This picture was taken by Rebecca Clarke, a postgraduate student at the Centre for the study of Human Rights. It was taken on Sunday 3rd October 2010, on the steps of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields church, Trafalgar Square.
The Pearly Kings & Queens are a historic society from the costermonger communities of London. Each London borough has a King and Queen who conduct fundraising and continue the tradition of cockney rhyming slang songs. Each year they gather for Harvest Festival, as pictured, and deliver gifts of food. Their outfits display mother-of-pearl buttons, the King does the sewing in recognition of Henry Croft who began the society in 1875 and had to learn to sew to decorate his own jacket.
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