Arrival in Leeds
The King's Equerry, Johnny Thompson, himself quite then star on social media!
The State Bentley with Poppies on the front
The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell
The Queen sheltering under her Umbrella!
Meeting the Minster Choristers afterwards
The Archbishop blesses the Statue
It was a two day royal visit to Yorkshire (taking in three counties.) The couple would visit Bradford, Leeds, York and Doncaster. West, North and South Yorkshire!
HM King Charles III, accompanied on the second day by HM Queen Camilla, visited many towns and cities familiar to him from previous visits to the area.
On the first day, Tuesday 8th November, I chose to see the King in my hometown of Leeds.
I arrived just after 11.15am, he wasn't due to arrive until 2pm and already many front places had gone.
I copted to stand opposite the steps of the Art Gallery he was visiting. He was running late from his previous visit to Bradford, so when the State Bentley came into view, a welcome akin to a Pop Star arrival ensued.
Cheers, applause and chants of 'God Save the King' rang out. Really lovely to see / hear......
His car even paid its own tribute to the Remembrance Events by sporting poppies at the front.
His car stopped and he went on a short walkabout. Sadly I was in the wrong place. But I went to predominantly see him. He waved as he approached the steps of the Art gallery
Catching up a little of his time, the weather stayed dry (after earlier rain) but was so cold! Another visit for the King beckoned afterwards.
The following day, Wednesday 9th November, it was a day tinged with memories and sadness. The first engagements were in the historic city of York.
There the King and Queen arrived to unveil a statue of Her Late Majesty Quen Elizabeth II.
The statue had been 5 years on the planning. The design of it approved by the late Queen Elizabeth herself.
Before their arrival the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell walked over to see the crowds before greeting the royal couple.
They firstly attended a short service inside the Minster before meeting many local representatives
Outside the heavens opened and stayed that way for much of the waiting time. I'd been there since after 8,20am (and they were due to arrive at 11.05am)
I was drenched, cold and seriously disheartened with all the waiting!
An hour after their arrival, the doors of the Great West Door opened and the King and Queen approached a Dias, where the King made a moving speech about his late Mother, before unveiling the statue.
He pulled the cord to remove the purple cloth, and had to pull harder when it got temporarily stuck! But when it was revealed, the crowds erupted into applause.
The late Queen now watched over with pride over a city she had visited many times. In the future the area outside the Minster will be renamed 'Queen Elizabeth Square'
Again, I was in the wrong place (my ideal spot turned out to be less than ideal! People had been there since 4,30am!
As so others sadly missed out. Thats the nature of large crowds / walkabouts though. They can be hit and miss.
It was lovely to greet the new King and Queen on their first awaydays in England. The first of many to come..............
God Save the King
Photographs Copyright Paul Ratcliffe
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