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Royal City well represented at royal coronation

Guelph sisters Paola Case and Michela Zamprogna camped out at 10:30 p.m. near Trafalgar Square on the Friday before the coronation

It was a Royal City affair and a Wellington County connection in London May 6 at the King and Queen's coronation.

Guelph sisters Paola Case and Michela Zamprogna decided in September when Queen Elizabeth II died that they wanted to be in London for the coronation for the new King and Queen.

Little did they know someone they knew from Guelph would be across the way from where they stood waiting for the King and Queen to pass in their golden carriage. 

“I’m from a little town called Puslinch,” said one woman. “Are you kidding? I used to live on Watson Road,” Zamprogna replied.

The sisters spoke with a police commissioner and his brother lives in Mount Forest.

“It’s possibly a once in a lifetime trip,” said Zamprogna. “It’s just amazing to see them up close. You always see it on TV but to actually be there and how cool it would be to see it live,” she said.

The sisters grew up watching the Royal Family since they were little. In the last couple of years Case started getting into the history of the royals. She watches YouTube videos that go into a deep dive about the Royal Family.

Before the sisters left for London they heard people were starting to camp out on the Monday before the coronation.

Case and Zamprogna camped out and made their way near Trafalgar Square at 10:30 p.m. with their lawn chairs the day before the coronation.

From Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace, security shut the streets down, said Case. Traffic lights were taken down and at about 3:30 a.m. the street cleaners came out.

She said she was impressed how much work was put into the preparation for a celebration of this size.

Zamprogna drifted in and out of sleep during the night.

“You hear the helicopters ‘cause the helicopters were going around for security. There were police everywhere. Security was everywhere,” Zamprogna said.

The sisters were falling asleep standing up at 7:30 a.m. since security had everyone get up and at ‘em to wait for the Royal Family.

There was this excitement that in a few hours we’re actually going to see the royal family coming down, Zamprogna said.

They brought Canadian pins and flags from MP Lloyd Longfield’s office to hand out to people as they were waiting. Mayor Cam Guthrie’s office gave them Guelph pins and the flag of Guelph. 

The sisters held up the flag and draped it over the guardrail.

“You feel proud representing your little town. Your country, and then your little town,” said Case. 

It was amazing how grateful people were when we gave them a pin, Zamprogna said. “A lot of people … couldn't believe we came all the way from Canada just for that occasion.”

It was a once in a lifetime experience and to be part of the energy from the crowd was also a once in a lifetime experience, said Case. 

The excitement in the crowd built when the first person spotted the carriage coming around, she said.

“When the King and Queen came by it was like you’re shocked. They’re actually right there right in front of you,” said Case.

“It’s just funny, millions, billions of people know who this person is and he’s looking at you. And he doesn’t know who you are but you’re looking at him with starstruck eyes and awe,” she said.

Zamprogna said her mouth dropped when she saw the King. "Words can’t describe that feeling,” she said.

When the coronation finished the carriage came back the other way and they were able to see the Queen. They also saw Princess Kate and Charlotte, Countess Sophie and Lady Louise.

The sisters took away some life lessons after their experience. “If you want to do something. Do it,” said Zamprogna as she held back tears. “You have to do things when you’re able to because life passes you by so quick.”

Case took photos but didn’t look at the people in front of her. “It was a tough lesson learned that the pictures don’t matter. The video doesn’t matter. Look at them with your own eyes,” said Case.

“Look at it with your eyes. Hear it with your ears,” she said.


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Santana Bellantoni

About the Author: Santana Bellantoni

Santana Bellantoni was born and raised in Canada’s capital, Ottawa. As a general assignment reporter for Guelph Today she is looking to discover the communities, citizens and quirks that make Guelph a vibrant city.
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