Two members of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service took part in the coronation of King Charles III in London on Saturday, 6 May.
Commissioner of Police Derek Byrne selected Detective Constable Samantha Sillitoe and Detective Sergeant Shane Ennis to participate in the historic event.
They were joined by officers from other British Overseas Territories, including the British Virgin Islands, the Falkland Islands, Montserrat, Gibraltar, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Silltoe said she was proud to represent the Cayman police service, adding, “It was such an honour to have been part of such a historical, once-in-a-lifetime event.”
In a police press release, she spoke of the atmosphere in London and the warm welcome the officers received from the public and other police officers taking part.
“The Metropolitan Police did an exceptional job at making the British Overseas Territories officers feel like a central part of the event,” she said.
DC Sillitoe, a former Metropolitan Police officer from the United Kingdom, said the experience was very close to her heart.
“We were very lucky to be posted directly outside of Westminster Abbey and I was particularly fortunate to be stood outside of the royal entrance,” she said.
“I saw King Charles and all the royal family literally just a few feet in front of me, both before and after the ceremony, which was both surreal and amazing.”
DS Ennis added that to have the chance to represent the Cayman Islands and the police force at the coronation “was a highlight of my career”.
“It was my first trip to London, and as a lover of history it was a thrill to experience a city filled with such a rich history during such a significant event.”
Ennis said on arriving in London and experiencing the temperature drop, a shopping trip was needed to replace the T-shirts they wear under their tunics with long-sleeve thermals.
“We stayed at the same hotel as the other British Overseas Territories officers, so had a chance to meet and build relationships with our colleagues from the region,” he said.
“We have since started a Whatsapp group to communicate and share insights and knowledge about policing in our respective areas across the Caribbean.”
The officers squeezed in a whirlwind tour of some of the major sites in London before their return flight home, with native Londoner Sillitoe as tour guide.
“My daughter has a ‘Peppa Pig Goes To London’ book, and I was able to take pictures of the real monuments featured in the book to show her on my return. She was so impressed,” Ennis said.
The British Overseas Territories Commonwealth Office on behalf of Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Mark Rowley, put forward the request for the officers to attend.
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