By Tanya Steele
The Melbourne Highland Games and Celtic Festival’s patron, the Earl Simon Abney-Hastings, made the pilgrimage to the United Kingdom and participated in the recent coronation of King Charles in an official role for Australia.
The Right Honourable Simon Abney-Hastings, who is the 15th Earl of Loudoun and Clan Chief of the Loudoun Campbells, said the experience was quite profound and he was humbled and extremely lucky to attend the ceremony in person.
“To be in official attendance as bearer of the great golden spurs, which is a family prerogative for centuries, has been a profound experience,” he said.
“I felt very fortunate to be sitting so close to the altar where King Charles and Camilla were crowned King and Queen.”
Games Secretary Alistair couldn’t be prouder of the Earl and said despite his title, he is a down to earth person.
“He’s brought lots of support to our games,” he said.
The Earl attends both of the Melbourne Highland Games and Celtic Festivals in Croydon and Williamstown each year acting as the Patron for the games.
Mr McInnes said when they posted to social media that Earl Abney-Hastings was attending the Coronation, it sparked a lot of interest throughout the Scottish and Celtic online communities.
“Mainly Scottish, but everyone began sharing the post between their different groups,” he said.
The Earl said some of the interest from the Scottish community in Australia in the Coronation and heritage come from a love for country.
“No matter where our ancestral roots originate from, the love of each country is kindred,” he said.
“The Scots and Aussies relate to each other very well, we are similar in nature, stoic and proud.”
Mr Terence Guthridge, Private Secretary to the Earl of Loudoun, confirmed how the Earl participated in the coronation in an official role.
“One of the long-standing traditions at coronations is the presenting of the Great Golden Spurs to the new monarch,” said Mr Guthridge.
“The spurs were made in 1661 for Charles II and were updated in 1820 for George IV by adding new textiles, buckles and straps, the spurs symbolise Knighthood and denote the Sovereigns role as head of the armed forces,” he said.
The Earls of Loudoun have been the Bearers of the Golden Spurs at the Coronation of the monarchs of England and Great Britain since the very earliest of times, ever since the coronation of King Richard 1, Richard the Lionheart.
The Great Golden Spurs of chivalry have been part of the Coronation ceremony since the reign of Richard I who ruled England from 1189 to 1199.
The Earl carried the Gold Spurs at the Coronation and was the only Australian citizen with an official role and said the first rehearsal involved carrying identical replicas of the Spurs which looked exactly like the original Spurs but were much lighter.
“It was such a special feeling knowing that my ancestor (the 11th Earl) carried the spurs at the previous coronations in 1902 and 1911,” he said.
Earl Abney-Hastings said to be working alongside so many noted people, was remarkable, and added to the unique experience.
“Prince William attended rehearsals on the Wednesday morning, (with Princess Charlotte and Prince George) and King Charles come on Thursday for a while, they didn’t stay for long, but it was nice of them to visit and be in the abbey,” he said.
The Earl also attended a coronation street party in London afterwards and said the atmosphere leading up to the coronation was amazing.
“The excitement building up, the days leading up to the coronation and even afterwards, the crowds of people were genuinely thrilled,” he said.
After all the excitement and now back in Australia, Earl Abney-Hastings said it is nice to come home and resume his own routine.
“I always miss home and family when I am abroad,” he said.
He will continue in his various roles as Patron to many Scottish groups and is proud to be a part of the Melbourne Highland Games and Celtic Festival, which represents the essence of Scottish culture.
“I always look forward to the events throughout the year, whether it be games day, dinners, or get togethers,” he said
“He’ll be at Williamstown there with us later in the year,” Mr McInnes said
