Ukraine finds itself at centre of Coronation thanks to ‘happy coincidence’
The coronation carpet resembles the Ukrainian flag in what the Palace has described as a “happy coincidence”.
Many of the world leaders and guests arriving at Westminster Abbey on Saturday morning wore yellow and blue, matching some of the décor in the grand church.
Dr Jill Biden, the US first lady who is attending the Coronation in President Biden’s place, wore a blue jacket, skirt, fascinator and gloves. Accompanying her was granddaughter Finnegan Biden, the 22-year-old second child of Hunter Biden and his former wife Kathleen Buhle, wearing a yellow dress with a cape and yellow headband.
Pretty Yende, 38, the operatic soprano, wore a vibrant yellow dress with large puffed shoulders.
Meanwhile, Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a former Nato commander, tweeted that the Ukrainian flag was “at the heart of Westminster Abbey”, alongside an image of the yellow and blue carpets.
Quoting Mr de Bretton-Gordon’s tweet, Kira Rudik, a Ukrainian MP, said she was “inspired by the pictures of Ukraine’s flag in Westminster Abbey for King Charles’ Coronation” and tweeted blue and yellow heart emojis.
Charlie Proctor, editor-in-chief of Royal Central, also noticed the yellow and blue carpets, tweeting: “(Almost) the flag of Ukraine in Westminster Abbey.”
Meanwhile, Dame Melinda Simmons, Britain’s Ambassador to Ukraine, tweeted an image of the yellow and blue carpet saying: “I saw Ukraine there and lost my composure for a minute.”
Buckingham Palace said the colours in the abbey – the yellow gold of the coronation theatre carpet and the blue carpet in the choir – were not chosen to represent the Ukrainian flag.
But a Palace spokesman described it as a “happy coincidence”.
