King Charles III: 'He made us feel important when he came to Southend'

On 1 March, the then Prince of Wales presented a letters patent to the mayor of Southend-on-Sea to mark its city status. What impression did King Charles III leave on people in the Essex coastal city and what kind of King do they hope he will be?

Hundreds of people turned out as the city hosted the proclamation ceremony for King Charles III on Monday.

It was only six months ago when they came out in droves to welcome him as Prince Charles to the resort as it became England's 52nd city - an honour bestowed by the Queen following the fatal stabbing of MP Sir David Amess in October.

During the visit, he visited the seafront to unveil a new eco-friendly pier train named after Sir David, and also met hundreds of people who had gathered to welcome him and the then Duchess of Cornwall to Southend.

Among them was Debbie Madigan who remembers shaking hands with the "future King" during the visit.

"Little did I know it would happen so soon that he would become King," says the 61-year-old.

"He was really down to earth, he was lovely to chat to, I wished him happy St David's Day and then he said he hoped I didn't get too cold waiting."

After the royal visit in March, a "duchess cod and chips" was added to the menu at a fish and chip restaurant where the couple ate.

Philip Miller, executive chairman of Stockvale group, which owns and runs the restaurant and Southend's fun park Adventure Island, says King Charles had "great charisma" while Camilla, the Queen Consort, was "wonderful" during the visit.

"It was a great honour to have him here," he says. "We can say we once had the King here."

Mr Miller, who previously met the King when he was appointed Member of the British Empire, says he was "so polite" and he told his friends after his visit in March he would make a "fantastic, wonderful King".

"I just didn't expect it to be so soon," he says.

Mr Miller adds: "He was very warm and caring, and wanted to know what we were doing, it made us all feel important.

"He's going to be a marvellous King and I hope he carries on the great work his mum did."

Melvyn Barham, 76, remembers the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953 and says he always felt that no matter what happened in the world, "everything's fine because the Queen is there".

Even though he says it "seems like a whole way of life has gone" following the Queen's death, he wishes the new King "good luck".

"I feel empathy for him, he's been brought up his whole life and trained for this moment, and it's a shame it's had to happen in this way, but I think he'll be excellent," he says.

Mr Barham's wife Laura, 74, adds King Charles has a "big responsibility but I think he will be a good King".

While Southend Council's Labour leader welcomes the "pomp and ceremony Britain is known for" in welcoming in the new King, he says he hopes "we have a slightly more open monarchy, times have changed".

He adds: "The Queen came to the throne in 1952, it was a completely different world."

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