The Coronation
The weekend of 6 May-8 May 2023 saw The Coronation of The King and The Queen. Celebrations took place across the country for this historical occasion.
Saturday 6th May
Coronation Service
The centrepiece of the Coronation weekend was the Westminster Abbey Service. The Service was conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury and reflected the Monarch’s role today and looked towards the future, while being rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry.
Their Majesties The King and The Queen arrived at Westminster Abbey in procession from Buckingham Palace, known as ‘The King’s Procession’. After the Service, Their Majesties returned to Buckingham Palace in a larger ceremonial procession, known as ‘The Coronation Procession’. Their Majesties were joined in this procession by other Members of the Royal Family.
At Buckingham Palace, The King and The Queen, accompanied by Members of the Royal Family, appeared on the balcony to conclude the day’s ceremonial events.
Historic Occasion
Countrywide Celebrations
The Coronation weekend saw celebrations up and down the country and it was wonderful to see Kent host so many events to mark this historic occasion. Our Deputy Lieutenants attended various events in their communities to support those who came together to celebrate the Coronation of HM The King and HM The Queen.
Sunday 7th May
Coronation Big Lunch
Communities will come together to arrange street parties, gatherings in parks, gardens and community spaces to mark the Coronation. ‘The Big Lunch’ team, supported by The Eden Project, will provide downloadable resources via The Coronation Big Lunch. Her Majesty The Queen Consort has been Patron of the Big Lunch since 2013.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has written to all Local Authorities in England asking them to be supportive of requests for Street Parties. Guidance on how to organise a street party can be found here. You can also highlight more guidance on Street Meets which offers easier ways to bring communities together.
DLUHC has expressed its support for any Councils wishing to organise Coronation events and celebrations within their towns and cities and to utilise any of their council-owned civic amenities in order to do so. Large screens in public places can be used to show television coverage of the Coronation which could include the Ceremony and Procession on Saturday 6th May or indeed the Coronation Concert on the evening of Sunday 7th May. These screenings could be complemented or enhanced by being part of a wider local event if deemed appropriate and can be safely managed.
Sunday 7th May
Coronation Concert
On Sunday a special Coronation Concert will take place at Windsor Castle, produced, staged and broadcast live by the BBC. The BBC will arrange for several thousand pairs of tickets to be made available via a public ballot. The audience will also include volunteers from The King and The Queen Consort’s many charity affiliations. The concert will see a world-class orchestra play interpretations of musical favourites by some of the world’s biggest entertainers, alongside performers from the world of dance. The performances will be supported by staging and effects located on the Castle’s East Lawn and will also feature a selection of spoken word sequences delivered by stars of stage and screen.
There will also be an exclusive appearance from The Coronation Choir. This diverse group will be created from the nation’s keenest community choirs and amateur singers from across the United Kingdom, such as Refugee choirs, NHS choirs, LGBTQ+ singing groups and deaf signing choirs. The Coronation Choir will appear alongside The Virtual Choir, made up of singers from across the Commonwealth, for a special performance on the night.
The centrepiece of the Coronation Concert, ‘Lighting up the Nation’, will see the country join together in celebration as iconic locations across the United Kingdom are lit up using projections, lasers, drone displays and illuminations.
Monday 8th May
The Big Help Out
This event is being organised by The Together Coalition and will include support from partners such as the Royal Voluntary Service, Faith Groups from around the United Kingdom and the Scouts. This initiative will highlight the positive impact volunteering has on communities and the satisfaction it can bring to people giving up their time to volunteer and bring about change.
Recalling His Majesty’s lifelong dedication to public service, supported by The Queen Consort and other Members of the Royal Family, it is hoped that this initiative will provide an opportunity for communities to come together and support a whole range of volunteering initiatives to create a lasting legacy. More information on how people can get involved can be found here on The Big Help Out.
