More than 20 street parties celebrating His Majesty The King’s Coronation are set to take place in the Royal Borough over the extended Bank Holiday weekend in May – and the council is now keen to hear about other ways communities are celebrating.
The Coronation will be on Saturday 6 May, and a special weekend of events will be held across the country marking this historic occasion, including the Coronation Big Lunch on the Sunday, the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle, and the Big Help Out on the Monday.
There will be street parties taking place in communities including Windsor, Maidenhead and several villages. To ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable time, the council encouraged anyone wishing to hold a party on the public highway to ensure they applied early for a temporary road closure.
The deadline has now passed for street parties and other events requiring road closures, however there are lots of other ways you can mark the Coronation if you’re only now starting your Coronation planning – an informal ‘Street Meet’ held on private driveways and front gardens, a get-together for family and friends in the home or garden, a Coronation picnic in a local park for the Coronation Big Lunch, celebrating at a community venue, or decorating your home with bunting.
In addition, the Big Help Out, on Monday 8 May, encourages residents and community groups to organise and get involved in volunteering activities on the special Bank Holiday, to make a difference in their local areas.
If you are organising a volunteering activity for the Big Help Out, or another Coronation community event or activity, and would like help promoting this to the wider community, please get in touch and this can be featured in the council’s Resident e-newsletter that goes to 22,000 local people each Friday. Email details to communications@rbwm.gov.uk
You might be able to get funding towards your community event or Big Help Out activity from the National Lottery Awards for All scheme. Visit https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/national-lottery-awards-for-all-england. Applications need to be made by Friday 24 March.
You can also add your Coronation celebration to the national Coronation Map at https://coronation.gov.uk/events For materials to help you celebrate, including Coronation bunting templates, visit https://coronation.gov.uk/toolkit/
Councillor Samantha Rayner, deputy leader of the council, and Cabinet member for corporate and resident services, culture and heritage, and Windsor, said: “It’s fantastic residents are planning parties in the borough to mark the Coronation. This is testament to the high esteem in which His Majesty, and the Royal Family, are held in our borough and shows how residents want to recognise, and be part of, this historic moment with family, friends and neighbours.
“We’re honoured that Windsor will be at the heart of the national celebrations with the BBC Coronation Concert on Sunday 7 May, and many lucky local residents will have tickets. The council is, of course, heavily involved in multi-agency planning to ensure this national event runs well.
“However, we’re keen to hear from local residents about any community activities you are organising over that weekend, including volunteering activities for the Big Help Out, especially if you’d like help promoting these to the wider community.”
The Mayor, Councillor Christine Bateson, said: “Our borough has enjoyed a long and proud association with the Royal Family, and this makes His Majesty’s Coronation all the more special for local residents. The celebrations this May, and the street parties planned, will be a chance for communities in our borough to come together, enjoy this unique moment and mark this historic occasion of His Majesty The King’s Coronation.”
To see the street parties and road closures in the borough, please visit one.network
For information on other ways to celebrate the Coronation, visit https://www.rbwm.gov.uk/home/community-and-living/coronation-king-charles-iii/street-party-or-coronation-event