FRONT ROYAL, Va. (WHSV) – To wrap up their multi-day state visit to the U.S., King Charles III and Queen Camilla made their way to Front Royal on Thursday for a block party celebrating America’s 250th birthday in the town and stopping in Shenandoah National Park.
Crowds lined the streets of Front Royal on Thursday morning anticipating the king and queen’s arrival for the Front Royal 250th Parade Celebration, bringing together people of all ages for a historic event.
One parade attendee, Sue Christian, is originally from England. Christian said Thursday’s events were not the first occasion she saw royalty and that she was grateful to have the opportunity to share a similar experience with her family.
“I saw King Charles when I was about 20 [years old] and I figured I’d never see him again, and now, I might see him again,” Christian said. “I’m just happy that I can share it with my family because we both have dual citizenship, so we are both American and English, so it’s kind of a special moment.”
A Front Royal resident, Jessica Gaudiello, said she and her sons were excited to attend the parade. As a big fan of world history, Gaudiello said, the royals’ visit was an opportunity she didn’t want to miss.
“It’s a first time thing. It’s royalty. It’s not something you think of day to day,” Gaudiello said. “Celebrities you see on TV all the time. Royalty — they’re very reclusive. I kind of had a thing for the Tudor family … so this is interesting to me because it’s like, ‘Wow.’”
Gov. Abigail Spanberger joined the king and queen as they greeted attendees at the celebration.
King Charles III heads to Shenandoah National Park
After the parade, the king and queen briefly parted ways, with Queen Camilla attending a horse racing event, while King Charles made his way to the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center in Shenandoah National Park.
There, U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and the superintendent of Shenandoah National Park greeted the king, who received a tour of the center. The king watched as Junior Rangers from Warren County High School get sworn in, met with leaders of the Monacan Indian Nation and met with a wildlife expert before watching a falcon release.
Dozens of spectators gathered at the overlook down the road from the visitor center to watch the king drive by. Some visitors told WHSV the occasion was a moment they never expected to happen in the Front Royal community.
The king and queen next head to Bermuda, a territory of the United Kingdom.
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