The coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort will take place on 6th May 2023. This comes almost 70 years after the last royal coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in June 1953.
Over the bank holiday weekend of 6th-8th May, this historic event is set to inspire a range of exciting events and celebrations across the UK – and there’s plenty of ways to get involved.
Whether you’d prefer to mark the occasion at home, in-person, or both, we’ve put together a list of nine different ways to celebrate over the coronation weekend. From coronation recipes and arts and crafts to volunteering opportunities and big community lunches, hopefully there’s something for everyone.
1. Join in The Coronation Big Lunch
On Sunday 7th May, neighbours and communities across the country are invited to share food and fun together at Coronation Lunches.
The Coronation Big Lunch is being organised and overseen by the Big Lunch team at the Eden Project. The Big Lunch initiative takes place annually to boost community spirit, support charities, and reduce loneliness. Her Majesty The Queen Consort, Camilla, has been Patron of the Big Lunch since 2013.
Thousands of Coronation Big Lunches are expected to take place in gardens, streets, parks, and community spaces across every corner of the UK. Filled with good food, decorations, music, and street party games, it’s a joyous occasion for all.
You can search for a Coronation Big Lunch happening near you using The Big Lunch Map and find more general information about what to expect on the Eden Project Communities website. Alternatively, if you’d like to organise your own Big Lunch, simply follow this guidance from the Eden Project.
2. Watch the King’s coronation celebrations on screen
If you’d prefer to skip the crowds over the coronation weekend, there’s plenty of opportunity to enjoy the buzz of the coronation weekend away from the capital.
According to the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport, over £1 million has been donated to setting up screens across the country to livestream the coronation ceremony on Saturday 6th May. Screening locations include Cardiff Castle, Jubilee Square in Brighton, and Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester – though there are many many more.
So why not head to a site near you with a coronation-themed picnic in hand? Time Out has a list of big screen locations across the UK on their website. Alternatively, if you’d prefer to tune in from home, the BBC will cover all ceremonial events – including formal processions, the service at Westminster Abbey, and the Buckingham Palace balcony appearance.
Another event worth tuning into is the special Coronation Concert taking place at Windsor Castle on Sunday 7th May. Set to be broadcast live by the BBC, the event will include performances from global music icons as well as contemporary talent. It’s the perfect excuse to cosy up at home and take in the magic of this unique celebration.
The concert’s official lineup is yet to be revealed, but speculations include performances from Take That, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Lionel Ritchie (who’s rumoured to be a friend of King Charles and one of his favourite musicians!). World-class orchestra performances and displays from the worlds of art and dance are also planned.
3. Enjoy some coronation-themed arts and crafts
If you enjoy arts and crafts, you might like to spend time creating some coronation decorations over the weekend.
If you’re not sure where to start, the government has put together a toolkit of printable templates and materials.
There’s everything from homemade bunting templates to greeting cards and activity sheets for children – all available to download for free. Once you’ve made them, displaying your creations in your home or using them as a gift to other people is a sure way to get you in the spirit.
4. Take part in The Big Help Out
Scheduled for Monday 8th May, The Big Help Out is an event organised by The Together Coalition alongside a wide range of partners including The Scouts, the Royal Voluntary Service, and faith groups from across the UK.
As a tribute to His Majesty, The Big Help Out is intended to highlight the positive impact that volunteering has on UK communities by encouraging people to try it for themselves.
Whether you can spare one hour, one day, or more, The Big Help Out welcomes everyone to give volunteering a go. Categories which volunteers can lend a hand in during The Big Help Out include community, animal welfare, health and social care, young people and children, and sustainability and the environment.
It’s hoped that The Big Help Out will bring communities together and create a lasting legacy of goodwill from the coronation weekend.
If you’re interested in taking part, you can find out more on The Big Help Out website.
5. Attend a coronation event near you
According to the GOV.UK website, over 1,000 public coronation events have been planned and nearly 300 street parties and other private events shared so far.
This includes everything from coronation picnics in the park, choir and orchestra performances, afternoon teas, musical entertainment, and street parties.
If you’d like to get involved and see what’s happening near you, simply enter your postcode into this interactive map on the GOV.UK website. If you’d prefer to join in from home, there’s a range of online events available too.
Alternatively, if you’re hosting your own event, you can add it to the map.
6. Get creative in the kitchen with some coronation recipes
The coronation weekend is the ideal time to have some fun getting creative in the kitchen. As with last year’s Platinum Jubilee for the Queen, some official coronation recipes have been selected for King Charles’ coronation.
While coronation chicken might have been your first guess, two other foods take centre stage this year and have been given a coronation twist.
The first is chef Ken Hom CBE’s roast rack of lamb with Asian-style marinade, and the second a griddled aubergine with coronation dressing from chef Nadiya Hussain. The official coronation dessert is a strawberry and ginger trifle from Adam Handling.
While extremely delicious, it’s worth noting that each of the three official recipes requires a fair amount of ingredients – with the trifle alone containing 26 ingredients! So, if you’d prefer to keep things simple, or if the official recipes haven’t tickled your tastebuds, there are plenty of other delicious options available too.
For ideas on what to make, check out this list of 40 King’s coronation party recipes from Good Housekeeping. You’ll find everything from sausage rolls and finger sandwiches, to easy iced buns and coronation cocktails.
And to make things extra special and on-theme, why not use some of this coronation merchandise to serve up your creations? There are vintage union jack table covers, cupcake stands, and party plates – as well as bowler hats and party whistles.
7. Pay a visit to a royal residence
If you’d like to celebrate the King’s coronation by learning more about it, why not pay a visit to one of the royal residences?
Some are hosting events and activities specifically for the coronation to allow the public to delve deeper into what coronations are all about. With activities for adults and children alike, it’s a perfect day out for the whole family.
For example, in the days leading up to the coronation, the Palace of Holyroodhouse is holding a series of short talks and lectures where guests can learn more about coronation traditions. And at the Royal Mews’ Coronation Celebration activity, visitors have the opportunity to see first-hand some of the beautiful carriages used in the coronation procession – including the Gold State Coach.
You can find out more about planning your visit to royal residences over the coronation weekend on the Royal Collection Trust website.
Alternatively, if you’d like to learn more from home, the Royal Collection Trust also has a collection of articles to enjoy for free. Topics include the role of a queen consort, the history of the Crown Jewels and Gold State Coach – and there’s also a guide to coronations past and present.
8. Enjoy a picnic with family and friends
If you’d prefer to steer clear of the kitchen over the coronation weekend, the good news is that UK supermarkets have stepped up their game and come out with a range of coronation-themed food and drink. So why not plan a coronation picnic with family and friends?
At Tesco, you’ll find coronation raspberry and bellini trifles. Meanwhile, Morrisons has created a ‘Party Like a Royal’ giant cookie, and Marks and Spencer has launched limited edition commemorative tins full of tea bags and all-butter shortbreads. And this is just to name a few.
To see what else is available, check out this full guide to supermarkets’ special food and drinks to mark coronation Day from the Evening Standard.
9. Get your hands on some coronation-themed memorabilia to treasure in the years to come
If you’re after a keepsake to mark the historic occasion of King Charles III’s coronation, there’s plenty of coronation-themed memorabilia to choose from.
Whether you’d like something small like a commemorative cake tin or tea towel, or a larger decorative item such as a handcrafted plate or dinner service, brands have been busy producing a variety of unique pieces.
Below are some of our favourite items…
Whether you decide to keep your memorabilia as a souvenir for yourself or show it to your children or grandchildren, we hope these ideas will help you treasure this moment in the years to come.
If you’d like some more inspiration, check out Homes & Antiques’ list of best King Charles III Coronation memorabilia, souvenirs, and collectables.
Final thoughts…
It’s been almost 70 years since the UK and Commonwealth has seen the crowning of a new monarch – so the coronation of King Charles III this May marks a significant moment in history.
There are plenty of ways to make the most of the occasion, from parties and concerts to creative cooking and crafts. So why not start planning how you’ll celebrate the King’s coronation today?
And, for a little fun ahead of the coronation weekend you might be interested in signing up to Rest Less Events’ free Coronation Quiz, taking place on Thursday 4th May.