Special events in Windsor for the local community to celebrate the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla have today been revealed by the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead.
The Coronation itself will be on Saturday 6 May, and events marking this historic occasion will be held across the country, including the Coronation Big Lunch on the Sunday, the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle, and the Big Help Out on the Bank Holiday Monday. There are no ceremonial events in Windsor for the Coronation.
The Coronation service at Westminster Abbey will be televised live from 11am on the Saturday. The council has arranged big screens for the local community on part of the Long Walk from 10am for a limited number of residents to watch this big national moment together. Access to this event area is not ticketed but is subject to capacity.
On the Sunday, residents are welcome to bring picnics to enjoy within this community event area on the Long Walk, as part of the Coronation Big Lunch, from midday until 6pm. During this time, a small stage will also share community performances as part of the Windsor Community Coronation Showcase, an exciting and varied programme of entertainment organised by the Windsor Platinum Jubilee Event Team.
Starting at midday, the showcase will be opened by Windsor and Maidenhead’s Town Crier, Chris Brown and acts will include the debut performance of the new Windsor Schools’ Coronation Song, a collaboration involving hundreds of Windsor primary and secondary school pupils and musician James Manwaring, who is Director of Music for the Windsor Learning Partnership. For the full programme, visit https://www.rbwm.gov.uk/home/community-and-living/coronation-king-charles-iii/coronation-events-and-guidance-local-residents-and-businesses/windsor-community-coronation-showcase
This is alongside more than 20 street parties taking place in communities including Windsor, Maidenhead and several villages in the borough over that weekend.
If you plan to attend the community events
Pedestrian access to the Long Walk event area is via Kings Road, opposite the Edinburgh Gardens junction. A number of accessible viewing areas will be provided on the Long Walk on a first come, first served basis. Dogs, except assistance dogs, will not be allowed in the event and picnic area for animal welfare, hygiene and capacity reasons, however they can be walked freely on other areas of the Long Walk.
Folding chairs, picnic blankets and handheld umbrellas will be permitted, however gazebos and tents are not allowed on the Long Walk and, as normal, camping is not permitted.
Please remember to bring suitable footwear and clothing for the weather conditions. Toilets, catering and waste facilities will be provided on site.
Getting to Windsor for local residents
Windsor is expected to be busy over the Coronation weekend, so expect travel delays. If you’re planning on travelling into Windsor, please use public transport if possible, ideally the train, and check timetables before you travel. Town centre parking is limited, so if driving then make sure you know where you’re going to park before setting off.
A number of car parks in Windsor will be temporarily unavailable for general public use in order to support the BBC Coronation Concert and Royal Windsor Horse Show in early May.
King Edward VII car park will close from 6pm on Friday 5 May, reopening on Wednesday 17 May. Romney Lock and Home Park car parks will close to general public use from 7pm on Saturday 6 May. Romney Lock and the top end of Home Park will reopen on Wednesday 17 May, with the rest of Home Park (beyond the tennis courts) reopening on Friday 26 May. In addition, there will also be reduced spaces in Alexandra Gardens, Windsor Coach Park and Windsor Dials in early May to support the concert event.
The Review Ground is unfortunately no longer available for parking for local residents attending the Coronation community events on the Long Walk this weekend, due to recent and forecast wet weather affecting ground conditions.
If you live in the Windsor area, please walk to the event site if you can. Pedestrian access is via Kings Road, opposite the Edinburgh Gardens junction – you will not be able to access the Long Walk via Park Street or Brook Street.
If you live in other areas of the borough, please use public transport if possible, ideally the train. If driving, please be aware that Windsor car parking options are very limited – however you can park in Maidenhead, which is free on Sundays, and take the train to Windsor via Slough. The closest car parks to Maidenhead railway station are Vicus Way and Stafferton Way multi-storey car parks.
If you’re joining the Big Lunch on the Long Walk on Sunday and don’t fancy carrying your picnic if walking or taking the train, you have the option to buy refreshments instead from the food stalls within the event area on the Long Walk.
BBC Coronation Concert
The BBC Coronation Concert on Sunday evening is a ticket-only event inside Windsor Castle and hundreds of lucky residents of the borough will be attending following a special local ballot. All tickets to the concert have been allocated and people won’t be able to access anything without a ticket. However, the concert will be shown at the screen site on the Long Walk. This site has limited capacity and is primarily for local residents.
The Mayor, Councillor Christine Bateson, said: “Our borough has enjoyed a long and proud association with the Royal Family, and this makes His Majesty The King’s Coronation all the more special for local residents. We’re all getting ready to celebrate, and be part of, this historic moment with family, friends and neighbours.
“In the Royal Borough, we want to ensure our local communities can come together, enjoy this unique moment and celebrate this occasion and so we’ve planned some special events just for our residents to make this a weekend to remember.
“We’ve arranged big screens on the Long Walk for residents to watch the Coronation ceremony on Saturday, and on the Sunday afternoon you’re welcome to bring a picnic for the Coronation Big Lunch and watch live community performances on stage. Windsor will be very busy, especially on Sunday, so if you’re coming to the town then remember to plan ahead and come by train if possible.
“We’re honoured to host the BBC Coronation Concert at Windsor and many lucky local residents have tickets. This event is within the castle walls and you won’t be able to access anything without a ticket. However, everyone can still watch all the entertainment live on television where you’ll get fantastic view and can feel part of this national moment.”
Lisa Hunter, organiser of the Windsor Community Coronation Showcase and champion of the Maidenhead Festival, said: “We have selected each act to reflect some part of our community and entertain us with their interpretation of a Coronation-worthy performance.”
Andrew Try, who rallied the Jubilee team for this event, said: “Our town has such a long-standing and unique connection to the Royal family that it is important for us all to be able to come together as our close town community to celebrate this new Carolean era and congratulate His Majesty on the occasion of his Coronation.”