In her essay, which you’ll find below, Ade looks at both the evolution of her longtime royal watching and *how* she will continue to follow the Windsors. I particularly appreciated the questions she asks near the end — so much to think about there.

I’d love to hear from you, too. Please click below to share your thoughts on your own feelings about royal watching in the comments of this newsletter.

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👑 ICYMI — SMT on the Coronation

What an honor it has been to publish so many guest essays by women I admire! Here are the links to previous pieces: Ateh Jewel on the Monarchy: ‘For Better or For Worse’ / Elizabeth Angell on the Moment ‘the Royal Family Presents Itself Officially to Us’ / Tariro Mzezewa on Why She Won’t Be Watching the Coronation / Britt Stephens on a Complicated Coronation Day

You can find all of my coverage of the crowning of King Charles III here. Below are links to pieces from my post-coronation coverage:

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Thank you for your support of So Many Thoughts, which makes it possible for me to do this work and pay contributors! If you haven’t already, please consider upgrading for $5 / month.

Adebola Olayinka on How She Will Continue to Watch the Windsors

By Adebola Olayinka

I have always been a committed student. To my recollection, I only skipped class to play hooky once. It was December 3, 2008. I was a college sophomore studying abroad in England, and I joined the crowd on the streets of London to catch a glimpse of Queen Elizabeth II en route to open Parliament. I recall the anticipatory atmosphere, and that people around me were kind to the 19-year-old American in their midst. In many ways, I was no different than them — we were ordinary individuals awaiting our chance to witness a living legend.

My fascination with all things British, particularly authors like Jane Austen, naturally led me to develop an interest in the British Royal Family during my early teens. Although I am too young to remember Princess Diana's life or death, by the 2000s I could easily name all the Queen’s children and grandchildren, and all of Prince Harry’s serious girlfriends. By age 19, it felt as though I had been following the royal family forever. While studying abroad I made sure to visit various palaces, including the Royal Pavilion, Windsor, Hampton Court, as well as Kensington and Buckingham Palaces. But it was witnessing Queen Elizabeth II — in her gilded carriage amidst a sea of horses and red coats — that felt like the culmination of my years of fascination with this family.

Being wholehearted in my hobbies, I became the self-appointed local royal news source for my friends and family, many of whom were not as passionate about it. To share my love for the royals, my roommates and I hosted a party celebrating the end of our senior year and William and Kate’s wedding. Their wedding began a lighthearted period for me as a royal watcher, filled with royal babies and fashion. 

And then came Meghan Markle — a woman of color joining the family. She was poised, well-spoken, charming, and fashionable, and her presence felt like an answer to a prayer I didn’t know I had. My passion had begun to reflect me, and I had never been more interested and invested.

I recall the joy that filled my apartment as my Bible study group, mostly comprising Black women in their 20s, joined me for a watch party for the Sussexes’ wedding. We watched with delight as a Black choir sang Black songs, and a Black bishop quoted enslaved people from the Antebellum South during a sermon about the redemptive power of love — all in front of the Queen of England. I remember the announcement that they were pregnant with Archie, and Meghan’s growing bump as they lit up the world on their South Pacific tour. And I can never forget the sadness I felt when I saw Meghan’s face as Tom Bradby asked her if she was okay.

That was when everything got complicated. 

As a Black woman and a Nigerian and American citizen, royal watching was always complex. There is an inherent tension in romanticizing and celebrating an institution that brutalized and pillaged my homelands. For a long time, I enjoyed the glamour and entertainment provided by the family without thinking too much about the institution they represent. But we are now in an era of renewed conversations about race and racism in the US and the UK, growing discussion of the institution’s problematic nature, and public insight into the callous treatment of Meghan by the press and allegedly the family. For me, Meghan’s experience is a tangible and highly visible reminder of the dark side of this institution, and I and many others can no longer focus solely on its diamond-crusted veneer.

Since the Sussexes stepped back from public duties, my disappointment in the family has grown. Their reactions to Prince Andrew’s scandals and the revelations from Harry and Meghan’s documentary and book have made me question if I should engage with royal events and even tarnished my admiration for Queen Elizabeth. The head of an institution bears ultimate responsibility, and regardless of what Harry and Meghan have publicly disclosed, I struggle to understand how the queen and the family failed to show public support for Meghan in the face of racist press coverage.

When the queen passed, I initially decided to forego tuning into the funeral proceedings. Yet despite my growing skepticism of the family, I found that I could not stay away. I still wanted to witness the spectacle, the ritual, and the tender, human moments. In the end I was deeply moved by the celebration of her life and honoring of her reign. There were even moments that moved me to tears — when the Crown Jeweler removed the symbols of her reign from her coffin before she was lowered into the vault as a minister blessed her soul, when the queen’s piper closed the funeral with a lament, and when the crowds showered the hearse and streets with flowers. 

I was also uncertain about watching the coronation of King Charles III, but I ultimately knew that I would regret missing this historic moment. As a deeply religious person, I was moved by the anointing, hymns, and prayers. I even teared up during the swell of the Handel’s Zadok the Priest as the privacy screens were pulled back to reveal the ministers praying over the king. Those moments before God were powerful and sacred, regardless of my current feelings about the family.

Despite my appreciation of key moments, my experience watching the funeral and the coronation was different than prior events. My perspective has shifted from a fan-like follower of the family to a critical observer analyzing the institution. I fell back on my academic training and the questions I used to ask when researching institutions. What are the political and economic conditions the Firm and the family are entrenched in? Who are the key stakeholders and what are their incentives? What are the social and interpersonal issues that the Firm is navigating? How has the institution evolved to respond to a changing environment? Does this system still work, and if so, who is it working for?

Watching the coronation through these lenses was very different from my early-morning watch party for William and Kate’s wedding more than a decade prior. Instead of lighthearted celebration, I found myself engrossed by the context behind the imagery. Prince Andrew in full ceremonial robes was a reminder of poor handling of the sexual assault allegations against him. A solo, Dior-clad Prince Harry was evidence of the Sussexes’ public fall out with the Firm. The family’s awkward, disrespectful reactions to the tiny Gospel choir highlighted discussions about racism and unconscious bias embedded in the institution. Gold coaches in the procession were a reminder of the severe cost-of-living crisis and arrests happening mere blocks away enabled by the UN-condemned anti-protest law passed mere days earlier. Even the king’s oaths to service during the ceremony recalled questions about the family’s waning numbers of official engagements — questions exacerbated by the king and queen’s absence at the day of service.

This community will appreciate that the clothing had layers of meaning. Keen royal fashion and gossip watchers noted that the Princess of Wales and her alleged “countryside frenemy” wore Aquazzura shoes, a brand that has long been associated with Meghan. Kate’s “slideshow dressing” — a term I learned from Elizabeth’s SMT work — was both patriotic and a reminder of the family’s codependent relationship with the press. Kate and Charlotte’s gorgeous fabric tiaras could not be viewed without a thought of the media frenzy about interfamilial fights for coverage. 

For me, critical observation of the royal family means situating events, speeches, and clothes within the broader history and ecosystem that the institution is in. While I no longer feel like I can celebrate the family or the Firm, watching the coronation I found the added dimensions of context made the experience more complex and interesting than ever before. 

I am curious if they will adapt in response to modern challenges and demands for change, especially within the Commonwealth. My interest in the Firm as an institution has outlasted my respect for the family as people, so — ever the committed student — I am eager to see how the British Royal Family evolves and survives through changing times.

Thank you so much, Ade! You can find her on Instagram at @TheAdeOlayinka.

ICYMI: Ade and other royal watchers shared their pre-coronation thoughts on Episode 5 of the SMT Coronation Podcast. You can listen here.

Where are you at in your royal watching? Will you still follow the Windsors and, if so, how will you be doing it? What are you watching for? Please share in the comments.

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I used to be the kind of traveler who stuffed everything I could into a single carry-on suitcase. Efficiency was the name of the game! No checked bags! Since the pandemic, I’ve been enjoying a bit more fashion whenever I venture away from home. And I love it! What a delight it is to wear something fun in a new city. I have found it adds to the overall travel experience in a way I really appreciate.

That was the energy with which I shopped and packed for my trip to cover the coronation of King Charles III. Below is a look at what I wore each day. But first! Three overall tips that helped guide me:

• Pick a signature shade. You’ll notice a lot of HRH blue here! Choosing one color as the focal point makes selecting new pieces easier and lends consistency to your series of looks. It could be your all-time favorite hue or one you are drawn to this season.

• Pack your faves! There are several pieces from my closet that I wear all the time and repeated throughout the week, including my favorite white jeans, a classic gray cashmere sweater I bought for last year’s Platinum Jubilee trip, and my most comfortable sneakers. These staples are a great base for any travel outfit.

• Lean into accessories. Small and easy-to-pack pieces add a welcome punch to any ensemble. Scarves are my favorite! They can be tied around your neck or wrist one day and then on the handle of your tote the next. Don’t sleep on hair accessories, either! The perfect finishing touch. I also found myself constantly reaching for these versatile sunglasses (on sale right now) as well as this adorable bag I picked up (for under $20) on a last-minute trip to Target.

🎧 ICYMI: The final episode of my SMT Coronation Podcast is an audio recap of my trip! Click here to listen.

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What I Wore in London

Note: Some of these are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting SMT!

Day 1

Outfit 1 — Travel to London

Click to shop: Suitcase large / Suitcase small / Knit pants (similar) / Sneakers / Black tote

The flight from Los Angeles to London clocked in at 10-plus hours, meaning I need to travel in something comfortable! My new Away suitcases held up well — and held a lot. (Word of warning: I was just under the weight limit on the big one. So be careful when packing!)

Outfit 2 — Buckingham Palace visit

Click to shop: Jeans (similar) / Tote / Trench (similar) / Trench (similar) / Sneakers / Sunglasses (on super sale!)

My HRH blue trench by Theory was one of the stars of this trip. I splurged on it last year for the Platinum Jubilee and it has proved well worth the investment! I was nervous that the color would be limiting but it’s been surprisingly versatile. It’s no longer available but I’ve linked similar ones here. 

A note on scarves: Both my blue and purple scarves are from QEII’s Platinum Jubilee last year. The purple one was a gift from perfumer Floris and the blue one I bought at Buckingham Palace from the special Machin collection. If you are visiting the U.K., look for the scarf at the gift shops at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle — I saw a few there, and on sale!

Day 2

Outfit 3 — Kensington Palace ‘Crown to Couture’ exhibit

Click to shop: THE COAT / Black tote / Black flats / Black turtleneck sweater / Black frayed hem cropped jeans (similar)

Ahead of my trip, I received a flurry of DMs informing me it still felt like winter in London. With that in mind, I brought THE COAT, which is longer and heavier than you’d think. I wore it on my first full day in the city and it proved to be a little much — spring had arrived! Still, it felt right to wear it to Kensington Palace to visit the Crown to Couture exhibit.

Outfit 4 — Tea at Sketch

Click to shop: Dress (on super sale!) / Handbag / Gold platform sandals / Necklace

Then it was back to the hotel for a quick change before afternoon tea. I bought this dress thinking it was the perfect night-out attire on a warm weather vacation. But it got an early debut at Sketch, which is as fun as everyone says it is! The dress was out of stock but now it’s back, and on sale! Note: The neckline on this dress is very low! I didn’t mind but I’m quite flat chested. 

Day 3

Outfit 5 — Buckingham Palace ‘Style & Society: Dressing the Georgians’ exhibit

Click to shop: White jeans / Gray sweater / Sneakers / Tote / Scarf (similar) 

I squeezed in a quick trip to Buckingham Palace to see the new ‘Dressing the Georgians’ exhibit. It was fascinating! I swapped out my blue jeans for white ones, and tied my scarf around my neck (love the versatility of a scarf!) so it didn’t look exactly like my first day look.

Outfit 6 — Day trip to Windsor Castle

Click to shop: Linen trench / Dress (under $30) / Hat (under $15) / Flats / Handbag / Scarf (similar) / Necklace

The main event on Thursday was our trip to Windsor. Because of the aforementioned weather warnings, I did a quick trip ahead of time to my local mall in search of springtime coats. This linen trench is divine! It’s warm without being heavy. It layered well over this soft floral dress (an updated print in the same style that I bought and wore all last summer).

Day 4

Outfit 7 — Live shot with NY1

Click to shop: Suit jacket / Suit pants / Nude pumps

The day before the coronation had three different occasions and three of my most favorite outfits! I began the day with breakfast and a live shot with my friend, NY1 superstar Jamie Stelter. This blue suit worked really well for both — and it was extremely comfortable — plus these new nude heels, made by Dr. Jill Biden’s go-to brand. Even though we got caught in a flash hail storm (!!) both the suit and the shoes somehow dried and didn’t look awful? 10/10 recommend!

Outfit 8 — Tea at Claridge’s

Click to shop: Dress (other colors) / Dress (exact) / Mini version / Earrings / Gold platform sandals  / Gold ballet flats

Then it was off to tea at Claridge’s with this dream of a dress I was gifted by Staud. It comes in a whole range of prints and colors. It’s voluminous in the best, most fairytale way. I’ll say that it is quite long — you can see how the hem grazed the floor even in my tallest platforms. Good news, there’s a mini version, too! Linked above.

Outfit 9 — SMT meet-up

Click to shop: Lace nap dress / Slip / Sweater / Bow / Blue platform heels

And finally, for the SMT meet-up, I had to wear a Hill House Nap Dress! This white lace one was gifted to me (thank you, Nell!) as was the sweater, bow, and heels. Highly recommend the slip that comes with it, it’s the perfect under garment. This might have been one of the most fun looks of my trip.

Day 5 

Outfit 10 — Heading to the crowds

Click to shop: Silver flats / White jeans / Gray sweater / Hello! tote bag / Sunglasses

Coronation day started very early! I made my way through the streets of London to the Hello! meeting spot in a pair of silver flats I ordered just days before my trip (thank goodness for speedy shipping!). I wore these so much more than I expected — they come in a range of colors. Also, I got a lot of questions about my Hello! bag featuring the queen. It is from last year’s jubilee but they made a new version for KCIII.

Outfit 11 — Covering the Coronation

Click to shop: Dress / Heels / Earrings

This dress was the first thing I ordered for the trip! The minute I saw it, I knew it was exactly what I wanted. For starters, it’s a British brand worn by many royals. What’s more, the suit-like blazer top and the pleated skirt held up well throughout the long day (even after standing in the rain multiple times). I added a pair of earrings from Susan Caplan, who provides the vintage jewelry used on The Crown (this is a style worn by Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth!) and some sparkly heels because it was a coronation after all!

Day 6 

Outfit 12 — Royal Mews + London Eye

Click to shop: Trousers / Necklace / Sneakers / Sunglasses / Tote / Scarf  (similar)

No time to rest! I booked tickets for Sunday morning the Royal Mews to see the Gold State Coach and the other assorted carriages in the royal collection. Then it was off to the London Eye for a birds-eye view of the city. These voluminous chinos were a bit of an impulse buy, but I love them. So comfortable yet so chic! With trousers this size, I wanted a lower profile so as not to add any bulk, hence the (Kate-inspired) white sneakers.

Outfit 13 — Coronation Concert 

Click to shop: White jeans / Gray sweater / Purple coat / Silver bow / Silver flats / Bracelets / Hello! Tote Bag

Sunday evening was capped off with a trip to Windsor for the Coronation Concert. I slipped back into my silver flats and white jeans, layered under this incredible coat Hill House gifted me for the trip. It’s fittingly called the Duvet style — it feels like wearing a blanket! If that blanket came with sparkly buttons. Talk about a statement piece! I paired it with another HH bow, this one I’ve had and worn for years.

Day 7

Outfit 14 — Work Meetings + Interviews

Click to shop: Blue polka dot dress / Nude pumps / Sneakers

And finally! One last working day of the trip. I recorded a podcast with the Hello! team that morning, followed by lunch with British designer Bruce Oldfield and then an interview with Inside Edition. I adore this dress! So comfortable, and by a British brand that has become one of my favorites (I also wore one of their designs to meet First Lady Dr. Jill Biden in January). This dress looked as good with white sneakers as it did with heels. A win!

I’ve already repeated my Windsor Castle outfit for a six year old’s birthday party last weekend — proof these pieces have a longer life ahead of them!

💭 Have any questions for me? I’d be happy to answer them in the comments.

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Move over Emily in Paris, this episode is Elizabeth in London! I’m back from my U.K. adventure and my head is still spinning over witnessing royal history firsthand. So many coronation thoughts, including my five fashion reflections, are in my latest newsletter. You can also find my coronation diary for Hello!

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Hello! I’m home in Los Angeles but my head is still in London, thinking about everything I did and saw. What a trip! Thank you for following along.

I have three things to share with you today, beginning with my coronation diary for Hello! It’s my moment-by-moment recap of May 6, with loads of behind-the-scenes photos, too — I hope you enjoy it. I loved being with the incredible Hello! team, it was a chance to see up close how they cover every aspect of royal news.

My Hello! Coronation Diary

ICYMI: You can listen to my guest appearance on the latest episode of Hello!’s Right Royal Podcast here and watch my Hello! coronation videos here.

Below you will find my favorite fashion moments of the coronation, followed by two takeaways from my trip. Being on the ground in London for the coronation, and talking to people all over the city every day, gave me a fresh perspective on the future of the monarchy.

And stay tuned! The final episode of the So Many Thoughts Coronation Podcast is coming this weekend. It’s an audio compilation of my time in London, including my visit to Windsor, a conversation I had with a camper on the mall, and a trip to the Coronation Concert. I’ll email it out to paid subscribers — sign up below!

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Five Coronation Fashion Reflections

Best hair accessory: Catherine’s silver headpiece

This was the defining sartorial touch of the entire coronation for me — really! — because it walked the finest line between sufficiently formal but not flashy.  

Let’s back up: The fashion speculation ahead of the coronation was uncharacteristically all over the place. Nobody knew what to expect! We just knew it would not be long white gowns from seven decades ago at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. The royal family was in a difficult position, staging an elaborate crowning in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis. What’s more, the guests in Westminster Abbey were not lords and ladies of 1953 but an eclectic group ranging from foreign leaders to celebrities to charity workers.

As the crowning of King Charles III neared, the fashion debate turned to hats versus tiaras (which made sense, given that what a woman wears on her head often dictates the rest of the ensemble). Then emerged a report Catherine would wear a flower crown, which seemed like a stretch to me. In the end, the Princess of Wales’s headpiece was savvily both. It is tiara-like but without the price or provenance of a piece of jewelry. The leaf design felt felt grounded, and less romantic than flowers (she had plenty of those on her dress). To my eye, the headpiece resembled a metallic version of a Greek laurel wreath.

An added bit of thought that made it extra special: Jess Collett, who collaborated with Alexander McQueen on the piece, began her millinery business 25 years ago with a grant from The Prince’s Trust, Charles’s signature charity.

Best twinning: Charlotte and her mum

If you’ve read my book, HRH, then you know that I am fascinated by the ways in which Catherine is introducing her children to the world of royal fashion. This sartorial strategy reminds me of both Queen Elizabeth II and Diana, Princess of Wales. When the late monarch was a young princess, she was often dressed to match her younger sister, Margaret. The approach continued after their father became King George VI when Elizabeth was 10, longer than one might expect. The visual of the two princesses, one of whom was now next-in-line to the throne, gave a sense of unity to their family photos — an important stabilizing message in a time of great turmoil after the abdication of King Edward VIII. 

Princess Diana used twinning a bit differently. She knew her fashion received worldwide attention and occasionally dressed to match her boys — an unexpected mother-and-son combination that delighted royal watchers. It served as a reminder of Diana’s close connection to her boys and her hands-on approach to parenting, something that was new to the royal discourse.

I’d argue that Kate and Charlotte achieved both with their twinning at the coronation. We often see the Waleses coordinating on public engagements, but this felt like was coordinating tipping on twinning. The matching headpieces and updos were a delightful surprise! And a release from the palace shared that they were both in white McQueen dresses, embroidered with the symbols of the four UK nations. I love how Charlotte’s cape echoed Catherine’s robe. It projected both an air of unity and served as a touching reminder of their close family ties.

Best dress: Camilla’s gown

I hope you’ve had a chance to read my conversation with Bruce Oldfield about designing Queen Camilla’s gown for The Cut. What an honor it was to sit down with him just 48 hours after the coronation! It was like SMT in conversation form over chicken pie at Claridge’s — a dream. 

We got into all the details of how the gown came to be, including how Camilla asked him to design it and how quickly she selected the sketch. But what stood out to me most is how Oldfield thought about the role of this dress. Camilla is queen consort, after all, there to support Charles. She is not the sovereign like Elizabeth II, who needed to “fly the flag” as Oldfield said. Camilla’s gown could be a bit lighter and a bit more fun, which begs the question: How does one make a coronation gown fun?

First consider the embroidery of the flowers. Oldfield placed the stately, symbolic blooms at the bottom of the dress. On the more-visible bodice, he featured garlands of wildflowers intertwined with delicate bunting. And the dogs! Camilla’s two rescue terriers, on either side of her cypher, made headlines almost immediately (you can just make them out in the picture above). In addition to the names of her children and grandchildren, Oldfield shared that there were books embroidered, too, on the train. 

When I asked whose idea all these touches were, Oldfield raised his eyebrow and said, “I didn’t suggest any of them.” In the hands of a less-skilled designer, you can see how this might all get a bit…cheesy? Oldfield handled it masterfully, tucking a lot of it along the hem — meaning it wasn’t all that visible during the service or on the balcony. Instead, it feels like a hidden delight. You can practically picture museum goers delightfully crouching and pointing as they spot these touches for years to come.

But before the gown heads on display, Oldfield hinted that we may see it again (!) so be on the look-out for a repeat at an occasion like the State Opening of Parliament. Queen Elizabeth famously re-wore her coronation gown several times, which I love. It was too good of a dress to be worn only once.

PS: Make sure to follow Oldfield on Instagram! He has shared a few glimpses into the design process.

Best suit: Harry in Dior 

The way I held my breath as I waited for the first sight of Prince Harry! And the way I exhaled at his smile. That man did very, very well entering into such a charged family occasion. If he was bothered at being seated in the third row, you’d never know it. (Though my two cents is that history will forever note his designated spot, and that choice will not reflect kindly on King Charles).

Only after the service was over did I learn that the Duke of Sussex wore Dior that day. I’m told that he was asked to wear a suit, rather than a military uniform or robes, and that he chose Dior as a way to bring his mother with him. Cue my eyes welling up! The only other obvious nod to Diana in the coronation fashion was Catherine’s statement diamond and pearl earrings from her collection. They are exquisite! And worn as the princess did, with her hair up, the earrings made a real statement.

Harry’s ensemble was more subtle and, to me, more powerful. You can imagine him literally suiting up to face his family. What comfort it must have brought to wear a brand that famously dressed his mother, particularly as she was transitioning out of royal life! He knows well how his mother used fashion throughout her royal tenure, in unexpected and emotional ways, and it is thrilling to me to see him do the same. (Also, to everyone complaining he wore a storied French brand on this distinctly British occasion, a friendly reminder that Dior’s menswear artistic director is English.)

One aspect of the outfit that felt telling was his light gray tie. Many other men in attendance chose more colorful options (I noticed a lot of light blue). That meant my eye was drawn to the only brighter hues on Harry’s ensemble: His medals. Along his left breast pocket, he wore the Afghanistan Campaign medal, as well as the trio of medals he has for his grandmother’s Golden, Diamond, and Platinum Jubilees — a beautiful statement on his service to queen and country.

Best reminder of the limits of fashion: Charles’s expressions

In my preparation for this day, I thought long and hard about what everyone would wear. In the end, at least for King Charles III, I was far more focused on him than anything he had on.

I got my first glimpse of the new king in person, as he traveled in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. I could see him clear as day from my spot on a crowded, rainy sidewalk. The combination of the white fur top of his robe and the overhead light inside of the carriage drew my eye immediately to his face. He seemed to glow! Charles appeared rather content, moved by it all. I was moved, too, at the sight of a king on the way to his crowning. 

While watching the coronation broadcast, my eyes stayed trained on his face. To my surprise, the crown and all the accouterments faded away as I tried to get a sense of how Charles was feeling. Was he moved? Solemn? Saddened? Reflective? All of the above?

I’ve talked about this with so many people about this in the days since, as well as on Instagram and in my coronation podcast. I’ve gone through photographs searching for some sort of firm conclusion. I don’t know that I have one except to say “Yes, and.” Yes, a coronation is a sacred service between sovereign and God. Seriousness is absolutely called for. And also yes, this is a celebration of the start of a new era in royal history. My expectation of a bit more joy doesn’t feel inappropriate, either (there are brilliant photos of Elizabeth beaming on her coronation day). I saw it more in the photos I’ve seen of Charles than I did watching him on that day, particularly on the balcony. Is that a twinkle in his eye?

What I do know is that watching Charles reminded me of the limitations of fashion. Not even the most elaborate and ornate ensemble is more important than the person wearing it.

But mostly…

A week after the coronation, I’m still thinking about two things: the American presence in London and what this weekend meant for the future of the monarchy.

I am an American (obviously!) and no doubt did very American touristy things during my time in London, including visiting the exhibitions on display at Kensington and Buckingham Palaces and touring Windsor Castle. Everywhere I went, I ran into other Americans who either happened to be visiting or had planned a trip specifically for the coronation. In many ways, I expected this — I had reported on this phenomenon in a story for Town & Country beforehand (read it here). What’s more, media from the U.S. descended on London. All of our major television and several major papers, including the New York Times, covered it extensively.

Still, I was still surprised. Our collective presence reinforced the role we have in all of this. We are not beholden to the royal family — it doesn’t define us culturally nor is it fueled by our tax money — but we are a big part of the attention around the Windsors. Even though we went to great lengths to cut ties with the monarchy two and a half centuries ago, we remain fascinated.

What is behind that? I’m curious what you think! Please record your thoughts in a voice memo (beginning with your name and where you live) and email it to me at Hello@SoManyThoughts.com. (A relevant aside: In the first minute of the behind-the-scenes coronation video shared by the Prince and Princess of Wales Saturday morning, a member of the crowd squeals: “We came from America!” So they seem keen to highlight our interest, too.)

The other thing I keep coming back to is the group shot, one of many official coronation portraits by Hugo Burnand. Many viewers were fixated on Kate’s dress, but my eye zoomed out to the dozen people pictured. This array was positioned as the working members of the family (Anne’s husband is not, but still included as her spouse).  From left, surrounding the king and queen, are Edward, the Duke of Kent; Richard and Birgitte, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester; Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence and Anne, the Princess Royal; William and Catherine, the Prince and Princess of Wales; Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh; Princess Alexandra, and Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh. 

I saw something on social media — was it Twitter? I don’t remember — that pointed out only four of the 12 people were under age 70. Edward, the queen’s youngest son, is 59. His wife, Sophie, is 58. Catherine is 41, William is 40. Quite the visual to put forth of the future of the monarchy, isn’t it? 

It made me think back to an interview Anne gave to Canadian Public Broadcaster CBC News just before the coronation. She was asked about her brother’s desire for a slimmed-down monarchy, which has become synonymous with modernizing the institution. Anne shot it down, saying: “Well, I think the ‘slimmed down’ was said in a day when there were a few more people around. It doesn’t sound like a good idea from where I’m standing, I would say. I’m not quite sure what else we can do.”

The group portrait shows just how slim things have gotten. What will it look like in a decade or two? What does this mean for William’s reign, or the roles his children will play in royal duties? It all felt rather old, and old-fashioned. 

I would love to hear what you thought of the coronation and what it means for the future of your royal watching. Please click below to share in the comments of this newsletter.

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Britt and I first connected years ago when she was running celebrity and entertainment coverage at PopSugar, including royal news. She wrote about everything from where Kate Middleton lived before marrying Prince William to how it felt as a Black woman when Meghan Markle was labeled “difficult.” The Duchess of Sussex inspired her to quit her job in 2020; Britt wrote a fantastic essay about that, too, over on her Substack, which you can read here. Last summer, she packed her bags and moved to London.

Below Britt shares her coronation viewing story, including how the hectic day unfolded, why her mother was on her mind, and who the people in the pub were booing.

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Click below to listen to Britt and other longtime royal watchers in Episode 5 of the So Many Thoughts Coronation Podcast; we chatted ahead of the coronation.

And check out my initial thoughts after the coronation, recorded Sunday morning, in Episode 7. More from me coming soon as I continue to think this day through!

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Thank you for your support of So Many Thoughts, which makes it possible for me to pay contributors! If you haven’t already, please consider upgrading for $5 / month.

Britt Stephens on a Complicated Coronation Day

By Britt Stephens

Meghan Markle skipped the coronation and I probably should have, too. 

I’ll back up. I’m an American living in London. I got here just before the Platinum Jubilee and saw the city shut down (from tube stations to comedy programming to food banks) after the queen’s death a few months later. Now it’s coronation time, and I’m conflicted.

I’ve followed the royals since childhood, to varying degrees. My mom was a massive Princess Diana fan, so my early understanding of the monarchy revolved around her dresses, divorce, and death. It was Kate and William’s wedding in 2011 that kick-started my fascination in a bigger way. I wrote about fashion for PopSugar at the time, and it was impossible not to get sucked in; after months of constant coverage, my casual interest developed into a full-blown obsession. My enthusiasm was piqued by staring at the Lindo Wing doors and hit a fever pitch when Meghan showed up in ripped jeans.

But it all began with Diana. According to my mom, Charles was “a snake” and Camilla was “a home-wrecker” and the royal family “fed its own to the wolves.” I was aware that there were three of us in the marriage so it was a bit crowded and I understood that if sides were to be chosen, we were firmly on Team Spencer. 

My mom died this past January. When I woke up on Coronation Day, I could feel her in my heart. I thought about how early she’d be up watching from the States, and the text I would have gotten badmouthing Camilla’s outfit. The gray, rainy weather only made it heavier. I considered staying in, but I’d booked a table at a pub near Buckingham Palace to watch the event with a friend. I reminded myself how much my mom would have loved that I was here to experience it. 

I pep-talked my way out of the flat and onto the packed Tube, which was shockingly the least stressful part of the journey. Even with the shorter procession route, it seemed like almost every street was closed off or designed to funnel the crowd through tighter side roads, like I was trying to make my way around a music festival where every headliner is performing Bach. I lost count of how many umbrellas poked me in the head or shook water in my face. A panic attack was loading. This was a mistake, I thought.

My friend called to tell me that he, too, was soaking wet and stuck in the crowd with no way to make it to our booking in time. The difference was, he was thinking positively and trying to come up with a new plan. Obviously, I snapped. How dare he stay calm and level-headed!

“Why am I out here?” I said. “I don’t even care about this!” After threatening to turn around and go home, I realized I’d made my four-poster bed and had to lie in it. She won’t go quietly! I hung up, then funneled my rage into finding another pub in the only direction I could walk. I made it to Rose and Crown in Mayfair just in time to see Charles playing with a sword, then an orb. I texted the location to my friend, who arrived 30 minutes later after traversing Hyde Park in a hailstorm. We could not have been grumpier. It took a bowl of chips and two glasses of bubbly to lift the mood. 

I am not religious but I am a sucker for church architecture and a good chorale. I thought the ceremony was beautifully choreographed, albeit a bit sad. Whenever Charles was on screen, someone would mention how “old,” “tired,” or “distressed” he looked. Even my friend did a double take: “That’s him?!” I felt a pang of sympathy. Of course he looks old and tired! His mother is dead and he has a duty to keep calm and carry on without her. His family is a mess. He’s starting a new job at 74, to miserable approval ratings. Distressing! 

You could hear a pin drop as Charles was crowned, then cheers and corks popping. Some groups filtered out before Camilla’s moment, whether from boredom, or protest, or weariness. A woman near me commented on her “smug grin.” There were a handful of boos as the crown hit her head, which surprised me but also made me feel seen. Spencer Hive was in the building. 

It’s commendable that Charles would insist on a multicultural, interfaith coronation that represents modern Britain, and for the most part I think he achieved that. However, it feels disingenuous to go so hard on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in public when that compassion wasn’t extended to the diverse branch of his family tree. The king’s aforementioned approval rating and the anti-monarchy sentiment among young Britons also suggest that their relevance and popularity may be waning. People have real questions: What does the monarchy represent? Who is it really for? And is there a place for it in our post-Spare world? 

Obviously, I was most excited to see how Prince Harry would fit in the spectacle. His return to the royal fold was going to be tense whether Meghan joined him or not. I was too late to catch him cutting up with his cousins in custom Dior, but the Instagram memes made me smile. I wondered if, like me, he got a kick out of the idea that Diana was literally raining on the parade, employing her signature brand of doe-eyed pettiness from the afterlife. I admire him for showing up, and Meghan for hanging back (though her style was certainly missed — the only looks that stood out for me were from Charlotte, Beatrice, and Penny Mordaunt, the sword bearer). 

I’ll always feel disappointment in the monarchy for blowing chance after chance to evolve. The treatment of Meghan by the UK press, and the “institutional gaslighting” that she and Harry faced, have exposed deep-seated issues of racism and discrimination within the firm and made it difficult for me to continue following them. According to royalists, the monarchy is supposed to be a symbol of national unity and progress. If that’s true, we should admit that they ruined a perfect opportunity to reflect that within their own family. 

Coronation Day was not what I anticipated. I expected better weather and didn’t consider being hit with a wave of grief (in hindsight, this was delusional thinking!). But I love a charade, so I tried to enjoy it for what it was: an ancient, overwrought performance with layers of history and complexity, largely meant to distract us from our problems. I was watching, but I can’t say I was celebrating. I didn’t join in on rounds of “God Save the King” or offer any hoorays when they were hip-hipped. A part of me can’t wait to see where the saga goes next, but with Harry and Meghan out, and Charles and Camilla in charge, I also wonder if my interest should stop here.

Since losing my mom, I’ve debated going back to California and starting over. Meghan skipped the coronation to protect her peace and maybe I should have done the same. Despite the day’s drama, I don’t regret going out and catching the vibe. Even if they didn’t wave a flag or pledge their allegiance, people were still in high spirits, buoyed by booze and a bank holiday. The rain subsided eventually. And there was a sense of community that lent itself to chatting with strangers, sharing space and stories, and booing Camilla — just what my mom (and Diana) would have wanted. 

My sincere thanks to Britt! She has a fantastic newsletter, called (click to subscribe); and you can find her on Instagram at @BrittSteps.

Well, WOW. What did we just witness? King Charles III’s coronation has come and gone and I’m still thinking about nearly every aspect, from the processions through London to the ancient rituals and the very unique style. Watching the carriages go by from my spot on the streets of Lond…

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Happy Coronation Eve! I can’t believe the crowning of King Charles III is almost here.

My trip to London kicked off in the best way, with a sighting of the king on my first day. In this episode, you’ll hear what that exciting mo…

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Here at So Many Thoughts, I’m most curious about long-time royal watchers opting out, particularly those whose feelings toward the family have changed. Below is a guest essay by journalist Tariro Mzezewa explaining the arc of her royal watching. I have been a reader of Tariro’s work, particularly her royal pieces, for years now. Check out her take on The Crown for the New York Times (“For the African Women Who Love Diana, ‘The Crown’ Feels Personal”) and her thoughts on Spare for the Cut (“Prince Harry is Upset About the Wrong Thing.”)

For SMT, Tariro reflects on what drew her to the Windsors as well as when, and why, her feelings started to change.

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ICYMI: Ateh Jewel on the monarchy ‘for better or for worse’ and Elizabeth Angell on the moment ‘the royal family presents itself officially to us’

Thank you for your support of So Many Thoughts, which makes it possible for me to pay contributors! If you haven’t already, please consider upgrading for $5 / month.

The So Many Thoughts Coronation Podcast

Click below to listen to a look back at the history of coronations, a preview of King Charles III’s crowning, and my conversations with royal writers and watchers about this complex moment in royal history. (Episode 3 is free for all!)

PS: You can listen to this Substack podcast in your favorite podcast app! Details on how to do that can be found here.

Tariro Mzezewa on Why She Won’t Be Watching the Coronation

By Tariro Mzezewa

For weeks, my mother and I have been going back and forth about whether we will tune into King Charles III’s coronation. To many this might seem like a silly thing, but to us — a pair of obsessive royal watchers for decades now — that we would even consider not watching such an historic event is a big deal. 

I’ve re-told the story of the first, and only, time my mother saw Princess Diana in Harare, Zimbabwe in the early 1990s so many times that in some ways I feel like it is my own. Of course, I know that it isn’t my story and my mother tells it far better than I ever could. But I like to tell it because I love how happy the sight of the princess walking outside the Sheraton Hotel  made her. Although they didn’t speak, just seeing Diana in person made her feel connected to her.

The story makes me feel connected to both my mom and Princess Diana, who died when I was five years old. Growing up in Zimbabwe and later in the United States, our home seemed to always have something to do with our friend Lady Di, whom you’d think we knew personally. Whether it was the VHS recording of her wedding, a magazine with her picture on the cover, or a photo book of her life and looks, Diana was a constant presence in our lives. When we moved to the United States in the early 2000s, we remained obsessed. We held the princess up as the standard when we tuned into award shows. If an actress wore a black dress, we recalled Diana’s revenge dress or her Travolta dress; if a singer wore a purple dress, we compared it to Diana’s 1996 Versace look (one of our favorites). For every modern look, there was a Diana comparison to be made. Joining the fashion police in their critiques and appreciation of celebrity’s red carpet looks was simply an extension of the sport we’d mastered while obsessing over the royal family. 

My love of royal watching feels like something I inherited from my mother, something I’ve always had. I am also a girl who loves romance; I eagerly bought the fairytales Disney sold. Watching the royal family always felt like seeing a real-life fairytale (even though we know that was anything but true). While I maintain some skepticism and know that “happily ever after” is often the stuff of fiction, I’ve always loved what royal events and the hubbub around them brings. It’s an excuse to tune out from my everyday life and into this purported fairytale that feels so foreign and romantic from afar. 

When then-Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles got married in 2005, my mom and I had our eyes glued to the television. We analyzed Camilla’s dress (boring, but appropriate); her hat of choice (confusing); whether Princes Harry and William seemed happy about the nuptials (no way!); if the queen really approved of the marriage (she didn’t have a choice, did she?). In 2011, when Kate Middleton and Prince William got married, despite being in different countries and time zones — my mom in Washington DC and I in Rome — we got on Skype to debrief about Kate’s Alexander McQueen wedding dress (we loved it! Harry’s future wife would have a lot to live up to, we said at the time).

When Harry married Meghan Markle in 2018, we once again watched the royal wedding from different cities, but talked through the entire ceremony. Meghan’s dress, we thought, was perfect, right down to the details of her embroidered dress representing 53 Commonwealth countries. Part of the sheer delight of royal watching was that it gave us a sense of escape — even if just for a few hours. I loved seeing people in beautiful clothes, in classic uniforms and, of course, in tiaras and jewels. 

King Charles’ upcoming coronation marks the first royal event in my life that my mother and I are conflicted about watching. These days, it seems, it’s impossible for us to separate the atrocities committed by the monarchy from the pomp and celebration. The uniforms remind me of the images of colonial soldiers, the tiaras and baubles remind me of the plundering done at the hand of the monarchy. And, unfortunately, no amount of beautiful clothes seem to surpass the discomfort of those other realities for me. 

My change in perspective has come with age and education, but it is also the result of hearing Harry and Meghan talk about the inner-workings of the royal family. While I am skeptical of some of the Sussexes’ claims about the challenges of being in the British Royal Family, I do believe that, at a bare minimum, despite his power and influence, the king didn’t stop the British tabloids’ cruelty and racism toward Meghan. 

While watching weddings, royal baby births, and jubilees in the past, I always chose to focus on the delight of seeing people from all over Britain and the world come together to celebrate. In light of Meghan’s experience, it’s hard to continue to support an institution that seemingly refused to accept her — the love of their son’s, brother’s, and nephew’s life. I believe Meghan and Harry enough that the sparkle of the royal family has faded. 

I don’t think that the king is all bad or all good. I recognize that through the Prince’s Trust, he has contributed immensely to the lives of underprivileged people in Britain. I believe that he cares about the environment and other social causes that matter to me. Knowing that the coronation will be a less lavish affair than in the past makes me happy, it suggests that the king might understand why people feel resentment and anger toward the monarch. 

But at a time when we all find ourselves often wondering if we can separate the good parts of institutions from their legacies of slavery, colonialism and racism, it only feels consistent and right that I decline all parts of this particular institution, including the parts that have long captured my attention, like royal weddings and, in this case, the coronation. In recent weeks, to my own surprise, I’ve found myself glossing over coronation and other royal news headlines and do not plan to watch on May 6. I’ll have to settle for everyone’s Instagram posts this time around. Meanwhile, my mom hasn’t decided if she’ll be tuning in or not. 

Thank you so much, ! You can find her on Instagram here, subscribe to her Substack here, and follow her writing for the Cut here.

Of all the people I wanted to talk to for this podcast, there was one group I looked forward to chatting with most: royal watchers. These are our people, right? Folks who have followed the Windsors for a long time, drawn to the family…

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The atmosphere, and yours truly, got a significant jolt when the king pulled up to the palace. It was a reminder that there’s nothing quite as powerful as a royal being seen.

As we continue to think through the charged topic of a coronation, I’m thrilled to bring you another guest essay by a woman I admire. Elizabeth Angell now runs my favorite parenting website, Romper. I was lucky enough to write for her back when she was executive digital director of Town & Country, where she made the site into a must-read on the British Royal Family. Elizabeth is also tops on my list of people to text when major royal news breaks — I always want to get her take.

Below is her piece on living in Paris in August 1997, what it was like to drive coverage of the Windsors in turbulent times, and the questions she has for May 6 and beyond.

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PS: There are 20 (!) SMT gatherings planned to watch or discuss the coronation, with groups getting together in Atlanta, Seattle, New York, Chicago, and more. For the full list, as well as how to join a group, click here.

The So Many Thoughts Coronation Podcast

Click below to listen to a look back at the history of coronations, a preview of King Charles III’s crowning, and my conversations with royal writers and watchers about this complex moment in royal history. (Episode 3 is free for all!)

Check out these instructions for how to listen to the SMT podcast on your phone via your favorite podcast app.

Elizabeth Angell on the Moment ‘the Royal Family Presents Itself Officially to Us’

By Elizabeth Angell

I have several garlands worth of Union Jack bunting sitting in an Etsy cart, waiting for me to check out. I am trying to decide if I should throw a coronation watch party. Would anybody come to my house at 5 a.m. on a Saturday to watch this particular bit of British royal pageantry? Can I find clotted cream in Brooklyn? Will I look unhinged throwing a party to celebrate the accession to the throne of a 74-year-old man whose name elicits a near-universal shrug and nose wrinkle? (As in: “I guess he’s King Charles now?”)

I probably don’t have to worry too much about being judged. By now my friends and loved ones are well aware of my fascination with the British royal family. People have asked me if I’m a monarchist. They assume my enthusiasm for royal minutiae means I am a Windsor partisan. I am quick to tell them that I do not care — not in that way. I’m not on anyone’s side. I am an American; if I had to choose, I’d rather live in a mansion in Montecito than a drafty bedroom in Buckingham Palace. I was born in a country that threw off the yoke of King George’s tyranny two and a half centuries ago, and so I am free to amass trivia, to ogle the ill-gotten jewels, and to watch this self-conscious transmission of history without worrying that I might one day have to vote on its legitimacy in the 21st century. 

I suspect many of the people who are having a hard time getting excited about the coronation of a male queen (in this day and age!) found their way to royal watching through a wedding or the arrival of a new prince or princess. Fair enough, but my interest in the Windsors wasn’t launched by a “fairy tale” wedding or the birth of a baby; I was hooked by a tragedy. My first job after college was working for two journalists writing a book about Princess Diana’s accident and death; for months I researched the Windsors and Spencers and Al Fayeds. I was living in Paris in August 1997 and I watched as the city — and then the world — came to a halt in the dog days of summer to scream its grief at the death of a charismatic, beautiful, sad woman. Mother Theresa died the same week. Why did a literal saint not elicit anything like the same kind of collective outpouring? 

It wasn’t just that people were affected by Diana’s death. It seemed to amplify their own losses, their own feelings about neglectful, unfaithful husbands, and chilly in-laws, and old-fashioned institutions that had made them feel patronized and snubbed one too many times. I’ve been an anglophile and history lover my whole life, but it wasn’t the facade of Kensington palace that drew me in. It was the austere gates piled high with wilting flowers and teddy bears and candles and weeping men and women. Everything the Windsor family and the Royal Firm has done since August 1997 has been to atone, apologize, and try to eclipse that terrible week.

As a journalist, I’ve covered the royal family for more than two decades, and it’s given me an excuse to indulge my curiosity. From 2016 to 2020 I was the Executive Digital Editor at Town & Country and together with my brilliant colleagues (in particular Caroline Hallemann) we built a reputation for thorough, even-handed coverage of the British Royal Family. We saw it as our job to answer questions about who these people were and why they were doing what they were doing. It was a straightforward mission at a time when other digital outlets were aggregating and amplifying every rumor, regardless of its source, and reducing “royal protocol” to questions of nail color and nude pantyhose. It occasionally seemed silly (really, who cares what nail polish Kate wore) but by the time Meghan Markle became the Duchess of Sussex, that mission had taken on a profound urgency. It mattered what people knew and understood about things like “royal protocol,” because so many misinformed people were slinging lies about this transformative new member of the family. Those lies — and the heightened emotions this family seems to bring out — were snowballing. 

We all know how that turned out. 

For an institution that is supposed to change at a glacial, imperceptible pace — above the fray but not out-of-step with the times — the last few years have been a slushy, dizzying, messy transformation. The Windsors (and the machine that keeps them afloat) have not reacted with particular grace to much of that change, so I watch the big, meticulously-planned events with special interest. These are the moments when the royal family presents itself officially to us, tells us what it values (at least outwardly) and accounts for its flaws and past sins (or fails to do so). Queen Elizabeth had 70 years to establish herself as a steadfast, cautious, loyal figurehead, an icon of Britishness who somehow maintained her aloof relevance from Empire to Brexit. King Charles has much less time. What will he want us to know about Britishness in his time? How will he set up his son William to do that again in a relatively short time?

Unlike the Windsor family weddings and funerals that we’ve seen in the last few decades, whose purpose was immediately clear and for which we had our own personal reference points to compare them with, this strange event will be unlike anything most of us have ever seen. There will be scepters and orbs, stones of destiny (yes really) and anointing with oil. There will be talk of sacred duty. 

And unlike weddings and funerals, which are at least in part for the family, I believe that coronations do not count if they are not witnessed in some way or another by people. The Archbishop of Canterbury and King Charles might see it differently, but as far as I’m concerned, this thing is for us, the viewing public, to usher us all into the next phase of this institution. It’s a living link — not just to the many British monarchs that have come before, but to the people who have watched coronations from roadsides in London for a millennia. And if you watch this one, you’ll be able to see how William and Kate change the ceremony when it’s their turn, because despite what the Palace might have you believe, there is nothing fixed or even all that ancient about this ritual — it is constantly evolving. 

I’ll be looking for all that on May 6. And gleefully tracking all the European royalty who make their way to Westminster Abbey (you didn’t think my enthusiasm for princesses and aristocrats ended with the Windsors, did you?). Ask me questions about the Greek royals and their strange half exile, a parable about modern Greek identity (and Duty Free wealth) if ever there was one. What about the Casiraghis or Crown Princess Mette-Marit? All have fascinating, very modern stories caught up in ancient families. And they wear really good clothes.

And I’ll have my eyes peeled for the Black Prince’s Ruby. It’s a gigantic, bright red knob of a gem (though it’s not actually a ruby, but an uncut, deep red, 170-carat spinel). It once belonged to Sultan Muhammad VI of Granada and entered the British Crown Jewels in the 14th century. It was on the jewel-encrusted that King Henry V wore into battle at Agincourt on October 25, 1415. Ordinarily you can visit it in the Tower of London, where it lives, embedded in the front of the Imperial State Crown. But on the first Saturday in May, it will be placed on King Charles’s head during the coronation ceremony. 

Tell me you don’t want to see that.

Thank you so much, Elizabeth! You can find her on Instagram here and check out the award-winning parenting coverage she runs at Romper.

And stay tuned! Episode 5 of the So Many Thoughts Coronation Podcast drops later today, featuring my conversations with Elizabeth and Ateh Jewel (read her essay here) as well as Adebola Olayinka and Britt Stephens. I’ll email it out to paid subscribers, make sure you are signed up so it arrives in your inbox. 📥

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Can you believe that coronation week is upon us? Before I make my way across the pond, I wanted drop you a quick note with a few exciting updates: A new way to follow my travels, how to join an SMT coronation gathering near you, and details about my …

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With one week to go until the crowning of King Charles III, I have so many thoughts — and so many questions. How are the Brits feeling about the coronation? What is Charles trying to accomplish with this major royal moment? And what is the role…

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🎧 Stay tuned for a special episode of the So Many Thoughts Coronation Podcast featuring conversations I have had with these writers.

Below you will find an essay by Dr. Ateh Jewel, a British journalist, historian, and diversity advocate. Ateh and I connected several years ago for a piece I wrote for the New York Times about headbands (Ateh has a fabulous collection!). She then shared her incredible insights following Harry and Meghan’s Netflix docu-series in a video chat here on Substack (you can watch a replay here). I admire the depth and context Ateh brings to every conversation — and was very excited she was up for writing an essay for SMT.

Ateh shared her thoughts on what the monarchy means to her, what she thinks of how Meghan was treated, and what she will be doing on coronation day.

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Thank you for your support of So Many Thoughts, which makes it possible for me to pay contributors! If you haven’t already, please consider upgrading for $5 / month.

ICYMI

• Read all about my coronation coverage plans, along with my interview with Hello! Royal Editor Emily Nash.

• Check out my coronation style inspiration, including what I’m packing for London and suggestions for your own at-home coronation watch party.

• Listen to the first three episodes of the So Many Thoughts Coronation Podcast. Episode 3 is free for all! New episode coming this weekend.

PS: Check out these instructions for how to listen to this podcast on your phone via your favorite podcast app.

Ateh Jewel on the Monarchy: ‘For Better or For Worse’

By Ateh Jewel

The first time I saw Queen Elizabeth II in real life, and not just off the telly, was in the 1980s outside my house. I was playing on my front steps when a huge black fancy car stopped at a red light with a royal flag on top. I thought to my little 6-year-old self: That looks like out of a fairy tale book. When I looked closer, it was the queen sitting in the back seat gossiping, giggling, and being her most unguarded and authentic self with her lady in waiting. I started screaming and waving and they continued to talk. I screamed some more and, in pure Caribbean grandma energy, she stopped her conversation, gave me a look (side eye) as if to say, The grown ups are talking. Then she gave me a rushed warm royal wave and sped off once the light went green. 

That moment captures the magic of the queen and the appeal of the royal family for me: Fairy tale, otherworldly glamour, history, power, which also feels so strangely accessible. Most Brits, even those who are anti-monarchy, felt the queen was an extended part of their family — a warm, ever-present, dutiful, colorful figure that made you feel everything was going to be alright. 

Growing up British, there has never been anything other than the royal family and the monarchy — like, literally. The royal family’s reign spans 37 generations and 1209 years. There is something deeply reassuring and comforting in that, knowing there is an invisible golden thread that links us to the past and creates a sense of continuity and stability. The royal family has been a focal point and reassuring presence through the World Wars, the Blitz when bombs rained down on the UK, through economic crisis and the pandemic. Paddington Bear, a cup of tea and the monarchy — it doesn’t get more stoic and British than that. The monarchy is a useful tool, a soothing balm, something unique and quite special, which is why I’m pro-monarchy with a little ‘p.’ 

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I’ve always loved history, even though as a Nigerian / Trinidadian / Brit I never saw myself represented in history books, stately homes, or palaces. I knew — even as a kid — these bastions of power were literally all built by the blood of my enslaved ancestors. You would think it would make me anti-monarchy. But instead I say lean in, acknowledge the past. I feel we should honor and shine a light on all the erased achievements, power, and stories of the enslaved and programmed children of empire, so we can all heal and move forward with strength and honor. 

On coronation day, I will be waving a flag but at the same time so angry that the royal family wasted an opportunity to grow and change by flinging their arms open to embrace Duchess Meghan. I think the royal family are an incredible social barometer, which helps us discuss issues such as misogyny, class, racism, and unconscious bias — all things many people in the UK and around the world think no longer applies or exists.

For example, take Princess Micheal of Kent wearing a Blackamoor brooch to one of the first functions with Meghan. My guess is that it was worn as a welcoming gesture, which makes it even more scary. These figures are offensive, with the decorative style becoming popular in the 17th century yet again fetishizing Black bodies, the statues and jewelry were that of servitude and oppression. 

I have been very vocal about the way Meghan has been treated by the press and how the royal family — especially in light of the Jeremy Clarkson comments about his dreaming of her being stripped naked, paraded in the streets, and excrement being thrown at her — stayed deafening silent. And what have been Meghan’s crimes? Has she had a decades-long affair or hung out with convicted pedophiles? In my opinion, her real crime was not only being “uppity” but being “ungrateful” and rejecting wholeheartedly the alleged toxic situation she found herself in. She created her own fairytale ending by whisking off her prince to Southern California with her chickens and babies while all being a “ghastly” American and a divorced actress with mixed heritage ancestry. Meghan has it all in the bullshit bingo stakes, she triggers and hits the jackpot when it comes to class, empire, misogyny, divorce, and her ethnicity. You go, girl! Show them what power, grace and fabulous looks like.

With all that said, I’m still hopeful. I still think things will change for the better and I believe in healing, growing and evolution rather than cancel culture, which would be the abolition of the monarchy. A huge, intergenerational, thousand-year cancel.

Instead, on coronation day, I will be in front of the TV, perhaps at a street party, cup of tea in hand, a scone and some coronation quiche in the other. I will wish my king well, raise a toast to the late queen for her duty and commitment to this country, think of the future and also reminisce about how far we have come. That’s why the monarchy and the coronation are important — social, glitzy, community-bonding glue, for better or for worse. 

My sincere thanks to Ateh. Follow her on Instagram and be on the lookout for her new beauty line, coming soon (details here!).

💭 How are you feeling about the coronation? I would love to hear from you! Please record a voice memo and email it to me at Hello@SoManyThoughts.com.

Not sure how to do that? Here is a guide for recording voice memos on an iPhone and another for Android.

With a week and a half until King Charles III’s coronation — can you believe it? — I thought it was time to take a look at what we can expect on May 6.

The new sovereign wants this major moment in royal history to reflect his vision for a “smaller, more modern monarchy,” according to the Telegraph. So what does that mean? From the music and fashion, to the controversies and (so-called) snubs, this third episode of the So Many Thoughts Coronation Podcast has all the details we know — so far.

Along with my thoughts, you’ll hear from royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith and historian Marlene Koenig, as well as Emily Nash, royal editor of Hello! magazine, and Victoria Murphy, a contributing editor at Town & Country. Consider this your comprehensive coronation guide.

👑 ICYMI: Here are links to Episode 1: What is a Coronation? and Episode 2: A Look Back at Queen Elizabeth II’s Crowning

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Record YOUR Thoughts! 💭

Have comments or questions about King Charles III’s crowning? I know you do! And I want to hear them.

Record a voice memo and send it to me at Hello@SoManyThoughts.com. Please start with your name and where you live, then share your thoughts. How are you feeling about the coronation? What are you curious about? Will you be watching?

Not sure what to say? Click below for an example (thanks to Jenny in Lake Forest Park, Washington). And stay tuned! I’ll be compiling some of these for an upcoming podcast.

PS: Here is a guide for recording voice memos on an iPhone and another for Android.

This episode of the So Many Thoughts Coronation Podcast was produced by Zoë Marcus, with editing and sound design by Ronnie Polidoro. The podcast logo features an illustration of St. Edward’s Crown from 1937 via Getty Images.

The countdown to the coronation continues! In this second episode of the So Many Thoughts Coronation Podcast, I’m rewinding the clock to Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953. This was an extraordinary day for the 27-year-old monarch — as we…

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💭 But first: I know there are conflicting feelings about the coronation among the SMT community and it’s very important to me to hold space for that. I’ve asked several writers I admire to contribute their thoughts. Stay tuned for those essays beginning next week. 

🎤 I also want to *hear* from YOU. Have comments or questions about King Charles III’s crowning? Please record a voice memo and send it to me at Hello@SoManyThoughts.com. Make sure to begin with your name and where you live. I’ll be compiling some of these for an upcoming podcast. (Not sure how to record a voice memo? Here’s a guide for iPhones and another for Android.)

🎧 Speaking of the So Many Thoughts Coronation Podcast: Thank you for the incredible feedback on the first episode. Click below to listen to a preview and check out the full episode here. Another drops this week!

👑 And finally, scroll down for an update on the SMT Coronation Gatherings. Paid subscribers will find a list of locations where people have volunteered to host a viewing party that morning or a discussion afterwards. Don’t see your city? Maybe you want to host? One more chance to raise your hand below!

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Coronation Style Inspiration

Note: I use affiliate links, which means that if you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work!

My Dream Packing List

Click to shop: 1 Tan Sunglasses | 2 White Lace Nap Dress | 3 Pink Fascinator | 4 Jewelry Roll | 5 Boucle Blazer | 6 Meghan’s Pumps (*included in the Shopbop Sale!) | 7 Pearl Hoops | 8 Floral Dress | 9 Kate's Sunglasses | 10 Blue Suitcase | 11 Striped Tee |  12 Passport Case | 13 Sneakers | 14 Jeans | 15 Headband | 16 Handbag | 17 Bow Flats | 18 Blue Tulle Trench Dress

There has been a lot of debate over what the dress code will be for King Charles’s coronation service. Long gowns and glittering tiaras like Queen Elizabeth II’s crowning in 1953? Or day dresses and festive hats for a more modern feel? TBD! My hunch is that either way the color palette will be quite soft and spring-like. My own packing list includes HRH blue (because, of course!) but also the floral vibe represented in the official invitation. 

I’ve had this fanciful blue trench coat in my cart for weeks but am now tempted to splurge on this pink floral dress. I’ve just ordered new luggage (both the carry-on and a larger version) as well as this jewelry organizer. I’ll definitely be packing my go-to mid-rise jeans and Kate’s sunglasses. Also, Meghan’s bow heels are included in the Shopbop sale…I’m just saying.

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Cozy Coronation Watch Party

Click to shop: 1 Striped Pajamas | 2 Teapot | 3 Slippers | 4 Champagne Flutes | 5 London Pajamas | 6 Gold Pearl Tiara | 7 Union Jack Mug | 8 Pearl Headband | 9 Royal Blend Tea | 10 Plastic Tiaras | 11 Three Cheers Mug | 12 Kids Floral Pajamas | 13 Teddy Bear | 14 Navy Fascinator | 15 Robe | 16 Walkers Shortbread | 17 Coronation Cross Stitch | 18 Teapot (Note: M&S ships internationally! Make sure to adjust your browser accordingly.)

The coronation service is set to start at 11am in London, with the procession ahead of time beginning even earlier than that. You know what that means! Americans who want to watch live will once again be rising before dawn in the name of royal watching. Back in 2018, I wore pajamas and a fascinator for Meghan and Harry’s wedding — this assortment is giving that same energy. I’ve ordered these blue-and-white PJs for my own trip. Fancy a hot beverage? There’s this adorable teapot or a Union Jack coffee mug. And for your bubbly, these champagne flutes feel like an extra special touch. PS: Please tell me someone will be cross-stitching while watching!

Decorations Fit for a King

Click to shop: 1 Plastic Crown | 2 Coronation Bingo | 3 Cupcake Toppers | 4 Carriage Table Centerpiece/Treat Stand | 5 King Charles Bunting | 6 Double Decker Bus Centerpiece/Treat Stand | 7 UK Flag Plates | 8 Champagne Coupes | 9 Coronation Postcard Collection | 10 Coronation Biscuits/Cookies | 11 Flag Bunting | 12 Coronation Flag | 13 Telephone Booth Cutout (Note: M&S ships internationally! Make sure to adjust your browser accordingly.)

For those of you looking to decorate their surroundings, here is a festive collection of options for you. The KCIII bunting is sure to garner a laugh! Also, Jennie from the SMT community is behind this absolutely gorgeous assortment of biscuits — ships globally. Keep your guests entertained with coronation bingo and if you get this cardboard cut-out of a British phone booth, you must tag me in the pics! Looking to send your well-wishes to other royal watchers? I adore this stationery set from Lucie Claire Dunbar (her drawing of QEII with Paddington went viral last year).

Update: Coronation Gatherings

Here is a list of locations where SMTers have signed up to host gatherings or discussions (either on May 6 or in the days following). We also have one digital host facilitating a Zoom on May 10. Many of these are continuations of the SMT Spare Book Clubs, which I love! 

The groups in progress are as follows:

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The countdown to the coronation is on! In preparation for the crowning of King Charles III, I thought perhaps we should *talk* this all through. Enter the So Many Thoughts Coronation Podcast. 👑 I'll be reflecting back on the history, looking ahead …

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With just three weeks to go until the coronation of King Charles III, I’m thrilled to share I will be in London covering the festivities. My diary is filling up quickly with all kinds of fun plans. I can’t wait to bring you with me for this major moment in royal history!

Here’s one bit I’m particularly excited about: I will be joining the team at Hello! for Coronation Saturday. You can read all about it in their (lovely!) announcement here. We will be stationed along the procession route, where I will be adding my commentary to their robust coverage of the ceremony. 

It is such an honor to be invited. As a loyal reader for many years, I have long-admired Hello!’s thorough and unbiased reporting on the Windsors. My stack of keepsake royal magazines includes copies of Hello! from William and Catherine’s 2011 wedding through Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee last year. (BTW: You may know Hello! as a UK-based outlet covering the royals and all kinds of celeb news. The brand has begun growing its digital presence in the U.S., working in concert with London HQ. Check ’em out here!)

Hello!’s Royal Editor Emily Nash and I first crossed paths back in 2014, when the then-Duke and Duchess of Cambridge came to New York. She was representing the British media on an engagement with Kate; I was working at the Wall Street Journal and was the American pool reporter. I’ve followed her work ever since.

Nash has spent more than a decade covering the royal family, reporting on the birth of 10 royal babies and traveling across five continents on tour with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, King Charles and Queen Camilla, as well as the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. As the coronation nears, I wanted to chat with her about how she got into royal reporting, how she approaches the beat (that’s the journalism term for the area of coverage), and what she is doing to prepare for this historic moment. Lots more in our conversation below!

PS: I was a guest on Hello!’s Right Royal Podcast, where we made all sorts of coronation predictions. Have a listen! You can catch all of the magazine’s coronation coverage here.

Hear ye! Hear ye!

The first episode of the So Many Thoughts Coronation Podcast is coming this weekend on Substack (check out the preview clip above!). I will email it out to paid subscribers, so make sure you are signed up.

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ICYMI: My conversations with two insightful authors of newly released royal books, Sally Bedell Smith on ‘George VI and Elizabeth’ and Jennifer Robson on ‘Coronation Year.’

And here is the SMT discussion thread (with 300+ comments!) on Harry attending the coronation and Meghan staying home in California.

‘Hello!’ Royal Editor Emily Nash on a Decade of Covering the Windsors

Please note: Our conversation has been edited and condensed.

Hello, Emily! So nice to chat with you. I’d like to start by asking you to share your path to becoming a royal reporter. Was it something you always wanted to do? 

Emily Nash: I always wanted to be a journalist. I loved talking to people and I realized that if I could be paid to talk to people and write it down that I would probably be very happy. I went into newspapers as a news reporter and I did that for 10 years. I traveled the world, I covered all sorts of things from earthquakes and plane crashes to the Olympic Games, the Chilean mine rescue, really varied stories and great experiences. 

Then I fell pregnant and let’s just say that the environment where I was working wasn’t fully catering to women in news at the time. They decided that I could do the royal beat because there’s a lot more control in terms of where you need to be. You know things in advance, you can forward plan. And actually, it turned out to be a really good thing for me. I was still able to travel, but I knew where I was going, when I was going, how long I’d be away for, which was something that didn’t happen before in news.

It seemed like a strange step for me at the time. I must confess, I never set out to be a royal correspondent. It was not on my radar at all — and it has just turned out to be one of the busiest news beats going over the last few years. So much for there being a better work-life balance! But I’ve had a fantastic 10 years of traveling with them and covering their major life events and being there for the historic moments. I’m very lucky.

We met back in 2014, which feels like a lifetime ago, during Will and Kate’s visit to New York.

We were in the British Consul’s residence. I remember there being the big Andy Warhol picture of the queen on the wall. We chatted briefly, and you were probably thinking, “What is this ridiculous job that these people are doing? Following [the royal family around] around and writing about what they’re wearing and who said what to who?” You were on the other side of that for the US pool. 

I remember it so clearly! I was at the Wall Street Journal at the time and raised my hand to cover the royal visit. I had done pool reporting for a presidential campaign — but royal pool duty felt different. 

It is a very strange job as a reporter to do. You can’t ask any questions, you’re just an observer. You are purely there to observe and then relay what happens.

The thing that really stuck with me was how this room full of accomplished Brits all stood up a little straighter when Kate arrived.

I’ve witnessed that so many times. There’s sort of anxiety before someone arrives, then a sort of giddiness while they’re actually there. And then there’s this palpable sense of relief, but also joy because people genuinely, really, get something from these engagements and from these interactions.

You were working at a newspaper at the time. What made you want to move to a magazine?

I was at the Sun at that point. I switched to Hello! in 2015. That was a nice move, from one extreme to the other really, in terms of the way things are done. And I’ve been there ever since, becoming royal editor in 2017. I had perhaps thought that working on a magazine, a weekly magazine, might be a gentler pace and there might be less coverage. Boy, was I wrong!

This has been a busy few years. Is there a moment in all of your royal watching that really stands out?

I would have to say the Queen’s funeral as a reporting experience for me. I was lucky enough to be inside Westminster Abbey and it just felt like it wasn’t real. It was like watching something from the Crown — and yet I was sitting there and could hear the music. I had goosebumps. You could look right across and see the members of the late queen’s family sitting there. And that, for me, was something I’ll never forget.

I’ve had so many great experiences, particularly on tour. We’ve seen some brilliant people working in all corners of the world. That’s the thing that I really find satisfying about the job, you are able to give a bit of a spotlight to people who might not otherwise get one. The royals do that so well. They are able to highlight really good and positive things.

With my news background, I was very used to always focusing on what had gone wrong and things that hadn’t worked out for people and sadness and tragedy. It’s lovely to have more uplifting takes on life.

I’m curious how you would describe your approach to royal reporting at Hello!. There has been a lot of talk, especially around the publication of Harry’s memoir Spare, about how the press covers the royal family and the effect it has on the people involved.

The approach for Hello! — and this goes for everybody we write about, not just the royals — is very much that we let our readers decide. We’re there to present the facts, we’re there to fill you in on what they’re wearing, to give you all the lovely glamour, but we’re also there to tell you about the day-to-day stuff that they’re doing. We are fortunate to have space to give that, quite a lot of words every week. We are able to go into more detail than the newspapers can — on their jobs, on their interests, on their charitable pursuits, for example. 

Hello! doesn’t exist in the same way that newspapers do, to hold the powerful to account. We’re there more to celebrate people. We might be accused of being overly soft on people, perhaps, sometimes, but that’s not what our readers want. Our readers want to know what they’re doing and they want to make up their own minds about the situation. 

And obviously, as any good journalist, you aim to have balance in the stories that you are telling. When there is conflict, you try to speak to both sides. But on the whole, we focus on the positive and I think that there’s definitely room for that in the news media and in the wider media at the moment, when things can be so polarized.

Speaking of polarized: One moment in Hello!’s royal coverage that really jumps out to me is your “Hello! To Kindness” campaign in 2018. It came at a time when the discourse, particularly online, took a real turn. What was behind your initiative?

We found out that Kensington Palace were having to moderate their social media boards in a way they’d never had to before because of the torrent of abuse. It was directed at both Kate and Meghan. And we decided to say to readers: Look, these two women are doing what they do, they are allowed to get on with their lives without us pitting them against each other. It was a real narrative, Kate versus Meghan, at the time. We subsequently found that actually a lot of the conflict was between the two princes rather than the wives, per se.

We wanted people to think about what they were saying, not just in media, but on social media. People have a responsibility, when they post things, to not just unleash their thoughts about someone without thinking through what the impact on that person might be. I feel that everyone’s entitled to their opinions, but we really do need to be kinder towards each other.

It’s very easy to be anonymous and be a keyboard warrior and say something for fun or for, I don’t know, attention — but I think it’s dangerous. Particularly when it’s used against women, it’s really demeaning.

Harry has been quite vocal about his frustrations with the royal rota, which you are a part of on behalf of Hello! Can you explain what that system is? 

As you saw yourself, back in New York on that one occasion, if you have access to a rota job, you are purely there to write about what’s happening in that moment. You are not making comments on the person, you are not digging into their private life, you’re not discussing the state of their marriage or anything like that. You are literally writing about, I don’t know, the King visiting an organic farm: What did he do? Who did he speak to? What was their reaction? What was the charity or the issue that he was trying to highlight? It’s that simple. 

[The rota is made up of] the national newspapers, but also the national broadcasters and the Press Association. It’s the fairest and simplest way of covering what the royal family do, and highlighting their work, without having sort of 20 or 30 people following them around.

In the US, we call it a pool system. I was part of it when I did political reporting. In a lot of ways, it’s a logistical necessity — not every reporter and photographer can be there at every moment, so everyone takes turns being the one who goes, writes it all down, and shares it with everyone.

I think Harry’s issue with [the royal rota] is a little more complex, it’s to do with his particular concerns around certain titles who are part of that setup. But I think on the whole, it’s a good working relationship. I think some of the royal correspondents are some of the best journalists in Fleet Street. They are very good at their jobs, they are asking the questions, they know their readers want people to be held to account and I don’t think they’re unfair. These are the people who are following the royal family day in day out, who go on tour, who cover the actual engagements. 

Where I think things get a bit murkier is with columnists or commentators who are paid to give their opinion. That’s very different from the people who are reporting who are the stories. I don’t want to be naive enough to say that there’s no overlap. Of course there is some overlap occasionally. Some publications may have an angle they want to pursue. But I think a lot of the headlines, for example, around Meghan that caused the most controversy came from columnists and commentators rather than the people doing the on the ground reporting. I think it’s important to differentiate between those. 

There is another aspect of palace-press relations Harry has talked about: Behind-the-scenes briefing. What has your experience with that been like?

I can’t speak for the other royal correspondents who I work alongside, but I certainly know from my own point of view if I sat around waiting for a call from the palace to brief me or to leak something to me, I would be sitting around for a very long time. It’s never happened to me. [Laughs]

If we are given information, it’s relating to what they’re doing in terms of their public work. Obviously we’ve had situations like the passing of the queen where there was a lot of briefing around the funeral, how that was all going to play out, and that’s to help people prepare their work and carry out their jobs. It’s like any other industry where you have a communications team who are helping journalists to tell the story accurately and to deadline.

I think that in the past, there were probably slightly murkier relations between the media and the palace — certainly if you listened to what Princess Diana was saying. But in the 10 years that I’ve been doing this job, I personally haven’t experienced that.

Let’s turn to the coronation: How are you thinking about covering this major moment in royal history? 

So many thoughts, Elizabeth! I have so many questions that are still unanswered and I think many will be unanswered until sort of the eve of the coronation or the day itself. There are all the questions around the family, whether Harry and Meghan will come [EH note: We spoke before the Sussex news was released!], what involvement the children might have.

There are so many bits you want to make sure you get right. The historical elements, the spiritual elements, the ritual involved in this piece of theater is going to be so detailed, the outfits, the regalia. It’s going to take a lot of research leading up to that to make sure we get it right. 

And then there’s the who’s-who of people in the congregation, trying to spot and recognize them as they come in. I’m assuming we may not have a full guest list in advance. We haven’t had [one] with weddings, for example, so a lot of it is just seeing who comes on the day. [We can expect] a lot of celebrity spotting, a lot of heads of state spotting, which is more challenging unless you are very up on your foreign leaders. And then there’s the fashion thrown in on top! There are so many different aspects to it that we will be trying to cover as comprehensively as possible.

It’s such a unique position to be in, since the last coronation was 70 years ago! Have you studied the queen’s ceremony at all?

I do plan to go back and look at footage, that is very helpful in just looking at the rituals and the way things are done. And then you have some authority when you look at how things have changed I guess, or you can see how things have modernized. 

I think that’s going to be really interesting to see how the King makes this more personal to him. He’s certainly going to have faith leaders from different religions there in the abbey, and that’s new for the coronation of a British monarch. We’ll have a much wider representation of modern Britain than we had at the last coronation, which was full of lords and ladies in tiaras and long dresses and peers — people who were at the top of society and perhaps hadn’t earned their place in the way that NHS workers or teachers or other people might do at this next coronation.

Last question: Are we going to see tiaras on coronation day? I’ve heard conflicting reports in terms of a dress code.

Well, I can say this now and then I can be proven wrong very soon, but I feel day wear on the day — purely because you are going to have a lot of guests from different backgrounds who don't have access to a tiara, maybe, for the ceremony itself. 

That being said, they could work out a different dress code for members of the royal family so that they could come in tiara and long gowns. But I do feel that they're being sensitive to the modern age and they will want this to not look like a relic from the 1950s. There may be some sort of reception or engagement around the coronation weekend where we could get tiaras, that might be the way that they add some glamour. Of course the king is going to have the biggest amount of bling ever, the actual crown jewels on his head, so he’s going to win, whatever happens.

So wonderful to chat with Emily! You can find her on Instagram at @EmilyNashHello. Bookmark this page for all of Hello!’s coronation coverage.