Berlin is in “coronation” fever, at least in the places where the “event of the century”, the coronation of King Charles III, is being broadcast. There are many of these places in the capital: in the English landscape garden, for example the Gardens of the World hosted a “hat contest”.. The city library of Lankwitz was also happy to have visitors to their public viewing event wearing hats. Meanwhile, at “Frederick’s” on Potsdamer Platz, Crémant and scones tempted everyone to celebrate together.
At a privately organized “Public Viewing Party”, at which a few young German nobles are also present, starting at 10 a.m Mimosas served, i.e. Prosecco diluted with “Orange Juice”. Nobody thought of scones, and the typical “English Breakfast” would probably be a bit too much of a cliché.
The mood is cheerful, the pre-coronation skirmishes with distant composure tracked. “You just look at it because you have to have seen it.” The “Union Jack” is still often hanging on the walls.
Unfortunately, the BBC doesn’t work in Germany, so it’s running Live broadcast by ARD. In the group, everyone agrees that the so-called “nobility experts” that ARD has brought to the studio sofa are “kind of funny, but clowns”.
The unknown countess in the ARD
None of the German blue-blooded horses present personally knew Leontine von Schmettow, who commented on everything and knew everything, although Wikipedia states that she herself is a countess. A relative of a princess smoking on the balcony once asked by ZDF been asked whether she wanted to comment on William and Kate’s wedding. She “of course” politely declined.
And indeed, after the third Mimosa and knowing that you have the Carefully watched the Netflix series The Crown the conviction grows: what they are saying, that one also knows.
She looks happy and her dress is beautiful. Finally she made it.
Unknown Berlin nobility expert on Queen Camilla
Well, the experts at ARD are of course versatile. Seated next to the titular von Schmettow at times SPD politician Katarina Barley – and at least she has a British passport.
Or the actor Philipp Brenninkmeyer, who is apparently known from the US series “Sex and the City” – he was also once at a strict British boarding school. So he knows how Charles must have felt as a teenager. In addition, the ARD New Delhi correspondent Peter Hornung invitedAfter all, he privately collects royal odds and ends.
Rather in the English pub
At some point, the ARD talk gets on your nerves a bit too much, so it means a change of scenery: the BBC is on in an English pub around the corner, which opened just in time for the coronation ceremony. At 12 sharp nothing is going on, in the following 20 minutes the shop fills up. The snowing-in guests speak almost exclusively English with a British accent. A woman in a flowered summer dress has brought strawberries for everyone. Pints, i.e. beer, are drunk.
Also here you look at the Crowning with casual serenity at. A “Cheers to the King” sounds more ironic than emotionally convinced. When asked why two of the visitors are here, the simple answer follows: “She runs the pub and I’m British.” It must be enough.
At 1:02 p.m., the first, loud, sound is heard on the screen “God Save the King”. The pub falls silent, then applauds. 15 minutes later, after the second “God save the King” followed by solemn singing, one or the other sheds a few tears.
It gets really emotional when Camilla is crowned. There was a loud discussion at the tables: “Don’t ask me what I think of her – nothing at all.” The younger guests in particular are a little more gracious: “She looks happy and her dress is beautiful. She’s finally done it.” At 2 p.m., slightly tipsy, the pub has to be left, despite the really stimulating roar of “God save the King”. These lines wanted to be immortalized.
