IN THE MARKET FOR A GOOD DAY OUT THEIR MAJESTIES DELIGHT CROWDS IN COVENT GARDEN AS VISIT BRINGS CENTRAL LONDON TO A STANDSTILL
REPORT: LAURA BENJAMIN
I t was their first joint engagement since the coronation so the King and Queen made sure it was a memorable occasion in London last week.
Traffic ground to a halt and tourists gathered in the cobbled streets of Covent Garden to try to spy the royal couple, who spent an hour in the busy area at the heart of the city. They met traders, visitors and performers and shook hands and had a brief word with many of them.
The King and Queen stopped first at St Paul’s Church, which was marking its 390th anniversary. Children from nearby St Clement Danes Primary School greeted the visitors at the place of worship, also known as the Actors’ Church, and they were treated to a classic Punch and Judy puppet show before being shown around the church by the rector, the Rev. Simon Grigg, and his husband Paul Haugen.
The Queen met women from the Drama for Healing group, whose members – victims of human trafficking and domestic violence – wore specially crafted masks. “I like your masks. Did you make those? What beautiful masks,” Camilla told them, while her husband chatted to performers from theatre shows in nearby West End venues, including Moulin Rouge and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
“It was wonderful and relaxing. They asked interesting questions and were impressed by the age of the church,” Simon said of their visit.
“The Queen had personally asked for Punch and Judy because Covent Garden is the birthplace of the show. The King said he was amazed that it was still going. And he was pleased to see photos of his mother on her visit in 1988.”
The King signed the visitors’ book, as did Elizabeth II before him, and the couple moved outside to the Covent Garden Piazza, greeting the hundreds of tourists waiting to catch a glimpse of the royals. His Majesty, who shook hands and bumped fists with around a dozen well-wishers, was overheard joking: “I’m sorry to have got in your way.”
They learnt that some of the visitors hailed from abroad, with one woman telling Camilla she was from Queensland. The Queen replied: “It’s a lovely place. Very warm.”
CLOSE TIES
They also chatted to stallholders inside Covent Garden’s famous Apple Market, which was festooned with cor
