Two neighbours in a Camden street were 'crowned' as King and Queen to great fanfare at a very special coronation ceremony.

Marching to Handel's Zadok the Priest, Paul Watkins and Anne-Marie Salmon were announced King and Queen of Jeffreys Street at the Coronation of the Lords of Misrule on Monday (May 8).

Neighbours colluded to have the pair crowned as they have lived on the street for more than 50 years, in houses opposite one another.

In true majestic fashion, they appeared on an upstairs balcony and waved to the assembled crowd.

Ham & High: King Paul Watkins, Lord of Misrule, and Queen Anne-Marie Salmon wave to their subject in Jeffrey Street, CamdenKing Paul Watkins, Lord of Misrule, and Queen Anne-Marie Salmon wave to their subject in Jeffrey Street, Camden (Image: Ian Cook)

Lindsay Douglas, who organised the party, said: "We've got two residents who have lived in the street for more than 50 years and we usually celebrate that with a barbeque or something but we couldn't because of lockdown.

"So when it came to the coronation we decided to crown our two eldest residents as King and Queen of the street and make them Lords of Misrule for the day, which is an old English custom where peasants are allowed to be King for the day. It just snowballed from there."

Ham & High: Cllr Richard Cotton and Jeffreys St residents: Anne-Marie Salmon (Queen of the street), Paul Watkins, (King of the street and Lord of Misrule) Dominic Power (Archbishop) and Lindsay Douglas, street party organiserCllr Richard Cotton and Jeffreys St residents: Anne-Marie Salmon (Queen of the street), Paul Watkins, (King of the street and Lord of Misrule) Dominic Power (Archbishop) and Lindsay Douglas, street party organiser (Image: Ian Cook)

They had a procession into the middle of the street with children carrying the robes, and another child walking behind carrying a plastic sword.

A temporary 'Archbishop of Canterbury' blessed the couple, a musician played traditional instruments throughout the day and the Westminster Morris Dancers performed.

Ham & High: The Westminster Morris dancing side celebrate the coronation of Lords of Misrule on Jeffreys StreetThe Westminster Morris dancing side celebrate the coronation of Lords of Misrule on Jeffreys Street (Image: Ralph Picken).

"We didn't have a Stone of Destiny, we had a Scone of Destiny which we had to rescue from the King's Pug," added Lindsay.

The community were joined by former mayor of Camden, Cllr Richard Cotton who "said a few lighthearted words" and residents from small nearby streets also attended.  

Lindsay, who has lived on the street for 15 years, added: "It was really nice, we had groaning tressle tables and everyone ate and ate, everyone brought out drink and bottles of wine. Children were playing Whack a Mole and Splat a Rat and that kind of thing.

Ham & High: Traditional instrument musician Keith Thompson performs at the coronation o of the Lords of Misrule in Jeffrey StreetTraditional instrument musician Keith Thompson performs at the coronation o of the Lords of Misrule in Jeffrey Street (Image: Ralph Picken)

"Everybody knows everyone on this street. They take in each other's post, water each other's plants and take in each other's cats. They know each other from one end to the other and proves that London's got a bit of a soul."