Dogs stole the spotlight at festivities celebrating King Charles III’s coronation on Saturday.
Approximately 150 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels gathered for a parade down the King’s Road in London to honor the new king. The name of the long-haired doe-eyed dog breed hails from Charles II.
Though rain threatened to ruin the event, dogs proudly walked one of the city’s most bougie neighborhoods with their owners. Some pups donned red cloaks or tiaras in royal fashion.
“I just thought this is a no-brainer,” Jenny Matthews, who organized the parade, told NBC News. She owns a pet grooming service as well as a cafe and boutique on the King’s Road. “What more can we do for him [King Charles III] than to gather as many King Charles Spaniel dogs as possible and parade down his road? It’s the King’s Road.”
Dog owners delight in coronation celebration
Cavaliers of London, a group of 5,000 owners of the breed, helped generate interest in the dog parade.
“It’s once in a lifetime, it’s history making … to celebrate the king and his coronation,” said Sophie Bradley. She attended with her dog Amber. “I can’t think of a better way to spend the day, to be honest with you.”
King Charles III was crowned at Westminster Abbey along with his wife, Queen Camilla. Thousands of British armed forces escorted the couple back to Buckingham Palace. Then, they appeared on the balcony, as is tradition. Finally, the dogs took to the street.
“It’s particularly poignant and special that we have a monarch, King Charles III, who has literally hours ago been crowned king, and to be here,” David Lindsay told NBC News at the canine-themed event. He’s the mayor of the Royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea. “It’s symbolic, it’s fun and it’s part of history, and we are but history in the making now.”
Dogs have long been part of the royal family history. While Pembroke Welsh Corgis were the favorite dog breed of Queen Elizabeth II, Jack Russell Terriers are the preferred breed of the new king and queen.
