Experiencing history . . . Cromwell teenager Charlize Thomson (18) in London for the coronation of King Charles III. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Experiencing the atmosphere of the crowds gathered in Hyde Park for the coronation of King Charles III was a moment not to be missed for one Central Otago teenager.

Charlize Thomson (18) of Cromwell, is working at a school in Fareham for the year and took the opportunity to travel to London for the historic event.

Miss Thomson and her friends โ€” including three other New Zealanders โ€” hoped to claim a spot close to Buckingham Palace to watch proceedings but by 7am the streets were full.

They settled with watching it on big screens set up in Hyde Park with โ€˜โ€˜about 20,000 other peopleโ€™โ€™.

โ€˜โ€˜It was pretty surreal to be there because being a wee smalltown gal . . . itโ€™s crazy because you donโ€™t know when the next one will be.โ€™โ€™

Seeing the mixed response to the coronation from the British public was interesting, she said.

โ€˜โ€˜There was a lot of people in Hyde Park but they werenโ€™t all happy because of the controversy around Princess Diana and stuff.

โ€˜โ€˜In Trafalgar Square . . .there were protesters too,โ€™โ€™ she said.

Aside from seeing glimpses of the procession, a highlight was watching New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins speaking to media. However her hopes of meeting Richie McCaw were dashed.