King Charles III will be crowned on 6th May in the first coronation many Brits have ever experienced. Here’s how you can get involved!
With the country’s last coronation taking place 70 years ago in 1953, when Queen Elizabeth II ascending to the throne, it’s unsurprising that the coronation of her son Charles III will be a grand affair. For those unfamiliar with the protocol, the coronation will be overseen by the Archbishop of Canterbury inside Westminster Abbey, after the King and Queen Consort arrive at the abbey during The King’s Procession. After the ceremony, Their Majesties will leave the abbey and head to Buckingham Palace along with other members of the royal family during the Coronation Procession.
Royalty fans in Leeds can enjoy viewing the ceremony in Millennium Square, where a giant screen will be installed. More than £1 million has been made available by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) for the big screens across 30 major locations in the UK. Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said: “The coronation will be a magical moment that brings people together to celebrate the best of Britain over a special weekend in May. These big screens, in major locations in towns and cities in the four nations of the UK, will make it easier for everyone to take part and have a memorable experience to mark this exciting and historic event.”
There are other ways to get involved in celebrating the coronation in Leeds. The Big Lunch programme is taking place across the weekend between the 6th and 8th of May, bringing communities and neighbours together to share a meal and some fun. At the time of writing, there are 13 Big Lunches taking place in Leeds over the weekend. And if you can’t find one near you, why not have a go at organising your own? Order a free Big Lunch pack full of ideas, inspiration, top tips, and the practical bits to help get your event started.
Another initiative taking place in conjunction with the coronation is The Big Help Out, a national charitable project starting on 8th May, which will be an extra Bank Holiday this year. Some of the events taking place in North Leeds include a taster session at the Age UK charity shop on Street Lane, just head over to see if volunteering there would suit you. Or if you’re experiencing a slight hangover from the festivities the day before, one of the national events is simply to donate to a charity of your choice in honour of the coronation.
In addition there will also be a celebratory concert held at Windsor Castle on 7th May. The concert will be broadcast on the BBC, with several thousand pairs of tickets to be made available via public ballot, details on how to enter will be posted on the coronation website as soon as they’re available.
Royal.uk/coronation-weekend