It’s not hard to find an English afternoon tea in Victoria at any time of year but for the coronation of King Charles III on Saturday, there seemed to be scones, clotted cream and jam at every corner.
In James Bay, residents of The Glenshiel, built during the reign of King Edward VII, were served afternoon tea in the Thistle Lounge, where British flags and banners hung overhead and a recording of the coronation played on a big-screen TV.
Many of the residents recalled either watching the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in person or on television, said Tracy Campbell, activities co-ordinator, donning a black- feathered fascinator for the special occasion.
Ernie Bayley, 86, whose parents were born in the United Kingdom, was enjoying a large spread of the Devonshire cream and jam, tea and sandwiches. He especially liked the little cakes. “It’s a real feast here.”
Bayley said there’s a lot of different opinions about King Charles, pros and cons, “but I think he’s a really good guy.”
Pamela Brown, 93, of Hampshire, England, said it was surreal to be watching the coronation of King Charles given her memories of Queen Elizabeth’s coronation so fresh still in her mind.
“The Brits are renowned for the expertise in ceremony and they’ve certainly done a great job again today,” said Brown.
Donald Mitchell, 78, who served in the Canadian Military Engineers unit of the Canadian Forces, North Vancouver squadron, watched Queen Elizabeth’s coronation as a young boy in 1953 and her visit to Vancouver the year previous, “and my mother was extremely excited about it.”
He comes from a long line of Ulster Scots.
Best about the coronation for him was that he felt so close to his mother, who adored Queen Elizabeth.
“My mother, I can feel her right now and she’s delighted,” said Mitchell, with a big grin.
Delisca Vincent-Smith, 72, a volunteer at the Glenshiel Seniors Housing Society, 606 Douglas St., shared a framed photo collage of herself as a three-year-old with her brother and parents at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth.
In one photo, she can be seen wearing a red-hooded cape and she remembers seeing a beautiful princess and a gold coach.
Her father, Cpl. Gerry Smith, Royal Canadian Air Force, was chosen to train for six weeks for the coronation, with Mall Military Security.
The entire family attended the coronation.
“It meant a lot,” said Vincent-Smith. “It was a very big honour, it was a special, special assignment for my father.”
Vincent-Smith said attitudes towards the monarchy have changed a great deal since she was young. There was a great loyalty to Queen Elizabeth, she said. King Charles is making attempts to modernize the monarchy, she said, but she doesn’t imagine there will be the same allegiance to him as there was to his mother.
“Our ties with Britain and the monarchy will change,” said Vincent-Smith. “I think it’s time we evolve as Canadians because we are a much more multicultural country today.”
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