Part 1
The Arrivals
Coronation Day is finally here and we are all overjoyed! It has been called the event of the century and such it may well be as the whole of Europa and most certainly Scotney and Britania focus their attention on today's media spectacular. The long awaited Imperial Coronation promises to be the most spectacular event witnessed in Europa.
As early as 5 o clock this morning the streets of Londinium have been positively electric with excitement as Royal watchers who camped on the streets on route to the Cathedral started waking up and preparing for the day's festivities.
Crowds of onlookers and security are lining the streets clamoring for a comfortable view to see the procession of the Emperor and Empress. The Imperial couple and all the invited dignitaries will ride to and from the cathedral in a vast cortege of carriages, coaches and limousines. The Gold Imperial Coach will see use in public for the first time in over two decades and the spectacle will be a sight to remeber.
The throne had been set up as part of the weeks long preparations for the event. All the coronation elements were painstakingly prepared along with the rest of the cathedral as is necessary per protocol requirements for the ancient ritual.
Inside the Cathedral of the Lion Heart, His Holiness the Mithrandir and the Silver and Blue Cardinals have finalized all preparations and are the first to await the arrival of the dignitaries.
The Coronation Regalia inclusive of the Imperial Crown and the St. Christian Crown arrived in state last night and have since been displayed on the Holy Altar.
The clergy had to perform all the blessing rituals in accordance with the sun rising on Coronation Day as tradition dictates. This symbolizes the predestination of God's will and the faithful dawning of a new day.
At the entrance of the Cathedral of the Lion Heart stands the historic Statue of the Angel of Prayer where the Emperor will stop today upon arrival to say a prayer before his coronation.
The first fanfare announces the first wave of official arrivals, that of the lower nobility. These include all those of the aristocracy ranking below Duke. Dress code for an Imperial Coronation is formal suits, court dress or uniforms and full length gowns in tones of white silver and gold for the ladies. The first arrivals began at 8;30.
The Baron and Baroness D'Rothchild.
The Baron Van Heerden.
The Viscount Faraway.
The Viscount and Viscountess Hayz.
The Earl and Countess Basquith.
The Earl and Countess Cartwright.
The Marchioness of Londonderry.
The next fanfare announces the Higher Nobility which includes all the Dukes.
The Duchess of Lancaster.
The Duke and Duchess of Marlboro.
The Duke and Duchess of Argyle.
The Duchess of Roswind.
Next, without fanfare all the foreign Royal relations and extended dignitaries who are guests not required by the coronation protocol to attend are announced.
Prince Valmont D'Pont Du Lac.
The Duke of Banbury.
The Countess of Bo'hemia.
The Princess Von Thurn und Taxis.
The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Reichenthal.
The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Serbieski.
The ceiling mounted cameras saw the cathedral fill itself steadily as guests arrived.
The cathedral was filled to capacity with many needing to take their designated positions in the raised galleries.
The next group of official guests to arrive were also announced with fanfare. These were all the pretenders to currently defunct thrones but was a sensitive moment as the Imperial Coronation celebrates the restoration, at least to a major degree if not all, of the monarchies of Scotney and Britania.
Their Serene Highnesses, the Prince and Princess of Monagask.
Princess Oktavia arrived with her husband Prince Gerard who has only recently fully assumed his historic role as official pretender to the Principality of Monagask.
Three lady pretenders then arrived in a group. From left the Duchess Di Giorgio Pretender to the Throne of Romagna, the Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna Pretender to the Throne of Ruskiana and the nominally restored Shahbahnou of Perlistan.
The three would- be rulers with Grand Duchess Xenia in the center of the photo, looked the part their Royal rank demanded.
The Duchess Di Giorgio.
The Shahbahnou of Perlistan.
Next arrived the Prince Louis of Franconia, Pretender to the Throne of Franconia.
Finally, the Pretender to the Throne of Fulco D'Este, Arch Duke Otto and his wife Arch Duchess Marie-Elizabeth.
The Arch Duchess is the sister of the famous Duke of Swann.
Some shots from the cathedral cams show the guests as they take their seats.
A spectacular view of the Holy Altar amidst the arriving guests.
The next fanfare sounded to announce the arrival of reigning monarchs.
Her Majesty the Queen of Ophiri and her brother Prince Shaka.
Her Serene Highness the Grand Princess of Wallachia and her husband the Baron Bagrazia.
Queen Gloria of Normandia was accompanied by her husband the Prince of Northwold.
The Emperor's cousin Queen Maxima and King Nikolas III of Syldavia.
As usual Lady Arcwhite made for quite an imposing and stylish figure.
Her Majesty the Queen of Hispania.
Their Royal Highnesses The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Hanoveria are also cousins of the Emperor.
The Duke of Swann arrived last at the end of the arriving procession. His Royal Highness did so in his own carriage.
The Duke of Swann was accompanied by his cousin and heir, Prince Dillon.
The Empress' two attendants are Princess Kirsten...
...and Princess Augusta who arrived directly in advance of the Imperial Coach. They are to attend the Imperial couple with their robes as they alight from the coach and enter the cathedral. They also serve the official role of attending the Empress specifically during the Coronation Ceremony. The Duke of Swann fulfills that role for the Emperor.
Then the Imperial Fanfare sounded the arrival of the Emperor and Empress at 9;34 as the crowds cheered outside the cathedral.
A spectacular sight awed all onlookers as the Imperial couple exited the coach.
The Emperor and Empress wear the Royal Red Robes of State as indicative of the Royal titles of Kingly Authority in Scotney and Britania. Once crowned they will swap these for the Imperial Blue Robes of Imperial Authority.
The Emperor wore the dress uniform of a High Admiral of the Fleet and Empress Odeliah wore a Silver Rose Themed Gown created by Stephanie Couture. The rose is highly symbolic of Royalty and the lifelong sacrifice to serve their people.
After the Emperor said his prayer at the Statue of the Angel of Prayer to devote his heart to God for the proceedings the Imperial Couple prepared to enter the cathedral.
The Imperial March was played as the Emperor and Empress entered.
The Emperor walks to the center of the cathedral just before the Holy Altar and stops.
He is met there by the Mithrandir who awaited his entry at the Throne. Here His Imperial Majesty is officially received and blessed.
The Empress follows close behind...
...and in turn followed by the attendants.
The Emperor then waits at the Throne for his wife.
Finally the Emperor prepares to take his position at the Throne for the Coronation Ceremony to begin as planned at 10;00 exactly.
We will post Part 2 in an hour or so once our photography and news feeds allow us to report on the ceremony. That will be followed by the return procession and Aldarian Palace Balcony appearance.
