Coronation Day

This was the young Queen’s special occasion, and the whole world was watching . . .

IF it’s a girl I’m going to name her Elizabeth.” “Quite a few girls born today will be given that name, Mrs Bradford.” “I don’t care. It’s not every day you give birth on the occasion of the Queen’s Coronation, is it?”

“Relax, Mrs Bradford, there’s a long way to go yet.”

Emily Bradford is in the early stages of labour. Due to her high blood pressure she’s been brought in to a maternity hospital in Birmingham.

A local electrical retailer has loaned the nurses a television set from his showroom so they can follow the ceremony. The mahogany box with its 14-inch screen sits in the corner of the ward.

The first two carriages have already left Buckingham Palace, including the Irish State Coach which carries the Queen Mother.

The nurses glance at the black and white flickering images as they go about their duties. They know Matron will be checking that they don’t spend too much time staring at the box.

****

Millions of people line the streets of London, happy just to catch a glimpse of the various heads of state as the royal procession moves along the Mall and through Trafalgar Square.

Lindsey Carter is still at home trying to get her kids ready to go and watch the spectacle. The two boys were dressed in plenty of time, but while she attended to the baby they went into the back yard and ended up fighting each other, rolling around on the wet ground. By the time Lindsey cleans them up the baby needs changing again and they’ve missed the bus. She sighs.

“I hope your dad is having a better day.”

Although today’s a national holiday, Mr Carter is not allowed time off as he works for a national newspaper. Eventually Lindsey leaves the house, but she’s not sure how much of the parade they’ll get to see at this late stage.

****

In Norfolk, eight-year-old William Boyd watches the Queen leaving Buckingham Palace in the Gold State Coach on her way to Westminster Abbey.

He sits in a darkened room with the adults of the family. He can hear the shouts and laughter of his brother, sister and cousins as they play outside in the orchard.

Having fallen from a tree in that very orchard and broken his collarbone, he must remain on the sofa with his arm strapped to his chest and watch a boring programme on their new television. He wishes it could be “Billy Bunter” or “Robin Hood”.

“Cheer up, young William,” his uncle Norman says. “You’ve got your Coronation mug and your mum is serving up Coronation chicken for dinner.”

They can keep their Coronation mug ,William decides, and he would rather have beans on toast.

The din outside is getting louder and Uncle Norman yells through the window for them to tone it down.

William wishes that his sister could fall out of a tree . . .

****

As she enters Westminster Abbey the young Elizabeth requires the help of seven maids of honour to carry the ermine Robe of State attached to her dress.

Now the TV viewers at home have the advantage over the London crowds, as coverage continues from inside the Abbey where Elizabeth stands before the Coronation Chair and the congregation cries, “God save Queen Elizabeth!”

“I told you we should have started out earlier.”

“How did I know so many roads would be blocked?”

John and Miriam Finch are driving up from Derby to Manchester to visit Miriam’s sister and husband who’ve bought a television set for their Silver Wedding anniversary.

Everyone has been invited to watch the royal ceremony, but John and Miriam are running late.

“We’ve already missed the first bit,” Miriam complains. “We don’t know where we are and the map’s no good because half the roads are cordoned off for street parties.”

John wonders if the Queen gives Prince Philip a hard time when things don’t go to plan. The thought keeps his spirits up as he drives on.

****

After taking the Coronation Oath, Queen Elizabeth sits in the Coronation Chair and is anointed before being crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Aircraft mechanic Dougie Bramall has no problem viewing the procession. As one of three men representing his regiment in the parade, he has eight miles of marching “with rifle at the slope” ahead.

After weeks of preparation, including uniform inspections, hours of rifle drill and plenty of route marches, he is delighted the big day has arrived at last.

He and his fellow squaddies travelled down by train the day before, grateful for the break in their routine.

“Ow!” He gasps.

The only blight on Dougie’s perfect day is a deep wound in his right foot. Having been billeted in a church hall with other military personnel, he’d risen that morning and stepped on a shard of broken crockery while queuing for a mug of tea in his bare feet. A medic had plugged the wound as best he could. Although Dougie is in severe pain there is no question of him missing out on his proudest moment.

****

The Queen leaves the Abbey followed by members of the Royal Family and other dignitaries just as Emily Bradford gives birth to a healthy baby boy. She is tired but elated.

Her disappointment at not bringing an Elizabeth into the family is tempered by her decision to name their son Hillary, after it was announced on the morning news that explorer Edmund Hillary had become the first man to conquer Mount Everest. “Hillary?”

Mr Bradford is dismayed. Apart from the fact that he considers Hillary to be a girl’s name, his choice would have been Freddie after England cricketer Fred Trueman.

As far as his wife is concerned, however, she did all the hard work and is entitled to the final say.

****

Once again the crowds cheer as the procession winds its way from Whitehall, along Pall Mall, Oxford Circus and down the Mall to the Palace.

Lindsey Carter reaches Hyde Park Corner, pushing the pram as fast as she can. Just as she feared, however, the crowds are too dense for her to get through. For months she’s looked forward to this day and now everything’s conspired to make it a miserable one. The urge to burst into tears is strong. “Are you all right, love?” A policeman on crowd duty appears, his cape around his shoulders against the rain.

“Yes, thanks, officer. But I’m too late for the parade.” “Follow me.”

The officer pushes his burly six-foot-two frame into the mass of people.

“Make way!” he calls. “Lady with young children coming through.”

The crowd moves, reluctantly at first, then more willingly at the sight of this dishevelled mother with baby and her equally bedraggled young boys.

“Settle yourself here, love,” one lady says as Lindsey reaches the barrier. “Get the kids to the front.”

The bobby disappears before she can thank him. Lindsey and her brood have missed much of the procession but are in time to see Queen Salote of Tonga who, despite the rain, still wears a beaming smile as she rides past in open-topped carriage.

****

“Here, William. I’ve cut the toast into squares so you can just use your fork.”

On the sofa, William Boyd is beginning to cheer up a little. Because of the rain the other children were called indoors and are eating Mum’s Coronation chicken salad at the kitchen table. They’re not impressed. “Thanks, Mum.” Having finished his favourite dinner, the young lad is relieved of the tray by Uncle Norman, who places a parcel on his lap.

“What’s this, Uncle Norman?”

“I knew you’d be a bit miserable after your accident so I brought you a little present.”

The invalid tears away the wrapping to reveal a toy bow and three rubbersuckered arrows.

“I know you can’t use it for a while but I thought you’d like to have it now.”

William cradles the toy weapon in his good arm. He can’t wait to be Robin Hood amongst the apple trees outside and ambush his sister as she plays with her dolls!

From his position on the couch he peers through the door to the kitchen where she is finishing her meal. He sees she has ripped her new dress, probably on one of the apple trees.

This is turning out to be a decent day after all.

****

The crowd surges forward as the Palace gates close behind the State Coach on the Queen’s return. “What are you doing?” John Finch has had enough of Miriam’s carping and has stopped halfway along a residential road. He turns off the engine.

“I’m going to knock on one of these doors and ask for directions.”

“They won’t thank you for disturbing them if they’re watching the ceremony or listening to the radio.”

Ignoring his wife, John strides up the nearest garden path and knocks on the front door. He waits for several seconds before knocking again. After another fruitless pause he tries his luck next door.

Aware that his wife is becoming increasingly impatient, he repeats the sequence twice more and is eventually rewarded by the appearance of a young man holding a glass of beer.

“What’s happening?” Miriam calls through the passenger window as John returns to the car.

“The bloke at that last house is watching the television with his old man. He says we can go and watch what’s left of the ceremony if we want.”

“But we don’t know them. We can’t invite ourselves into a total stranger’s house!”

“Do you want to drive around aimlessly for the rest of the day or would you rather sit in a comfortable armchair with a drink in your hand?”

For once, Miriam yields to John’s reasoning. Before locking the car he reaches to the back seat and picks up several bottles of beer and one of sherry. It is the least he can offer for such a kind gesture.

****

The newly crowned Queen of the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Head of the Commonwealth appears on the balcony of Buckingham Palace as a flypast of RAF Meteors soars overhead.

Aircraft mechanic Bramall is back in his billet. He slumps down on his mattress and pulls off his boot. His sock is soaked in blood and his foot throbs in agony.

“That looks nasty, mate.” His two colleagues inspect the gory sight.

“I’m going to have to soak it in cold water, otherwise I won’t be able to get my boot back on.”

“Well, we’re not carrying you back to the railway station!”

Dougie doesn’t care. A first-aid volunteer has found him a walking-stick for his journey home. Good-natured ribbing from his friends only enhances his high spirits.

He would do it all again, in bare feet if necessary. He wouldn’t have missed this day for all the world.

Those millions still on the streets of London are treated to a fireworks display over the River Thames. The festivities go on into the night as the nation celebrates a second Elizabethan age.

Baby Hillary slumbers in a hospital cot next to his exhausted mother, oblivious to the significance of this day.

Lindsey Carter’s husband listens sympathetically as she tells him about the ups and downs of her own day.

William Boyd’s sore collarbone is giving him a restless night. His bow and arrows lie at the foot of his bed.

The Finches are driving back from Manchester. Miriam is too tired to nag him about his navigational skills but John knows she will make up for lost time tomorrow.

The Queen has promised to serve the people to the best of her ability. Right now her subjects are not interested in royal oaths and the duties of monarchy. They just want to party.

For some there have been trials and tribulations, but they all will have their own story to tell. n