Coronation: The new King will be his own man – Bailiff

The Bailiff has met the new monarch when he was still Prince of Wales.

‘What a role model he had in the Queen throughout his apprenticeship, with her example of how to unite the nation,’ he said on his return from the Coronation service on Saturday.

‘The role of other faiths used in the service shows his willingness to bring people together, which bodes well for his reign.’

Mr McMahon and Lt-Governor Richard Cripwell returned to the island immediately after the ceremony in London in order to take part in the thanksgiving Coronation church service in the Town Church yesterday evening, which coincided with celebrations being held in places of worship across the British Isles.

They returned with great memories of witnessing this moment in history.

The Governor and Bailiff were seated close to the representatives of Jersey and the Isle of Man in the North Transept of the Abbey, in view of the 700-year-old throne on which King Charles and Queen Camilla were crowned.

Despite the service not starting until 11am, Guernsey’s representatives had to be at the Abbey by 8.30, and actually arrived at 7.15am.

Mr McMahon did admit to a bit of people-spotting while waiting for the service to begin.

‘Stephen Fry was at the end of the row and we also saw Joanne Lumley, Judi Dench and various politicians and members of the cabinet,’ he said.

‘The good and the great were all there, but so were many normal people, represented by the British Empire Medal Recipients, which was wonderful to see.’

Lt General Cripwell said that the day had passed quickly.

‘Every part of the ceremony had meaning, the music was magnificent and being fortunate to know some of those involved somehow made me feel even more part of the proceedings,’ he said.

‘I was in the Abbey for over five-and-a-half hours and it went by in a moment.’