Eyes on the Crown
Leigh Baxter set her alarm for a few minutes before 5 a.m. Saturday. Sleeping in simply was not an option.
The Cabot resident turned the television on long before sunrise to watch the coronation of King Charles III. Millions of people across the United States did the same, but Baxter was part of a small percentage of them that felt a special connection to the ceremony.
She was born and raised in England before moving to the U.S. 35 years ago. The coronation was a way for Baxter to go home, albeit only in her mind while sitting in her living room here in Western Pennsylvania.
“I have dual citizenship and look at this as my country now, too,” she said. “But I do miss England, my entire family is there. It’s so rich with history and traditions, and I miss the culture.
“I started watching about a half-hour before the ceremony began until King Charles gave the traditional wave from the balcony.”
The last coronation within the royal family occurred in 1953, when King Charles’ mother, Elizabeth II, was crowned queen of the United Kingdom. In that respect, Saturday’s event was 70 years in the making, with no shortage of pomp and circumstance.
