Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Saffron Otter

Coronation viewers astounded by six-hour loo ban for guests at Westminster Abbey

In his bid to be seen as a 'modern monarch', King Charles switched things up for his Coronation guest list, scaling it back to just 2,000 attendees made up of celebrities and dignitaries.

The ordinary folk that made the cut alongside A-list celebs and world leaders will have felt privileged to be among the chosen ones - that is until they realised they had to sit for six hours without a loo break.

Guests filed into Westminster Abbey from 7.30am this morning ahead of King Charles and Queen Camilla's arrival just before 11am.

Once seated, they had to stay put and keep still for the two-hour historic ceremony.

A general view before the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey, (PA)

And according to advice issued to guests before the celebration, they were warned that toilet facilities at the abbey are "very limited."

One person on the guest list was well-prepared for the inevitability of needing a toilet break and even practised in anticipation leading up to the service.

Comedian Adam Hills said he mapped out his toilet breaks as well as practising limiting his fluid intake in preparation for the big day.

The host of Channel 4's The Last Leg was chosen as part of a group of 14 "outstanding Australians" to join Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in representing the country at the coronation.

Katy Perry (R) poses for selfies with Adam Hills (L) (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Hills, 52, said: "We need to be there at 7.30 in the morning, we've been told that where we check in there are toilets, but that is 600 metres from Westminster Abbey and once we're seated, there's limited toilet availability.

"I've been doing literal dry runs where I've tried to take in as little amount of fluid as possible and space out the caffeine consumption and see how long I can go."

"I made it five hours earlier on, I think I'm looking pretty good for tomorrow," he joked.

Meanwhile parents on Mumsnet were astounded by the lack of facilities at the event.

Questioning whether there are breaks, one mum vowed: "I'd of had to turn down the invite if I'd received one."

Another mum responded: "I just thought the same and then had visions of everyone wearing tena (must be other brands available)"

It was clearly a question on everyone's lips, with one mum commenting: "That was my first thought!, I need to know where the loos are all the time".

The same rules applied during Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation back in 1953, however it is said that some of the guests couldn't hold it in.

Scaffolding was put up inside the famous abbey for special guests to watch the service, which apparently was used as the ideal loo stop for those who couldn't wait.

Disgusted organisers reportedly found large amounts of urine and faeces lying underneath when they went to take it all apart.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.