A simple guide if you’re the only one in the house interested to see royal history unfold

A preview of my coronation viewing with all the teasing, eye-rolling and funny looks that will be involved and directed toward the lone happy royalist in the house (second from left). (Buckingham Palace, circa 2017).

No matter where you are today, a world's shared history is about to happen as Britain crowns its 63rd monarch at 11 a.m. London time (6 p.m. Manila time). After all, unless you're well over 70 years old, you would have only known a single monarch of the United Kingdom in the late Queen Elizabeth 2nd, like everyone else, regardless of nationality and creed.

The feeling's a tad bit like 2005 when the only pontiff Generation X had known, Pope John Paul 2nd, was replaced by the papal conclave.

In the very recently deceased case of Her Majesty, however, she had been the only and longest reigning queen in the global public's consciousness since the mid-20th century. That is why I assert it apropos that almost every news outlet in the Philippines — delivery platform notwithstanding — has been covering the developments leading to this day, when the equally longest reigning Prince of Wales, Charles Philip Arthur George, is crowned King Charles 3rd of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

This immensely satisfies me as a journalist, but as my longtime readers may know, talking about the entire event thrills me to bits personally as a massive fan of the British Royal Family.

For a quick refresher, my siblings and I grew “around” Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburg, Prince Philip's fascinating brood. (May God rest this iconic couple's royal souls).

You see, the same time I was pouring over picture books of farm animals and learning my ABCs from our home in Quezon City, I was also getting familiar with my mother's impressive mound of collectible hardcovers from London that had their Royal Highnesses' faces regally splashed on every page.

My particular favorites were those that had the mesmerizingly beautiful, incomparably stylish and extraordinarily compassionate Diana, Princess of Wales' from cover to cover, King Charles' first wife, of course, who tragically died in a car crash in Paris in 1997. (Y'all know the rest of this story).

The youngest of six siblings, I was born the year my parents first sent our eldest brother to boarding school in the UK countryside, allowing her to amass her royal books and knick-knacks while hand-carrying my favorite Heinz Baked Beans (this one doesn't come with pork) home every time she dropped off a brother or sister.

Suffice it to say, when it was finally my turn to be schooled in both academics and independence over there, the Royal Family's continuing real life saga (and incredibly juicy scandals) were ingrained in me as much as my own ancestors.

Now married with a husband and two sons who instantly roll their eyes every time they see me engrossed on YouTube (“Meghan and Harry — again!” they'd chorus lately), my side of the family's fascination with the Mountbatten-Windsors has only gotten worse if we take my boys' perspective.

All that info out of the way then, I thought I'd write about how I plan to watch the much-awaited coronation of King Charles and (fine!) Queen Consort Camilla (because I still can't help but wonder what if Diana's fairy tale had a happy ending) tonight.

This is in case there are households like mine with but a single royalist determined to partake in history and share in our British brothers and sisters' once-in-a-lifetime national celebration.

What I can promise you, fellow majestic fans, who wish we were in Britain right now, is that my tips will make a brilliant difference to your viewing experience of the pomp and pageantry from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey and all the way to the concert grounds of Windsor Castle. Because there will be mood and food!

* * *

Hours before whatever time the coronation takes place in your country, firmly and formally announce to the family that you are reserving the best TV in the house for the hours of (here in Manila) 6 p.m. (or earlier) onwards. (Refer to our comprehensive “How to witness the Coronation” banner for options). Better yet, leave a sign on the telly that says so in case someone squats there and claim they forgot.

Now you should still do the proper and regal thing and invite the non-royalists to watch the coronation with you, but lay down the rules and hard.

Naturally, these range from noisy boys not allowed and no teasing mommy the royalist, to no watching-a-different-video-from-your-phone allowed.

Of course, one should also straighten out the viewing area pre-event. You know, smoothen out the sofa, fluff up them throws, or if viewing in the bedroom, do bring out the quilted covers in respect for the occasion.

Once the area passes for a less ostentatious drawing room or sleeping quarters (read: mood), head out to the kitchen and get the flavors going for your very own coronation party (for food!). Trust me, you'll definitely draw the rascal non-royalists to the momentous affair with this element.

My third form Home Economics scones weren’t this perfect but I’m sure they taste the same.

Now as a working momma, I'm keeping my coronation party menu simple with an easy but favorite dish of King Charles', which Clarence House (the longtime residence of the Prince of Wales) officially released on social media; and a quick but sure-fire recipe I learned from Mrs. Bryers' Home Economics class in Third Form at boarding school. (Circa 1990-something if you need to know).

King Charles’ favorite Cheesy Baked Eggs has an easy to follow recipe on Darren McGrady’s YouTube channel.

The main dish will be the the oh so royal Cheesy Baked Eggs, which has an excellent tutorial c/o Darren McGrady's YouTube channel. This gentle bloke used to be a chef at Buckingham Palace and very much in the know. Ingredients needed include: 100g wilted spinach, a few cherry tomatoes, 35g strong soft cheese, 1 egg; 80 ml double cream, 15 g grated hard cheese, and freshly torn basil leaves. For the procedure, go click on this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ_nnMQprzY and follow the Chef Darren. (This way, if it doesn't work out, you can blame him and not me). This delicious egg dish is already a meal in itself what with all the veggies mixed in with that lovely protein. Some butter on toast should give you the carbs given that Filipinos will be watching around dinner time.

Now, to recall my high school recipe for the very British all-day treat of scones, the lovely but stern Mrs. Byers called for 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, 8 tablespoons hard butter, 1/2 cup raisins,1 large egg, 1/2 cup milk, and 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar.

After setting your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, pre-heating, mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl except the raisins and powdered sugar.

In another bowl, throw in the butter and, with a fork begin to crumble it up. Now, add in the dry ingredients and use your fingers to work in the butter. You want to end up with a bowl of coarse crumbs. (I can still hear Mrs. Byers say, “You use the tips of your fingers because they are the coolest part of your hands. You don't want to melt the butter!”).

Toss in the raisins next only if you're a fan. Beat the eggs and milk together, pour them into the main bowl, and mix away until you get a slightly gooey texture.

Roll the mixture into a single big ball atop a flour-dusted table, pat it down to cake size, then on a buttered baking tray, throw it in the oven for about 15 to 20 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes once done, then slice into triangles. Best served with clotted cream (Pegi Waffle sells them in San Juan City) or just butter and jam, natch.

For drinks, don't forget to have Earl Grey or English Breakfast tea handy with a side of milk and sugar if you like your cuppa sweet, and load up on lots of bubblies for rounds and rounds of toast. (By the way, the cool thing about this scone recipe is it also doubled as our pizza dough for our Italian cooking lesson. Oh! And if you can't find the time to prep any of these simple English concoctions, go for that chicharon-cornick and Coke pairing that's always best for TV marathons. Pinoy pa rin tayo noh!)

* * *

Go ahead — you know you want to wear it!

By the time you're just waiting for that oven to ding, quickly freshen up and (I know you have it) unearth that fascinator you've always wanted to wear at some point in your life.

The time is now my friends so we can stylishly join the rest of the world in sending our cheers and well wishes to the United Kingdom.

God save the King and mabuhay!