# From US to London, royal super fan makes ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ coronation pilgrimage
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2023-05-02
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: US Citizen Donna Werner Excited for King Charles III
Meta Description: Join Donna Werner in London for a front-row seat to King Charles III's coronation ceremony with 5,000 men and women from British armed forces.
URL: https://financedigest.com/from-us-to-london-royal-super-fan-makes-once-in-a-lifetime-coronation-pilgrimagehtml

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By JEEVAN RAVINDRAN

LONDON (Reuters) – U.S. citizen Donna Werner is no stranger to royal celebrations – for more than three decades she has travelled to [Britain to join in the public](https://www.financedigest.com/britains-ofgem-to-urge-public-to-reduce-energy-usage-ft.html "Britain’s Ofgem to urge public to reduce energy usage – FT") party at weddings and jubilees.

Now she is ecstatic to be in [London for her first coronation](https://www.financedigest.com/canadian-pm-justin-trudeau-to-attend-king-charles-coronation-in-london.html "Canadian PM Justin Trudeau to attend King Charles’ coronation in London").

“And we’re off! This is such a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Werner exclaimed as she set off from her hotel towards Buckingham Palace, where she plans to secure a front-row seat to watch events around Saturday’s [coronation of King](https://www.financedigest.com/historic-crown-to-be-modified-for-king-charless-coronation.html "Historic crown to be modified for King Charles’s coronation") Charles III.

The drama will come to life on the [king and queen’s return to the palace after the coronation](https://www.financedigest.com/charless-coronation-emblem-revealed-showing-british-kings-love-of-nature.html "Charles’s coronation emblem revealed, showing British king’s love of nature") ceremony, when they will travel in a 260-year-old gold state coach in a parade with 5,000 men and women from British and Commonwealth armed forces.

“Nobody does it like the British – the pomp and the circumstance,” said Werner, 71, who had travelled from Connecticut in the United States. “We don’t have anything like this in the States.”

Things got off to a good start on her journey to the palace, first charming a construction worker into carrying her camping gear and then catching an unexpected glimpse of [King Charles](https://www.financedigest.com/king-charles-hosts-first-state-visit-for-s-africas-ramaphosa.html "King Charles hosts first state visit for S.Africa’s Ramaphosa") driving past in his car.

“He was waving at us. I was like, ‘Oh, my god, it’s like really happening’,” said Werner, who [plans to stay up all night so she can sneak a peek at a rehearsal taking place](https://www.financedigest.com/private-equity-firms-hungry-for-investment-opportunities-but-business-owners-must-be-cautious.html "Half of Security Professionals Had No Contingency Plan in Place for COVID-19") on Tuesday night.

Werner’s first [royal event was the wedding](https://www.financedigest.com/royal-wedding-showpiece-highlights-jordans-role-as-wests-stable-ally.html "Royal wedding showpiece highlights Jordan’s role as West’s stable ally") of Prince Andrew to Sarah Ferguson in 1986, and she has been hooked ever since.

“I’m just happy to be here and be part of history. I mean, this hasn’t happened in 70 years,” Werner said.

Next to her tent, Werner has hung an American flag and a sign reading “US loves [King Charles.”](https://www.financedigest.com/uks-prince-harry-declines-to-commit-to-attending-king-charles-coronation.html "UK’s Prince Harry declines to commit to attending King Charles’ coronation") She has also painstakingly created a hat covered with flags, photos and cut-out figures of King Charles.

It’s right there and we’re right here,” Werner said, reflecting on her proximity to [Westminster Abbey](https://www.financedigest.com/in-westminster-abbey-the-deafening-sound-of-silence-to-honour-queen-elizabeth.html "In Westminster Abbey, the deafening sound of silence to honour Queen Elizabeth"), where the coronation will take place. “It gives you goosebumps. It really does, it really, really does.”

(Reporting by Jeevan Ravindran, additional reporting by Sarah Young; editing by William James and Angus MacSwan)


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