The horses lead the Gold State Carriage with the King and Queen.
by Philip Barker in Whitehall
Two Olympians have played an important part in the Ceremonial at the Coronation of King Charles III in London.
The Princess Royal took the role of “Gold Stick in Waiting” and rode behind the King’s carriage in the procession returning to Buckingham Palace after the Ceremony.
The passage from Westminster Abbey made its way along Whitehall and into the Mall under Admiralty Arch which had been decorated with the words “Happy & Glorious” from the national anthem.
The words had been used by then International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge in his closing speech at the 2012 London Olympics.
The Princess Royal had, when known as Princess Anne, competed in the 1976 Montreal Olympics in equestrian eventing.
Riding Goodwill, she finished 24th in the individual standings despite a fall in the cross-country phase.
She has been president of the British Olympic Association since 1983 and succeeded her father as president of the International Equestrian Federation in 1987, a position she held until 1993.
She became a member of the IOC in 1988.
Earlier, footballer Sam Kerr had been chosen to carry the Australian flag.
“It is always an honour to represent Australia on the world stage,” she said.
“I’m incredibly proud and humbled to have been chosen as flag bearer on this historic occasion.”
Kerr, who plays for Chelsea in the Women’s Premier League, is the captain of the Australian team, known as the Matildas.
She played for Australia in the 2016 and 2020 Olympics
Kerr just missed out on a medal in Tokyo as Australia finished fourth.
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