Or royt me awd china

The Pearly King of Mile End caught my eye today standing outside a local church. I had a little chat with him before he was whisked back inside for filming or an interview or... I know not what. All I know is it stopped me getting a nice close up portrait before he disappeared.

I did have time to find out that to become a pearly king or queen you have to be a cockerney and you have to serve an apprentice as a 'pearly pride' before you can become a fully fledged pearly and that only happens when a vacancy comes up. It also helps if you know the management and can cross their palms with buttons. It also helps if you're gay apparently. "The first gay, pub-owning pearly was made up to full king wivin six munfs, luve a duck! Moind you 'e should'a been a Pearly Queen by rights!"