAL /POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Princess Charlotte of Wales and Prince Louis of Wales stand on the Buckingham Palace balcony as they wait for the Royal Air Force fly-past in central London on May 6, 2023, after the coronations of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Photo by LEON NEAL /POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Left to right: Page of Honour Lord Oliver Cholmondeley, Prince George of Wales, Page of Honour Nicholas Barclay and Page of Honour Ralph Tollemache are seen on the Buckingham Palace balcony during the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 6, 2023 in London.Photo by POOL /via REUTERS
King Charles III and his wife Queen Consort Camilla are seen in the Diamond Jubilee Coach at Westminster Abbey in London, May 6, 2023. Photo by POOL /via REUTERS
A coach carrying Prince William, Catherine, Princess of Wales and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis rides past anti-monarchy protesters following the coronation ceremony for King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Photo by VIOLETA SANTOS MOURA/POOL /AFP via Getty Images
In This handout image released by Buckingham Palace, King Charles III and Queen Camilla wave from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after their Coronation on May 6, 2023 in London.Photo by Chris Jackson/Buckingham Palace /via REUTERS
King Charles III waves as he leaves the balcony of Buckingham Palace following the coronation on May 6, 2023 in London.Photo by WPA Pool /Getty Images
A handout image released by Buckingham Palace showing King Charles III and Queen Camilla as they watch the flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after their coronation on May 6, 2023 in London.Photo by CHRIS JACKSON FOR BUCKINGHAM PALACE /via REUTERS
King Charles and Queen Camilla, Prince William, Catherine, Princess of Wales, and their children Prince Louis and Prince George, along with other members of the Royal family, stand on the Buckingham Palace balcony following the coronation ceremony in London, May 6, 2023. Photo by PAUL CHILDS /REUTERS
Prince William, Prince of Wales watches as a robe is put on King Charles III during the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 6, 2023 in London.Photo by WPA Pool /Getty Images
King Charles III stands after being crowned during his coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey, on May 6, 2023 in London.Photo by WPA Pool /Getty Images
Queen Camilla receives Queen Mary's Crown during her coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey, London, May 6, 2023. Photo by POOL /via REUTERS
Prince Andrew and Prince Harry look on as they leave Westminster Abbey following the coronation ceremony of King Charles and Queen Camilla, in London, May 6, 2023. Photo by POOL /via REUTERS
Front row third left to right: Prince William, Prince of Wales, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh and Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh with Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (third row fourth right) at the coronation ceremony of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023 in London. Photo by Aaron Chown - WPA Pool /Getty Images
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank leave Westminster Abbey following the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 6, 2023 in London.Photo by WPA Pool /Getty Images
Princess Eugenie arriving at Westminster Abbey ahead of the coronation ceremony of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 6, 2023 in London.Photo by WPA Pool /Getty Images
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and wife Sophie Trudeau arrive to attend King Charles and Queen Camilla coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey, in London, May 6, 2023. Photo by POOL /via REUTERS
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex looks on as King Charles III leaves Westminster Abbey after the Coronation Ceremonies in central London on May 6, 2023. Photo by BEN STANSALL /POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Katy Perry looks on during the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 6, 2023 in London.Photo by WPA Pool /Getty Images
King Charles III departs the Coronation service of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023 in London.Photo by Jeff Spicer /Getty Images
Queen Camilla leaves Westminster Abbey following the coronation ceremony on May 6, 2023 in London.Photo by WPA Pool /Getty Images
King Charles III and Queen Camilla travelling in the Gold State Coach built in 1760 and used at every Coronation since that of William IV in 1831 sets off from Westminster Abbey on route to Buckingham Palace during the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 6, 2023 in London.Photo by Richard Heathcote /Getty Images
King Charles and Queen Camilla looks on as the Coronation Procession passes on its way to Buckingham Palace in London, May 6, 2023. Photo by POOL /via REUTERS
Princess Anne, Princess Royal rides on horseback behind the gold state coach carrying the newly crowned King and Queen Consort as they travel down The Mall during the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 6, 2023 in London.Photo by Dan Mullan /Getty Images
The military procession, the largest of its kind since the 1953 Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II makes its way down The Mall towards Buckingham Palace during the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 6, 2023 in London.Photo by Dan Mullan /Getty Images
People take pictures of the illuminated Houses of Parliament following the coronation ceremony of King Charles and Queen Camilla in London, May 6, 2023. Photo by LISI NIESNER /REUTERS
All 27 Photos for Gallery
Function Not Available
Full Screen is not supported on this browser version.
You may use a different browser or device to view this in full screen.
Noelle Lavoie said she’s pleased to see Charles take his place as head of state of his country and the Commonwealth nations and said she appreciated a traditional ceremony.
However, she’s hoping for a modernization of the monarchy, with King Charles making efforts to reach out to younger Canadians who knew little about him.
“I’m one of the younger people here and I’m interested to see how he can appeal to the younger audience and draw them in as well,” she said.
On the other side of the country, it was the dead of night as about 30 royal-watchers gathered at the 144-year-old Union Club in Victoria, where they sipped tea in a room festooned with Canadian flags and Union Jacks.
Donna Otto said she wanted to be part of history, even though it meant being up when most Canadians were slumbering.
Advertisement 4
Story continues below
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Otto said despite King Charles’s age, he has been embracing modern ideas for years, including environmentalism, heritage preservation and gardening.
“He’s done things that haven’t always been acknowledged.”
Otto’s husband, David Spence, said the coronation had him looking to the future.
“It recognizes from where we have come and the possibilities of where we are going,” said Spence, who is president of the Victoria area’s Royal Commonwealth Society. “The energy and wisdom that is part of it all.”
In Halifax, as the King entered the Abbey, the clinking of tea cups and conversations suddenly fell silent, and the gathering focused their attention on the broadcast from London.
As Joie Moore of Dartmouth, N.S., watched the large television screens, she said: “I’m just excited to be here.”
Advertisement 5
Story continues below
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
“It’s a once in a lifetime experience. I’m not saying there won’t be another coronation. There may very well be, but I’m 86 and so the chances of my seeing another one are pretty slim,” she said.
That sentiment was echoed at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald in Edmonton, where another tea-and-scones party unfolded.
“Queen Elizabeth II lived for a very long time, so who knows when another coronation will happen,” said Lesley Thompson, who arrived at the event just before 4 a.m.
Also in Edmonton, Azza Ghali recalled staying up at age 15
to watch then-Prince Charles marry Diana, adding that she baked cookies to help her stay awake. Ghali attended Saturday’s event
with her three friends, who have been closely following the royals since they were kids.
Advertisement 6
Story continues below
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
“We’re just really fortunate that we have the opportunity to celebrate something that is so momentous,” she said.
In Montreal, about 100 people dressed up and showed up at a local British pub for high tea at 5:30 a.m., to watch the event.
Co-owner Paul Desbaillets said he likes the sense of community the coronation created.
“Like at our pub and all over Great Britain and other places, people are coming together for barbecues and picnics and family events and gatherings,” he said.
Advertisement 7
Story continues below
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
“That’s what it’s for.”
Donston Wilson, 40, watched the coronation in Toronto. Wilson was born in Guyana and he says he grew up hearing about the British influence among the Guyanese people.
“So, I guess we do hold the monarchy somewhat in our hearts,” he said.
“To see this ⦠today is obviously a historical date. To see this kind of event happening at this time … it is something that will go down in the books. I’m not sure if it will happen ever again any time soon.”
Not all Canadians planned to celebrate the coronation, however,
A recent poll by Angus Reid Institute of more than 2,000 Canadians found 41 per cent said they don’t care about the event at all. Of the remaining respondents, 29 per cent said they would probably read a little about the coronation, 20 per cent would watch some of it and nine per cent were really looking forward to it.
— With files from Angela Amato in Edmonton, Noel Ransome in Toronto and Sidhartha Banerjee in Montreal.
Article content
Share this article in your social network
Share this Story : Royal-watchers shun sleep to watch coronation of King Charles III
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.
This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.