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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Danny Halpin & Liam Buckler

Dedicated royal fans camp out on the Mall two days before Jubilee celebrations

Royal fanatics are already getting in the Jubilee spirit after fans started to camp out on the Mall TWO DAYS before celebrations begin.

Tents are being set up by the security fence around Buckingham Palace with devoted royalists braving heavy rain showers to soak up the historic occasion.

And two royal super fans eager to get their seat are two familiar faces in John Loughrey and Maria Scott, who can often be seen at the front of crowds for major royal events.

Their passion for the royals even led to Mr Loughrey quitting his day job so he could he could attend every court session of the inquest into Princess Diana's death in 2008.

The 67-year-old also waited patiently outside the hospital where Prince George was born in 2013 and did so for Princess Charlotte in 2015 and Prince Louis in 2018.

The Princess Diana fanatic also attends Westminster Abbey every week to say a prayer for her.

John Loughrey and Maria Scott can often be seen at the front of crowds for major royal events (Vuk Valcic/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock)

The former kitchen worker has attended countless Royal events and landmarks and believed the Queen's 90th Birthday was the most special occasion.

He said: "Prince William was in the Palace with his kids and he came out and spoke to us, saying this is an unofficial visit and I am touched by what you are doing for my mother.

"I said I always pray for your mother and I will light a candle in Westminster Abbey."

His love of the royal family began as a child in the 1960s and he has met the Queen twice - and gave her a rose at Windsor Castle for each member of the family.

He added: "She goes out of her way to meet people. I said to Her Majesty, 'we are very proud of you and you are always in our hearts'.

UK Royal enthusiast Donna Warne, 70, flew in from the USA to camp out on The Mall (Ben Cawthra/LNP)

"She has seen so much history. She has had a long life, always been there for the Commonwealth and done her duty."

And one royal fan who has flown in from the US for the celebrations on Saturday is Donna Werner, 70, from Connecticut.

She has set up a tent on the Mall with her British friend Mary-Jane Willows.

She said: "It's to show the Queen some love and respect for all she has done.

"I think that after 70 years of working in one job she should be honoured.
"She has done a wonderful job."

Dedicated royal fans will spend the days and nights there leading up to the four-day weekend (Vuk Valcic/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock)

Mrs Werner, a retired housewife, said the Royal Family is well loved and respected in the US.

She added: "The love the pomp and the castles, they love reading about it."

Accompanying her in the celebrations is friend Mary-Jane Willows, 69, from Penzance, Cornwall.

They said they will watch the procession and the appearance on the balcony of what they hope will be Prince George.

Ms Willows explained the reason she came: "It is loyalty to the Queen.

"She has gone 70 years of her life and she deserves us here to say thank you and for us to give our love, respect and gratitude for all that she has done."

Another royal fan setting camp outside the mall is Ms Scott, 51, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

She even turned up at 1.30am to attend the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in London for the births of Prince William and Kate's three children.

The 51-year-old can is often seen at royal events with her daughter Amy, 20, she told Mail Online: "The police know us because we always come out at royal events.

"They have no problems with us doing it.

Royal super fans have set up their tents near Buckingham Palace ahead of the Platinum Jubilee weekend (Alamy Live News.)

"We were going to stay for the Trooping of the Colour and then we are going to spend the night at St Paul's and then we will head back down for the concert and pageant on Sunday.

"When the rain goes away we normally have lots of people coming by to chat to us.

"They think it's wonderful how patriotic we are and it's wonderful meeting people from so many different countries.

"I think the Queen is amazing. She has been very strong over the years and through her life. She is the backbone of the country."

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