Hartlepool pensioner, 88, makes 500-mile round trip to see her second Coronation as King Charles and Queen Camilla crowned

Dora Smith, 88, made her way down to London at the weekend to watch the King’s Coronation after making a shorter journey to watch the late Queen Elizabeth II receive the crown in 1953.

Dora, who used to own her own hairdressing business called Dora’s, in Lowthian Road, Hartlepool, made the trip with her daughter, Tracey Lancaster, granddaughter Charlotte Lancaster and Tracey’s friend, Jackie Bonner.

Tracey said: “We had a fantastic weekend. We made the trip because my mum was there for the Queen and we obviously like the royals.”

Speaking about her visit to see Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation in 1953, Dora said: “It was marvellous. A completely different kettle of fish.

"I was at the front and I could see everything. The atmosphere was great on Saturday though I must admit.”

Speaking about the King’s Coronation, she said: “There were a lot more people but it was organised better.”

Dora, who was living in Corby, Northamptonshire, in 1953, made her way at the age of 18 to Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation in a taxi with her mother and sister.

Seventy years later, on Saturday, May 6, and Dora was lucky enough to watch as King Charles III and Queen Camilla made their way to London’s Westminster Abbey in the famous golden carriage.

In typical British fashion, crowds were subject to rain both at the weekend and in 1953 although this did not dampen anyone’s mood in 2023.

Tracey said: “It was brilliant. It was really nice. We were sat near Trafalgar Square. We were near the protests actually but we were fine, we felt safe. We just booed them occasionally.”

The group wore matching outfits for the special occasion, donning official Coronation T-shirts, red, white and blue flower necklaces and golden crowns fit for the King and Queen.

Dora said afterwards: “Everyone talked to us. The Australians, the French, the Americans. They all gathered around us wanting photos with us.”