ADF members join coronation procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace

ADF personnel in the Coronation procession speak of their pride at being part of a march with 4000 other military officers from the UK and Commonwealth.

Service members representing 34 Commonwealth Nations and 6 Overseas Territories lead a full rehearsal of the ceremonial procession in Odiham. Picture: Getty Images.

Australian Defence Force personnel in the Coronation procession on Saturday have spoken about their pride and excitement at being part of a lock step precision march with 4000 other military officers that will go from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace on the big day.

Forty members of the Australian Federation Guard have been training their drills with other Commonwealth nations in Surrey in preparation to march alongside and behind the Gold State coach which will be carrying the newly crowned King Charles and Queen Camilla, and the following carriage of the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Corporal Mickey Umile joined the Australian army as a medical technician, but has spent the past three years in the Federation Guard. She said: “It’s an honour and I am actually very proud to be a part of this unit to do various tasks and have the opportunities that I would wouldn’t normally have in my normal job. I am just very grateful, and it is exciting to be among 4000 other soldiers in the Commonwealth nations and the British forces.”

Squadron leader Mitchell Brown said: “I’m excited. I can’t wait to be able to march down The Mall. It’s gonna be very momentous occasion really.’’

Soldiers from the Guards hold their bearskin hats in the air as they give three cheers for King Charles III and Queen Camilla as part of a Royal Salute in Odiham, England. Picture: Getty Images.

He said the team members, 13 from each of the army, navy and airforce of the Federation Guard, based in Canberra, were selected after a special interview process. “We see what their performance is like on drill square, their character, their attitude, and of course, the defence values,’’ he said.

“It’s quiet excitement at the moment. There’s a lot of marching, a lot of practice that we’ve got to do prior to the day, but I’m sure it’s going to build as we get closer to the day”.

Warrant Officer Ivan Petrovic said the contingent was being helped greatly by the band and the beat of the bass drums to help regulate a slower marching pace to accommodate the heavy state gold catch, pulled by eight Windsor Grey horses, that can only travel at “walking pace.”

“We’ve been conditioned through our initial training to follow a particular cadence,’’ he said.

“Our normal cadence for the Australian Defence Force is 116 beats per minute, which is our quick time. The cadence here at the king’s coronation is about 108 beats per minute so it’s only slightly slower. “

Officer Petrovic explained the bass drum operators set a scale on the drum to maintain the required beats and had a click tracker with a constant beep so the entire procession should be in step for the entire route back to Buckingham Palace.

He added: “One of the key things that make a group of people marching look spectacular is the spacing and the alignment of personnel. That’s what we have done today. Our first day was practising the alignment spacing and also practising with the other Commonwealth countries who all do little things a little bit differently as you can appreciate. So that’s the challenges and that’s the excitement of being part of a Commonwealth contingent as part of this procession.”

Petty Officer Will Garlick said some in the contingent had also participated in the parade for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth’s funeral and the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

“I think the excitement is really building. I’ve noticed in the last day or so it’s really cranking up a lot of excitement,’’ he said.

“I love to see the passion of the British people. When we did the Platinum Jubilee the passion of the people for the Queen and that feeling in the air, the energy around you is absolutely amazing.

“When you’re marching down The Mall like that and you’ve got everybody there you can definitely feel that energy and makes you put that extra one or two per cent into your marching.’’