On King Charles’ coronation day, a procession of approximately 150 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, named after Charles II, paraded down King’s Road in London to celebrate the country’s latest monarch.
Despite the rain, the dogs and their owners, who came from Chelsea, one of the capital’s most affluent neighborhoods, were determined to participate in the event, with some of the dogs wearing tiaras and red royal cloaks.
Jenny Matthews, who owns a pet grooming service, cafe, and boutique on the King’s Road, came up with the idea for the parade. She said it was a no-brainer to gather as many King Charles Spaniel dogs as possible to celebrate King Charles III’s coronation day.
The Cavaliers of London group of owners reached out to their 5,000 members to garner interest, and Matthews had been inundated with demand.
Sophie Bradley and her dog Amber, who live in a nearby neighborhood, were chosen to participate in the parade and they enjoyed it despite the rainy weather. Bradley expressed that it was a great experience to be a part of history and celebrate the coronation of the new king, and she couldn’t think of a better way to spend the day.
After the coronation ceremony of King Charles III and his wife, Queen Camilla, at Westminster Abbey, a parade of thousands of British armed forces, dressed in colorful uniforms, escorted them back to Buckingham Palace.
Later, they made an appearance on the palace balcony, along with other members of the royal family, in front of cheering crowds. The King Charles Spaniel parade took place after this event.
David Lindsay, the mayor of the Royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea, joined the parade on the King’s Road to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III. He found it symbolic, fun, and a part of history in the making.
Before the dog parade, a group of 300 military veterans known as the Chelsea Pensioners also marched down the road, which was named after King Charles II. One of the marchers was Roy Palmer, 84, who had enjoyed tea with Queen Camilla as part of her 75th birthday celebrations.
Roy Palmer, an 84-year-old veteran who resides at the Royal Hospital near the King’s Road, described the event as “wonderful” and historic. The hospital, built in 1682, predates the King’s Road by 12 years. Initially, only the king was allowed to use the road to travel between his royal residences at St James’ Palace and Hampton Court after the road was built in 1694.
Later, members of the aristocracy could travel down it with special tokens, and it became open to the public in 1830. In the 1960s and 1970s, it became a popular spot for British music and fashion icons such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Mary Quant, and Vivienne Westwood. The Sex Pistols were also known to meet there regularly.
Read More: NBC News