Royal fans raise a toast to the king in pubs to escape the crowds and watch the coronation on TV
Hundreds of people have escaped the crowds on London’s streets and flocked to pubs across the capital to catch a glimpse of King Charles’ coronation on big screen TVs.
Royal fans from the UK and abroad headed to London’s pubs to drink early pints as they settled in to watch the historic service, which starts at 11am at Westminster Abbey.
Many have spent thousands to get a glimpse of the atmosphere as the country watches the first coronation of a monarch in 70 years.
The Albert pub near Victoria Station is a pub that has become a hub for royal fans these days.
A gambler named Steve told MailOnline: ‘We wanted to go to St James’ Park but it was closed.
Amanda Nesbitt, 59, and Cath Hartley, 58, are two of the punters who have gathered today at the Albert pub, near Victoria Station, to watch the coronation on TV
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Steve had tried to get to St James’ Park, but it was closed, so they’ll be celebrating the coronation from the Albert pub. Pictured from left to right: Steve, Nicki and Paul
Decked out in Union Jack tops and dresses, four royal fans gather at Victoria’s Albert pub to catch a glimpse of the action
‘So we’re going up to the fly-pass and then to Soho. God protect the king.’
Cath Hartley, 58, who was at the Albert pub in Victoria with her friend Amanda Nesbitt, 59, said: ‘We wanted to go to the mall but it was all closed off. We arrived here at 8:30, had two drinks and we’ll stay until the end.’
Iona Bogor, 24, and her friend Camilla Hay, 25, decided to go to the pub to ‘soak up the atmosphere’.
She said: ‘We thought we’d come for a walk and soak up the atmosphere, but you can’t get anywhere, so we’re in the pub.
“We think we’ll see more here, and an excuse to have a pint.”
Mark Hennings, 61, and Kelly Altridge, 50, are from the Cayman Islands and are among those merry gamblers eagerly awaiting the King’s coronation.
Mrs Altridge said: ‘We’ve spent thousands to get here and we’re staying in Westminster.
“We are proud to be associated with Great Britain.”
Camilla Hay 25, (left) and Iona Bogor, 24, (right) came to the pub to ‘soak up the atmosphere’
Mark Hennings, 61, and Kelly Altridge, 50, have traveled from the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean to celebrate King Charles’s big day. They said ‘we are proud to be associated with Britain’
Julia and Leonhard, both 26, from Italy and Germany tried to see the King’s procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey, but couldn’t decide to come to the pub instead
Hundreds of people have escaped the crowds in London and flocked to pubs in the capital to catch a glimpse of King Charles’ coronation on big TV screens
Another adolescent Seth Berg, 52, from Los Angeles, America, spent £10,000 to go to the UK for the coronation of the King and Queen.
He managed to secure a hotel right next to Westminster, but is now unable to leave the triangle due to roadblocks.
They are now waiting at the Albert pub in Victoria for the roadblocks to be lifted.
Similarly, Tina Davis and her husband, who are staying at the St James Court hotel, are also trapped within the roadblocks that have gathered at the same pub.
Julia and Leonhard, both 26, from Italy and Germany also tried to see the King’s procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey, but couldn’t decide to come to the pub instead.
They told MailOnline, “We’re here to breathe the atmosphere.”