Waterman to join procession

THE managing director of boat hire firm Hobbs of Henley is to take part in the King’s coronation procession on Saturday.

Jonathan Hobbs will be among the Royal Watermen who will walk ahead of the gold state coach carrying King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla.

The procession route is 1.3 miles, which is a quarter of that of the King’s late mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

It will also include the armed forces from the UK, the Commonwealth and the British Overseas Territories, and the sovereign’s bodyguard.

Mr Hobbs, who lives in Stoke Row, was appointed a waterman to the Queen in 2018.

He said: “The watermen form part of what is known as the sovereign’s bodyguard and we have the responsibility to protect the crown and monarch and we will be marching in front of the carriage.

“There has been a number of rehearsals I have taken part in, at an army base and an RAF base, and also a full dress rehearsal which was held during the night.

“Even the rehearsals have been incredible to be part of and it will be the first time the watermen will have the new King’s cypher on our tunics so it’s really exciting.

“I am also really proud that out of all the watermen I am the only one not from London — I’m the only one that’s upriver.

“I am proud for myself and my family and I also feel that I will be representing Henley.”

Mr Hobbs’s family will be watching the ceremony live on TV at home.

This will be Mr Hobbs’s second official duty as a royal waterman following the state visit of South African president Cyril Ramaphosa to Buckingham Palace in November. That was the first state visit of King Charles’s reign.       

Mr Hobbs’s father Tony was also a royal waterman and he transported the late Queen twice along the Thames.

The first time was for the opening of the royal regatta headquarters in 1986 and again in 1998 when she opened the River & Rowing Museum in Mill Meadows.