Hundreds of thousands of Britons marked the coronation with street celebrations, tea parties and lunches on Sunday as the festivities continued for a second day.
Organisers of ‘Coronation Big Lunch’ events hailed the community spirit at hundreds of events up and down the country.
Saturday’s ceremony – a mingling of solemn religious rites and royal pomp – saw Charles become the 40th reigning monarch to be crowned in Westminster Abbey since 1066.
On Sunday, formality gave way to festivity as Britons joined together to share in a day of eating and drinking before the coronation concert.
Rishi Sunak was joined by US First Lady Jill Biden at a Big Lunch in Downing Street, while the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh attended an event in Cranleigh, Surrey and Princess Anne was in Swindon.
People celebrate Britain’s King Charles’ coronation with the Big Lunch at Regent’s Park
(REUTERS)
Many have dressed up in royal-themed costumes to make the most of the occasion
(EPA)
Kate Welch, a trustee of The Old Rectory, a grade II listed building in Houghton-le-Spring, Sunderland, arranged local events for thousands to enjoy.
“The whole idea for us is it’s about bringing the community together,” said Ms Welch, 65, from Chester-le-Street. “We are a community that is in the old coalfields area, so it’s an area where a lot of people don’t have much money.
Read our live coverage of the coronation weekend here.
“A lot of people have struggled, Covid obviously came… so just being able to come out and share together – I’ve been looking around, I can see children in pushchairs, I can see people in wheelchairs and mobility scooters.”
Judith Taylor, 69, from Brighton, started a movement in her area to help people look after and maintain their local spaces, some of which were used to host their Big Lunch event.
“It’s just amazing. It is a bit of a proud moment,” she said. “In this community we all live in flats for a start, so we don’t have our own gardens.
“When you have flats you tend to have very small families, people living on their own, older people, so it’s so important for them.
“It is a bit of an excuse to come together but I would say probably two thirds of people out there are waving their union flags.”
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh attended a big lunch in Cranleigh, while the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence sat down to a community street party in Swindon. Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, meanwhile, attended a big lunch in Windsor.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh sample a coronation chicken pie at a Big Lunch with residents and representatives from the Royal British Legion, the Scouts and the Guides
(POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Bunting-lined Downing Street was also abuzz with coronation jamboree, with guests arriving for a lunch with the prime minister and his wife.
There was a hum of excited chatter as those invited sipped fruit drinks and took photos in front of the famous Number 10 door as they awaited the arrival of Rishi Sunak.
Mr Sunak pets his dog Nova during as he welcomes guests to No 10
(AFP via Getty Images)
Rishi Sunak slices cake for guests at a street party outside Downing Street
(Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
Members of the public and organisers from a number of charities expressed their enthusiasm ahead of the event.
Lucinda Spelman-Ives, from Wilstock, who raised over £1 million to fund a community hub, hopes the Big Lunch will “unify and bring everyone together being part of history, making amazing memories, laughing and meeting lots of people who have never met before”.
“Everyone is bursting with pride after yesterday’s ceremony,” she told the PA news agency.
People celebrate King Charles’ coronation with the Big Lunch at Regent’s Park
(Reuters)
Coronation festivities erupt in Alfriston, East Sussex
(AP)
“This will be a very special memory for us all. Long live the Big Lunches and long live the King.”
Emily Connally, who leads the Cherwell Collective in Oxford, an organisation inspiring people to live more sustainably, is “thrilled” to be part of the Big Lunch.
King Charles’ insignia is seen on the grass along the seafront in Morecambe
(REUTERS)
Residents of the Kirby Estate in Bermondsey have a street party with BBQ, drinks and a bouncy castle
(Getty)
A royal fan attends a picnic while waiting for a coronation concert at Windsor Castle
(REUTERS)
Musicians play their instruments as people sit at long tables to eat their lunch as in London
(Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
King Charles has also encouraged residents to take part in volunteer activities Monday, which is a bank holiday. Buckingham Palace said the Big Help Out on Monday will “highlight the positive impact volunteering has on communities across the nation”.
A palace spokesperson said: “In tribute to the King’s public service, it will encourage people to try volunteering, and join the work being undertaken to support their local areas.
“The aim of Big Help Out is to create a lasting volunteering legacy from the coronation weekend.”
A child jumps to pop a soap bubble during the Big Lunch celebrations on Holland Street in London
(AP)
The palace spokesperson said that, according to the latest polling, an estimated 6.5 million people say they are planning to take part in the Big Help Out, ranging from community litter picks to signing up to longer-term volunteering opportunities with a wide range of charities.
The palace said that while “wholly supportive” of the Big Help Out initiatives on Monday, Charles and Camilla will not be attending any of the events in person.