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Nurses among the select few to have seats at King’s coronation

Profession to be represented in Westminster Abbey by nurses who have made in impact in their area of practice – and one will play a pivotal role in the ceremony
nurses will be among the guests at the King’s coronation in Westminster Abbey

Profession to be represented in Westminster Abbey by nurses who have made in impact in their area of practice – and one will play a pivotal role in the ceremony

Montage shows four nurses invited to represent profession at coronation of King Charles III
These nurses will be among the guests at the King’s coronation in Westminster Abbey

A handful of nurses will be among the guests to witness the King’s coronation in Westminster Abbey.

Among them is Queen’s Nurse Dame Elizabeth Anionwu who will play an active part in the ceremony, presenting the ceremonial orb to King Charles as tens of millions of people around the world watch on TV.

Dame Elizabeth joined King Charles, Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Princess Royal for rehearsals earlier in the week.

Nurse, Dame Elizabeth Anionwu, who will present the King with the ceremonial orb
Dame Elizabeth Anionwu

The retired community nurse, who founded the UK’s first nurse-led sickle cell and thalassaemia screening and counselling centre, said she is honoured to be representing nurses at the historic ceremony.

She told Nursing Standard she was shocked to receive a phone call from Buckingham Palace inviting her to take part: ‘It was all a bit surreal to be honest. I really was surprised, not only to be invited but to have a role.

‘I was six when Queen Elizabeth II was crowned. I was living in a children’s home and I remember watching on a black and white TV. I would never have thought 70 years on that I’d be here. It’s a huge honour.

‘It’s exciting, I’m enjoying being involved, as somebody from my background and as a nurse, I’ll be proud. I’ve had some lovely comments, it’s very moving to get that positive feedback and to know other nurses will be watching out for me.’

The Gold State Coach with horses and cavalry in coronation rehearsal
The Gold State Coach is wheeled out for coronation rehearsals Picture: Alamy

Nurse TikTok star gets crowning moment

Among the 2,300 guests inside the Abbey will be Belfast learning disability nursing student Claire Thompson, who was shortlisted for the RCN Northern Ireland student nurse of the year 2022 award for her pioneering work teaching communication tool Makaton online.

‘To be invited as a guest is such an honour. I’ll be there representing all the people who use Makaton,’ she told Nursing Standard.

‘We’re not always the best at shouting about our speciality, so I’ll be representing all of them’

Nurse Claire Thompson smiles as she holds her coronation invitation
Claire Thompson holds her coronation invitation

‘There’s been a lot of people who’ve helped me along the way, so I feel I’ll be representing all of those learning disability nurses, publicising what we do as a profession. We’re not always the best at shouting about our speciality, so I’ll be representing all of them, I hope.’

Ms Thompson was on a clinical placement in a care home for adults with learning disabilities where she used Makaton to communicate with a client. Later she enquired whether students would be taught the tool as part of their university course but was told it was too expensive. So she took matters into her own hands and began learning Makaton and sharing educational clips on her social media for ‘Makaton Mondays’. Her videos on TikTok alone have gained more than 500,000 views, with Hamilton’s West End star Joel Montague even filming a video.

She said: ‘I have been asked to get to Westminster Abbey to start queuing to get in at 7.30am so it’s going to be an early start. It’s just me, so my husband said he’s going to explore London.

‘We’ll be seeing Hamilton on Friday and we’re hoping I can meet Joel and thank him for his video in person.’

Learning disability nurse Daniel Branch, a coronation guest
Daniel Branch

‘Never in a million years did I think I’d be invited to something like this’

Another nurse with a lucky golden ticket is fellow learning disability nurse Daniel Branch, who will be heading to London to join the official ceremony early on 6 May.

Mr Branch works at Lancashire and Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust and supports people with learning disabilities who are struggling with mental health and behavioural issues, and threats of eviction. He was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2021 for his work during the pandemic.

He told Nursing Standard if it hadn’t been for his previous contact with the palace he would have assumed his invitation email was a scam.

‘I’m in disbelief. Never in a million years did I think I’d be invited to something like this, especially as I’ve seen reports about how it was going to be more low-key.

Emergency nurse is Australian prime minister’s guest of honour

Smiling ED nurse Emily Regan will attend the King's coronation as a guest of the Australian government
Emily Regan

London-based Australian nurse Emily Regan is getting the invitations triple-whammy. She was the only nurse to be the guest of the Australian government, meeting prime minster Anthony Albanese on 4 May; she’ll attend the Abbey for the coronation on 6 May and finally take her seat at a concert at Windsor Castle the following evening.

‘I have no idea why I have been chosen. It’s a real honour and overwhelming at the same time. I’m just an emergency department nurse, I haven’t done anything particularly remarkable compared to every other nurse that goes to work every day and works really hard,’ she said.

Ms Regan spoke out in the Australian media about her experience during the COVID-19 pandemic over concern her home country was in its own ‘bubble’ and didn’t understand the global impact of the virus.

‘I am really proud to be invited,’ she added. ‘The delegates the Australian government has selected are a really good cross-section of society – there’s medical, health, arts, sports, research, Victoria Cross holders and indigenous representation as well.

‘It’s important for nurses to be there – but not just nurses, allied health professionals, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, radiographers, all these people make up a really big part of the health service and we are all just everyday people that do very rewarding and challenging jobs. I’ll be proud to represent them.’


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