…By Joseph Benjamin for TDPel Media.
Michelle Beaver, a 51-year-old nurse, attended the Coronation Concert held in Windsor as a coronation champion after being chosen for volunteering with and fundraising for the Marie Curie Hospice in Liverpool for over a decade.
She and her husband Peter travelled from Liverpool to attend the concert, donning red T-shirts with “Queen” and “King” respectively and holding flags given to them by volunteers.
The couple was near the front of the concert and were amazed by the electric atmosphere where everyone was singing along and cheering for the Prince of Wales when he gave his speech for the King.
The Coronation Champion program rewards extraordinary volunteers across the country who have contributed to their communities.
Michelle, being one of them, said the concert exceeded her expectations.
She was thrilled to be selected as a coronation champion and found the experience to be an honour.
Michelle was interviewed by the PA news agency and said that the atmosphere was electric, and everyone was chatty, sharing where they had travelled from to get there.
The concert featured star-studded performances, including British band Take That, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, and US singers Katy Perry and Nicole Scherzinger.
Michelle loved Nicole Scherzinger’s rendition of Reflection from Disney’s Mulan, and Andrea Bocelli was also fantastic.
She praised the 13-year-old Lucy, the blind and autistic winner of Channel 4’s The Piano, for her performance, and Take That got the crowd going loads.
One of the highlights for Michelle was William’s speech for his father, where the Prince of Wales told the King, “Pa, we are all so proud of you.”
Michelle found the cheers for Prince William, especially when he gave his speech, to be lovely.
The concert was lively, with people waving their arms and having lots of fun.
Michelle’s first time in Windsor was an experience she will never forget, walking up to the impressive castle.
The graphics on the castle during the concert were impressive, especially those about the natural beauty of the world and the ones in the sky.
She usually tries to do press-ups when attending events, and she made sure to do around 10 before the audience area got too busy.
Although she did not get to meet Kate and William when they surprised people gathering on the Long Walk earlier on Sunday, Michelle used her camera to zoom in and “just about” see the family in the royal box during the show.
However, she met the King twice – at the Marie Curie Hospice in Liverpool in 2019 and then at a garden party at Buckingham Palace.
Michelle joked that apart from being extremely charming, the first thing she noticed was the size of his hands, which were massive.
Michelle watched the coronation on television and invited some friends over for afternoon tea.
She said that the weather was lovely in Liverpool on the day and everyone was in such a good mood.
She also mentioned that Liverpool was bustling at the moment because Eurovision is happening soon too, making it a double whammy.