Among the hundreds of honored guests who will watch the coronation of King Carlos III live this Saturday will be Madeiran Maciel Vinagre, a hospital staff member awarded by Queen Isabella II during the pandemic.
“I did not expect this,” the Portuguese Agência Lusa admitted, saying that he had to respond to an email invitation received in March in less than 24 hours or he would have lost his seat at Westminster Abbey.
“This is a great honor, I almost did not believe it. To see such a coronation of a king is once in a lifetime. I’ve been to Westminster Abbey, but it will be a special moment,” he added.
The Portuguese, who has lived in the United Kingdom since the age of 18, resorted to English expressions to say that “this is a unique opportunity to witness a historic moment.”
Born in the municipality of San Vicente, Madeira, he first studied accounting and worked in a restaurant, but ended up working as a janitor in a hospital, working his way up until he took on senior positions in hygiene and catering.
In 2020 he was awarded the British Empire Medal. [British Empire Medal] for efforts to prevent and contain the spread of covid-19 in UK hospitals and to protect patients and staff.
On Wednesday, Vinagre attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace, accompanied by his daughter, and said it was “great pride” to be invited to the coronation, which had dwindled to 2,000 at the abbey.
International leaders who have confirmed their presence include Republic President Marcelo Rebelo de Souza, Brazilian Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Frenchman Emmanuel Macron, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, kings of Thailand and princes of Japan.
Guests will also include Jill Biden and Elena Zelenskaya, representing their husbands, U.S. Presidents Joe Biden and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, respectively.
The coronation ceremony of Isabella II on June 2, 1953 lasted almost three hours and gathered more than eight thousand guests, representatives of 129 countries and territories.
But the new British king cut the event short by about an hour and diversified the audience by opening the doors to hundreds of ordinary citizens selected for their contributions to society and a reflection of a more multicultural society.
Meanwhile, a pew was also set up in front of Buckingham Palace for 3,800 war veterans and health and social care professionals to attend Saturday’s celebrations.
King Charles III will be crowned at Westminster Abbey along with Queen Consort Camilla in a two-hour religious ceremony.
The ritual includes anointing with consecrated oil and presenting the sovereign with several crown jewels, which symbolize the transfer of power.
Of the various elements, only the oath is considered mandatory, although Carlos took office immediately after the death of his mother, Isabella II, in September 2022, with full legislative powers.
In addition to being Head of State of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth countries, the sovereign is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, “Defender of the Faith” as leader of the Church of England, and Britain’s Fountain of Justice.
After the ceremony, the King and Queen follow in procession to Buckingham Palace in a horse-drawn carriage, accompanied by some 6,000 soldiers.
The day’s celebration concludes with the couple appearing on the palace balcony, along with other members of the royal family, to wave to the crowd and watch military planes fly by.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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