Royal superfans who started camping out on the Mall more than a week before the Coronation

Royal super fans waiting for the Coronation have already been camped near Buckingham Palace for nearly a week ahead of the big day on Saturday. 

The group, who were interviewed on ITV’s Lorraine this morning, sealed their spots on The Mall on April 27, but still have five nights to go until King Charles is crowned on Saturday.

John Loughrey, a well-known royal fan, who was wearing a t-shirt adorned with the King’s image, excitedly told how Charles waved towards them when he was driven past with Queen Consort Camilla on Friday.

‘On Friday, he came out, round about tennish, in his car, King Charles III and Queen Camilla. And he waved, over… he waved at the crowd and we thought this is great,’ he said.

Speaking of the Coronation, he added: ‘It is a [once in a] lifetime experience, and we are looking forward to seeing them being crowned, going past in the golden coach and taking our photo and waving at them and saying “God Save The King”. 

Another fan, Skye, added that the upcoming Coronation makes him ‘proud’ to be British.  

He said: ‘[I am] very proud, with hand on heart. It doesn’t matter what people say. I know I come from Birmingham, but I am still British.’ 

Photos taken yesterday showed how the group are using a huge blue tarpaulin to keep them try and are sleeping on makeshift beds.

Mr Loughrey, who lives in south London, earned a reputation as Princess Diana’s number one fan after quitting his job working in a kitchen so he could attend every court session of the inquest into her death in 2008. 

He spent days on a bench outside the hospital where Prince George was born in 2013 and did it again for Princess Charlotte in 2015 and Prince Louis in 2018. 

And after the death of the Queen he tried to camp for the full 10 day mourning period outside Buckingham Palace – but he was told to pack away his tent for ‘security reasons’ as crowds descended.

To mark the 20th anniversary of her death in 2017, Mr Loughrey and a small group of supporters hung large tribute banners on the gates of Kensington Palace, her former London home.

John Loughrey, a well-known royal fan, who was wearing a t-shirt adorned with the King’s image, excitedly told how Charles waved towards them when he was driven past with Queen Consort Camilla on Friday

Another fan, Skye, said: ‘[I am] very proud, with hand on heart. It doesn’t matter what people say. I know I come from Birmingham, but I am still British’

King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort attend a ceremony where they presented new Standards and Colours to the Royal Navy; the Life Guards of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment; The King’s Company of the Grenadier Guards, and The King’s Colour Squadron of the Royal Air Force, at Buckingham Palace last Thursday

He also attends Westminster Abbey every week to say a prayer for Diana. 

It comes as communities across the country continue to prepare for events to mark the Coronation.

Councils in England have approved 3,087 road closures for gatherings marking the royal event, according to figures from road management company one.network.

The parties will cover a total of 263 miles, which is roughly equivalent to the distance from Westminster Abbey – where the coronation ceremony takes place on Saturday – to Land’s End in Cornwall.

The most popular day for parties over the three-day bank holiday weekend is Sunday, when 62 per cent will take place.

Some 27 per cent are planned for Saturday, while just 11 per cent are scheduled for Monday.

Hampshire and Kent are in joint first place as the most celebratory counties, each with 251 street parties.

Only one party application has been approved by each of Cumberland Council, Herefordshire Council, Luton Borough Council and Manchester City Council.

Many councils have waived their usual street party fees for this weekend.

All roads officially closed for coronation street parties in England are included in the figures, one.network said.

The analysis does not take into account parties in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, or unofficial events.

James Harris, chief executive one.network, said: ‘It’s fantastic to see neighbours and communities coming together to use their streets for parties to celebrate the crowning of our new King.

‘Organising a street party is hard enough, but local councils should be given a huge hand for their great efforts in facilitating this country-wide celebration.

‘With their hard work approving and managing road closures, the country can party safely whilst minimising disruption for road users.’

In Westminster, House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle has brought down his cat and parrot from his Lancashire home.

Attlee, the cat, has carried out a mouse check ahead of the royal reception in Westminster on Tuesday, while Boris, the parrot, has been ‘shouting quite loudly’.

‘We’ve been trying to get him to sing God Save The King,’ Sir Lindsay revealed.

‘He’s been listening very carefully. Attlee has been going round to check there aren’t any mice around and there were absolutely none.’

Animal-loving Sir Lindsay has a number of pets, including Maggie, the tortoise – who is ‘not for turning’ – and a dog, Betty, named after his late predecessor Baroness Betty Boothroyd.

The hard work is likely to pay off, the Speaker suggested, adding: ‘They may be getting coronation strawberries.’

It comes ahead of Charles and Camilla attending a celebratory reception in the Palace of Westminster just four days before the historic ceremony.

They will be hosted by Sir Lindsay as they gather with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Opposition Leader Sir Keir Starmer in Westminster Hall.

The hall, which is the oldest building on the parliamentary estate, was where thousands of mourners filed past while the coffin of the Queen was lying in state in September.

It used to be the scene of coronation banquets, and was where monarchs were presented with the coronation regalia before their procession to the Abbey, but both ceremonies have not been staged since George IV’s extravagant coronation in 1821.

Sir Lindsay said it was a ‘wonderful privilege’ to be invited to the ceremony – though his menagerie did not make the guestlist.

He will attend the abbey on Saturday in full ceremonial dress, including the Speaker’s historic Honiton lace jabot and cuffs.

Sir Lindsay described the modern constitutional monarchy as a ‘grown-up recognition of democracy in this country’ and said he looks forward to Charles’ reign.

‘I have never known the monarch to object to what the House of Commons does. I never, ever see that happening. 

Photos taken yesterday appeared to show the group’s camp, made up of a blue tarpaulin and makeshift beds 

The camp has been in place since last week, even though the Coronation does not take place until Saturday 

‘What I see is a grown-up recognition of democracy in this country, that we still have a monarch that plays his part,’ Sir Lindsay said.

‘I’ve got to say, what a privilege that we’ve got the sadness of Her Majesty, but we’ve now got the sunrise of a new King coming.’

He added: ‘I genuinely believe that he is a force for good but not only that, he will bring the Commonwealth together.

‘He will ensure there is a voice for the overseas territories, which I care fondly about and I know he does as well.

He said the constitutional monarchy represents a ‘grown-up recognition of democracy in this country’ and looks forward to Charles’ reign.

‘I have never known the monarch to object to what the House of Commons does. I never, ever see that happening. 

‘What I see is a grown-up recognition of democracy in this country, that we still have a monarch that plays his part,’ the Speaker added.