Sunday’s accession ceremony and a first royal visit

ON the day after her coronation in 1953, Queen Elizabeth II was welcomed to Islington on the steps of the Town Hall.

It was on those same steps where councillors, MPs and other local dignitaries stood for the proclamation ceremony marking the accession of her eldest son on Sunday.

Republican or royalist, nobody can deny these past eight days have been a hurtling rush of history – the sad passing of a monarch who reigned for 70 years followed by the arrival of a new king.

Few of those gathered in Upper Street to hear the news in the traditional way could remember the last time.

Mayor of Islington, Councillor Marian Spall, read out the official statement announcing the start of King Charles III’s time as the UK’s head of state.

It had first been read at St James’s Palace on Saturday following a meeting of the accession council. Each local authority was then required to spread the news in a similar manner.

The Queen visiting the Town Hall in 1953. Photo: Islington Council

Colonel Brian Kay, the Sheriff of Islington, took a moment to remember some of the Queen’s moving speeches, recalling how she had addressed the nation in times of trouble and quoted segments of her Christmas Day speeches.

He said that in 1975 she had told the nation: “The whole fabric of our society is threatened by inflation. The frightening sickness of the world today, we may feel powerless alone, but with the joint efforts of individuals we can defeat the evils of our time.”

He added: “True then, true today.”

A council official held the mace upside down while the address took place. The proclamation was followed by the National Anthem and there were also prayers led by the Reverend James Hughesdon, while Rabbi Mendi Korer of Chabad Islington attended the event with his wife and children.

Floral tributes have been left in a special area at the Town Hall, while books of condolences have been opened by the council. Some signing need tissues for their tears.

The Queen visits a department of the City and Islington College in 2011

Shirley Pinfold, 88, who lives near Caledonian Road, said she was among the crowds in The Mall on the day of the Queen’s coronation.

“I went with friends from work. I was 18 and we slept on the pavement all night – it was soaking wet,” she said. “It was the first chance to see something colourful and splendid – it had been so dull and grey because of the war.

“We identified with her, really, being young. We really thought this is somebody like us, even though she was very different. She seemed full of hope”

She said: “Then, very early in the morning, the papers came out saying Edmund Hillary had climbed to the top of Everest, so we cheered about that too.”

At the proclamation ceremony, three people holding “not my King” and “end feudalism” placards could be seen but there were no disturbances or arrests, as have been seen in incidents elsewhere in the country this week.

Shirley Pinfold

Among many visits to the borough, the Queen had been to the City and Islington College (Candi) in 2011 and it remains a special memory for those who were there.

Sue Attwood, who was Candi’s curriculum manager for health, medical and general science at the time, said: “I didn’t know whether to curtsey or not. I’ve never curtseyed I was just going to do a little bob and it ended up in a full curtsey. But she was very smiley and twinkly. She was lovely and she looked at you with a smile.

“She said to me: ‘As I walked past the student on the exercise bike his heart rate went up – I’ve no idea why’.

“I said ‘I’ve no idea ma’am either’ but we both knew we were joking and then she chuckled as she walked off.”

Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral takes place on Monday.