From coronation street parties to royal-themed cruises, these are the ways you can celebrate the crowning of King Charles III
The coronation of His Majesty, King Charles III is almost upon us, taking place 6th May. The Coronation Oil has been consecrated in Jerusalem. The Stone of Destiny, used in every coronation since Edward II, has made its way to Westminster Abbey from Edinburgh. And Jonny Ives, the man who designed the iPad, has created the official coronation emblem.
A three-day bank holiday weekend (6-8 May) has been declared as the nation celebrates.
Around 2,000 people will attend the ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London at 11am on 6th May in person. Dignitaries from around the world will make their way to the capital, as well as everyday people from the community, in recognition of their charity work.
If you missed out on the invitation to watch the crowning of King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla in person, don’t despair. There are plenty of other ways to get into the royal spirit and celebrate the occasion.
1. Wave a flag on the coronation procession route
For ardent Royalists there’s only one way to celebrate – by grabbing a spot along the coronation procession route and waving a flag as the King and his Queen go by.
King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla will travel the 1.4 miles (2.25km) to Westminster Abbey in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, a relatively modern carriage with heating and sprung suspension, drawn by six Windsor Grey horses.
Their route from Buckingham Palace will take them down Pall Mall via Admiralty Arch, along the south side of Trafalgar Square and then up Whitehall and Parliament Street. From there the carriage will proceed along the east and south sides of Parliament Square to Broad Sanctuary, before arriving at the Abbey.
After the coronation they will return along the same route, this time in the gloriously ornate and more traditional Gold State Coach, used by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at her coronation and again drawn by eight Windsor Grey horses.
Seasoned royal watchers will know that the prime viewing spots are outside Westminster Abbey, Horse Guards Parade and Parliament Square, as well Buckingham Palace and the Mall. Those who manage to secure a spot outside Buckingham Palace will also be able to witness the King and Queen Consort, joined by other family members, giving a regal wave from the famous balcony to conclude the day's ceremonial events.
Royal fans are advised to pitch up early for the best chances of getting a good view.
2. Watch the ceremony live on a big screen in a castle
The coronation is an event that will be celebrated across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, with people gathering to watch the ceremony on huge outdoor screens in 57 locations across the UK. Locations stretch the length and breadth of the UK and include Hyde Park, Green Park and St James’s Park in London; Belfast City Hall; Jubilee Square in Brighton; Piece Hall in Halifax; Trinity Market in Hull and Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester. There are some truly regal locations too, like the manicured grounds of Cardiff Castle, Ely Cathedral and Alnwick Castle – all truly atmospheric places to witness this historic event.
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3. Host a Coronation Big Lunch
The Brits love a good old knees-up, so what better way to celebrate the crowning of King Charles III and his Queen than with a Big Coronation Lunch? These royal-themed street parties are the initiative of the Big Lunch team at The Eden Project and are a great way to celebrate the occasion with your friends and neighbours. The Coronation Big Lunch website contains lots of ideas, inspiration and practical tips around organising a street party, but it can be as simple as hanging up some bunting and inviting the neighbours over. You could even try your hand at making a coronation quiche, following the recipe especially created by the royal kitchen for the occasion. A street party is one of the most uplifting things you can do for the coronation weekend and something your neighbourhood will never forget.
4. Celebrate the occassion on royal soil
The Royal Estate at Sandringham is offering people the chance to celebrate the coronation on royal soil, with a live screening of the coronation in the Royal Parkland. There will be a vintage fair to keep the children entertained and local bands playing throughout the day. The royal celebrations continue over the entire bank holiday weekend with coronation-inspired afternoon tea available in the restaurant accompanied by Sandringham blend tea or a glass of prosecco. The Estate is also celebrating the coronation with an exhibition of watercolours by King Charles. The collection focuses entirely on scenes and landscapes from around the UK and will be on display in the Ballroom until 12 October.
READ MORE: Other stunning royal palaces you can visit
5. Sing along at the coronation concert
On Sunday 7 May a spectacular Coronation Concert will be held at Windsor Castle to showcase the country’s diverse cultural heritage in music, theatre and dance. Big-name performers include Take That (pictured) Katie Perry and Lionel Richie, as well as Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli, Welsh bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel, singer-songwriter Freya Ridings and classical-soul composer Alexis Ffrench.
The concert will be hosted by Hugh Bonneville, star of Downton Abbey and the Paddington movies, in a nod to Queen Elizabeth II’s cheeky video with the bear to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee. Expect an evening of music, dance and theatre, culminating in “Lighting up the Nation”, when iconic locations across the UK will be lit up with projections, lasers, drone displays and illuminations.
If you missed out on a ticket in the ballot to see it live, the concert is being broadcast live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds.
6. Volunteer on the Coronation Big Help Out
The Big Help Out is a national day of volunteering scheduled for 8 May, the Monday bank holiday of the coronation celebrations. The initiative was developed by Scouts and the Royal Voluntary Service and organised by the Together Coalition in honour of King Charles III’s life of service. Several organisations are participating in the Big Help Out including the National Trust, RNLI Lifeboats and the RSPCA and categories include animal welfare; sustainability and the environment; young people and children; and sports, art and culture. Check the official website to see how you can participate in your local area.
7. Set sail on a coronation-themed cruise
Take to the Thames and celebrate the coronation in style. Between Monday 17 April and Monday 8 May, City Cruises is running special coronation-themed cruises to celebrate the new monarch. Its afternoon tea cruises will feature specially designed sweet treats and royal-themed activities for children, while long dinners will be served among patriotic decorations, all while soaking up some of the most famous royal sights in London.
READ MORE: Take a peek inside the historic Royal Yacht Britannia
8. Take part in a special coronation event
There are thousands of coronation events being held across the UK to celebrate the crowning of the new monarch, from crown-making workshops at Tower Bridge to beacon lighting across Cumbria.
There are also coronation concerts in Glasgow, Norwich, Winchester Cathedral and Bath Abbey; coronation singalongs in Taunton in Somerset and Marlborough in Wiltshire; and Coronation Capers in Harwich, which include Maypole dancing, Morris dancing and folk singing.
Meanwhile on 6 and 7 May, Birmingham’s Centenary Square will play host to two days of community-focused activities including live music and street entertainers. Blackpool will host a Coronation Parade featuring historic trams along the seafront and the Chobham Rugby Club are holding a Coronation Ball in their clubhouse.
Check your local newspaper and social feeds to see what is happening near you.
9. Relive the magic at a "Crown and Coronation" light show
Here’s some good news for royal fans. The celebration of the crowning of King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla will continue long beyond the coronation bank holiday weekend. "Crown and Coronation", a spectacular light and sound show, will be projected on iconic buildings across the country. Produced by Historic Royal Palaces and Luxmuralis, this immersive visual and musical show will explore the history of coronations and give a deeper insight into this most royal of occasions. The show will begin at the Tower of London in autumn before touring the length and breadth of the country to be projected on some of the country’s most famous landmarks. Dates and locations will be released on the Luxmuarlis website soon.
READ MORE: These are the glamorous royal locations used in The Crown
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