UNFORGETTABLE!

YOU journalist MAXINE PETERS ventured into the packed streets of London to chat to royal well-wishers, witness the grand spectacle and drink in the heady atmosphere of coronation day

- MAXINE PETERS

TO BE honest, my knowledge of the royals wasn’t that vast when I started working at YOU seven years ago.

I knew Queen Elizabeth because my mother adored her and spoke about her and how her son Charles was going to be king one day.

But if you’d told me I’d be in London to share in the excitement of the coronation of King Charles III along with people from across the UK and beyond, I’d never have believed you.

I’ve learnt a lot about the British royal family during my time at YOU – reporting about The Firm is part of our DNA, after all – so when my editor asked if I wanted to go to London to cover the coronation I leapt at the chance.

And now, here I am on the streets of Westminster on 6 May, soaking it all in – and getting physically soaked too.

I left my hotel at the crack of dawn, hopped on the tube and made my way into central London hoping to find a good spot along the processional route.

The train was packed with people wearing crowns and T-shirts of Charles and I panicked a bit when I heard some talking about officials closing off The Mall – the long strip of road leading to Buckingham Palace – because it had already reached capacity. Would I make it? And if not, where would I go to watch the procession?

I should’ve known The Mall would become clogged with people. The day before, I took a stroll down that road and barricades were already up to keep people moving in one direction.

Several big screens had been erected so crowds could watch the proceedings in Westminster Abbey and royal fans had been camping out on the pavements for days to ensure they had the best seats in the house.