Following King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s historic coronation on May 6 at Westminster Abbey in front of around 2,300 high-profile guests, celebrations continued to take place throughout the weekend. The crowning was celebrated like a festival in the United Kingdom in the form of street parties and big lunches attended by several royals. King Charles and Queen Camilla said on May 7 in a statement that they were “deeply touched” by the celebration and “profoundly grateful both to all those who helped to make it such a glorious occasion – and to the very many who turned out to show their support.”
His son, Prince William, heir to the throne, said at the concert held on May 7, “Because for over 50 years, in every corner of the UK, across the Commonwealth and around the world, he has dedicated himself to serve others, both current and future generations, and those whose memory must not be neglected.”
The King and Queen were present at the concert in Windsor Castle in coordinated blue attires, smiling and waving their flags. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were seated near the King and Queen, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak behind them. A crowd of 20,000 attended the coronation concert to watch performances of stars including Katy Perry and Lionel Richie, whose ‘All Night Long’ made all royal family members groove.
Top Gun actor Tom Cruise delivered a video message from his War Bird plane, saying: “Pilot to pilot, Your Majesty, you can be my wingman any time,” before saluting and banking off. Singer Paloma Faith performed as landmarks around the UK were lit up in celebration. Cold Feet actor James Nesbitt performed work by poet Daljit Nagra, while fashion designer Stella McCartney spoke about conservation.
The Anti-Monarchy protests and support for the royals waning in the UK did not stop people from organizing and attending community get-togethers, Big-Lunches, and the concert at Windsor Castle to celebrate the crowning of King Charles and Queen Camilla. The Prince and Princess of Wales appeared in casual clothing on May 7 afternoon, attending picnics outside the castle before the concert. The couple posed for several selfies with the visibly excited crowd. They spoke to kids and adults as they made their way through the walkabout following an outdoor celebration on the Long Walk, with picnickers bringing tables, chairs, and blankets to enjoy an al fresco snack and drink.
The King’s siblings, Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, Anne, Princess Royal, and their spouses, took on lunch duty for the royal family. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hosted the US first lady and her granddaughter Finnegan Biden at the Big Lunch party in front of his office at Downing Street. Other guests included Ukrainian refugees and community activists.
The lower-key events occurred right after the regalia-laden pageantry, which featured the King and queen crowned together in Westminster Abbey. They were presented with centuries-old swords, scepters, and a jewel-encrusted golden orb, a medieval tradition symbolizing the monarch’s power.
The celebration was filled with liturgy, song, and hearty cheers of “God save the king.” Penny Mordaunt holding the ceremonial sword for over an hour, got social media talking about her arm strength. The ancient ceremony was given a modern twist with a hand-picked gospel ascension choir.
Declared a national holiday, Monday will round off the coronation weekend festivities with the Big Help Out, encouraging people to help in their local communities.
Thank you Windsor for an incredible evening!
Whether you were watching in Windsor or at home, we hope you enjoyed the #CoronationConcert pic.twitter.com/yffx1sbk6u
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 8, 2023
🥳🎉 Hundreds of thousands of people have been attending #CoronationBigLunches this weekend, bringing their neighbours together to share friendship, food and fun as part of the official #Coronation celebrations. @RoyalFamily pic.twitter.com/I0Gdnftgqo
— Eden Project Communities – #CoronationBigLunch 🎉 (@edencommunities) May 7, 2023
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