THOUSANDS gathered in York today (November 9) to welcome King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort, to the city.
The Royals visited the city to unveil a statue of the late Queen Elizabeth II at York Minster.
It was ten years ago in April 2012 that York last witnessed such an occasion when the late Queen Elizabeth II visited the city.
Speaking moments before the Royals arrived, Sharon Keelan-Beardsley, head teacher at All Saints RC School, said: “It’s a special day, a historic day for our school.
“We wanted to give the children the opportunity to see the King.”
Students from the school waved and cheered as the King and Queen Consort drove past and made their way into York via Micklegate Bar, as is tradition for a monarch entering the city.
Upon arrival, the King and Queen Consort were welcomed to York by city leaders
During the welcome, however, a protester threw three eggs at the Royals, all of which missed before the pair were ushered away.
A 23-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a public order following the incident, North Yorkshire Police said.
North Yorkshire Police said a “well-rehearsed” security operation had been in place for the visit to ensure the royal couple’s safety.
Following a Sword and Mace ceremony at Micklegate Bar, the Royal couple made their way to York Minster, where they were met by the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell.
The Sword and Mace ceremony is based on a historical tradition, which began in the British Roman era to symbolise that the Monarch is in the city.
At the Minster there was a short service where the Royal couple looked at a new exhibition explaining how the statue was made.
They were also shown saw a scaled model of the final sculpture, along with a maquette used in the design process.
It is the first statue of his mother since her death in September.
Before unveiling the statue, which is raised above street level, Charles said: “The late Queen was always vigilant for the welfare of her people during her life.”
He said her “image will watch over what will become Queen Elizabeth Square for centuries to come.”
The two-metre sculpture weighing 1.1 tonnes and made from lepine limestone from France was designed to celebrate the late Queen’s platinum jubilee and was completed in August, the month before her death.
After leaving York, the King and Queen Consort travelled to Doncaster, where the King conferred city status on Doncaster in a ceremony.
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