Commonwealth troops 'delighted' with coronation role as they complete final rehearsals

5th May 2023 at 12:11pm

Watch: Commonwealth troops 'delighted to be part' of the coronation.

People from across the world will be watching as King Charles III is coronated in London.

And just as the grand occasion is drawing attention from around the globe, personnel from across the Commonwealth have been rehearsing at Pirbright Army Training Centre ahead of their role in the ceremony.

Four hundred and eight service personnel from Commonwealth Nations will be taking part in proceedings, as well as personnel from British Overseas Territories.

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Lieutenant Colonel Sadat, of the Bangladesh Army, told Forces News that personnel are "delighted to be part of this grand ceremony".

"We maintain a very friendly relationship with this country," he said. "We are really very proud to be part of this."

Special commemorative coin given to Commonwealth troops participating in the coronation of King Charles III.

All Commonwealth personnel are also being given a special commemorative coin to recognise their contribution to the coronation and their wider military service.

The coin has the official coronation emblem on one side and the King's Royal cypher on the other.

Lieutenant Colonel Serge Boulingui, of the Gabonese Army, told Forces News his military colleagues said they will be spending "the entire day of the coronation in front of the TV watching".

"For us, it's a great honour, which only happens once," he said.

"To march behind a king, it's a great honour for us."

Captain Charles Baiye, of the Cameroon Army, added: "It’s not every day that you get to assist in coronation of a King of Great Britain.

"It's once in a lifetime," he said.