Strangers who met at William and Kate’s wedding 12 years ago reveal lifelong bond leading up to coronation
Two royal superfans who met 12 years ago at William and Kate’s wedding have reunited once again to celebrate the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Donna Werner, 71, traveled to London from Connecticut, USA to watch living history with her now close friend Faith Nicholson from Essex. They were among the first to secure spots on the Mall earlier this week.
The couple, who have both loved the royal family since childhood, say they “connected automatically” after meeting by chance and camping together for four nights ahead of Wales’ royal wedding in 2011.
Despite being an ocean apart, Ms Werner and Ms Nicholson, 61, have kept in touch over the years and have met several times over the past decade, including before Harry’s wedding to Meghan.
The friends are delighted to witness the historic coronation together and say they can’t wait for the “iconic moment when the king and queen pass by in the golden carriage.”
Donna Werner, 71, (left) traveled to London from Connecticut, USA to watch living history with her now close friend Faith Nicholson, 61, (right) from Essex. The pair have been friends since 2011 and are pictured at The Mall in London on Thursday
Donna Werner (center) and Faith Nicholson (left) spent four nights as camping neighbors prior to William’s wedding to Kate in 2011. They reunited seven years later when Harry married Meghan. They are pictured prior to the Sussexes’ wedding
Mrs Nicholson and Mrs Werner first met after pitching tents next to each other ahead of William and Kate’s wedding.
They spent four nights as camping neighbors and instantly hit it off thanks to their “extroverted personalities.”
“You just start talking to everyone around you and say, ‘Hey, can you watch my tent while I get something to eat’ and it just clicked,” Ms. Werner said of their first meeting.
Ms Nicholson added: “And we’ve kept in touch ever since.”
The couple got back together seven years later, when Harry married Meghan and went camping. But unlike the first royal wedding, the couple had to make it a little tough.
“They didn’t allow tents. So we just had to sleep on the sidewalk with nothing above us,” Mrs. Werner recalls. “That was pretty cold.”
The pair were among the first to camp at the Mall this week, with Ms Nicholson arriving Monday night in an effort to secure the best spot possible. Mrs. Werner joined her on Tuesday.
Mrs. Nicholson is most looking forward to the trial of the King and Queen in the golden carriage and when they first appear on the balcony.
And Ms Werner says she can’t wait for the couple to return from Westminster Abbey after being crowned king and queen.
Ms Nicholson and Ms Werner first met in 2011 after pitching tents next to each other ahead of William and Kate’s wedding. They spent four nights as camping neighbors and instantly hit it off thanks to their “extroverted personalities.” Mrs. Werner is pictured during the 2011 trip
The pair were among the first to camp at the Mall this week, with Ms Nicholson (pictured in front of her tent on Thursday) arriving Monday evening in an effort to secure the best possible spot. She is most looking forward to seeing the King and Queen’s trial in the golden carriage and when they first appear on the balcony
Despite being an ocean apart, Ms Werner and Ms Nicholson, 61, have kept in touch over the years and have met several times over the past decade. Pictured: A tent with a combination of Union Jack and American flag at Mrs. Werner and Mrs. Nicholson’s campground
Over the past decade, Mrs Werner, who says she developed a ‘lifelong love affair with England’ when she was just 17, has visited London numerous times and even met Mrs Nicholson on recent visits.
But she says her fascination with royalty began as a teenager when her father sent her on a cycling trip across the UK and parts of Europe.
Traveling she fell in love with the history, the gardens, the English countryside villages and ‘of course the royal family’.
“During the Diana years I really followed her, loved her and of course was devastated by her passing,” Ms Werner said. “I like following the family. It’s just kind of a hobby of mine. I read the Hofcirculaire every day and follow all the royal news. ‘
She first came to the UK for royal festivities in 1986 when Andrew married Sarah Ferguson and has been hooked ever since.
“People may think I’m obsessed, but I really enjoy it,” she said.
The friends are delighted to witness history together and say they can’t wait for the “iconic moment when the king and queen ride by in the golden carriage.” In the photo: Mrs. Werner’s tent, covered with coronation decorations
Ms Werner (pictured prior to William and Kate’s wedding in 2011) says her fascination with royalty started as a teenager when her father sent her on a cycling trip around the UK and parts of Europe. She fell in love with the history, the gardens, the English country villages and ‘of course the royal family’
Mrs Werner first came to the UK for royal festivities in 1986 when Andrew married Sarah Ferguson and has been hooked ever since. Pictured: A sign at Mrs. Werner and Mrs. Nicholson’s campground
Mrs. Nicholson, who was also a teenager when she first fell in love with royalty, has been to several royal events in her lifetime.
“My first experience was the Silver Jubilee,” she recalls. “I was 15 and I remember coming home and seeing the street, which is probably longer than the mall.
“It was just red, white and blue everywhere. It just amazed me and from then on I followed the royal family.’
Mrs. Nicholson turned up for Charles’ wedding to Diana, Andrew’s wedding to Fergie and multiple events in honor of the late Queen.
She recently camped out for Queen Elizabeth’s funeral and queued for 16 hours to see her laid out in state.
Both agree on the real prize this weekend and the highlight of their decade-long companionship is seeing the new king and queen.
Ms Werner added to MailOnline: ‘I can’t wait for them to put on their crowns and sit in the gold coronation carriage that even Queen Victoria rode in and said it was the most uncomfortable ride of her life.
“Hopefully it’s slow enough that we can see through the raindrops.”