UK Celebrates King Charles III’s Coronation With Street Parties and Concert.
On Sunday, thousands of local street parties were held across the UK to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III, which took place on Saturday.
The celebrations concluded with a concert in front of 20,000 people at Windsor Castle, where the new monarch and his wife, Queen Camilla, made an appearance.
The coronation ceremony, steeped in 1,000 years of tradition and ritual, was attended by global royalty and world leaders. But Sunday’s events marked a shift in emphasis, with the focus on community spirit and bringing modern Britain’s communities closer together.
After the post-World War II hardships, street parties were a major feature of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953 — and a memorable part of celebrations for her long reign in 1977 and last year. The Big Lunch is an attempt to keep alive that more neighborly spirit.
“From a cup of tea with a neighbor to a street party, a Coronation Big Lunch brings the celebrations to your neighborhood and is a great way to get to know your community a little better,” Buckingham Palace said.
The king’s sister, Princess Anne, attended a community street party in Windsor, while his nieces, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, attended a big lunch in the same royal town. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hosted a lunch at his 10 Downing Street office and residence, inviting community volunteers and Ukrainian refugees.
The highlight of the celebrations was a concert at Windsor Castle, featuring a star-studded lineup that included Take That, Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Welsh bass-baritone Bryn Terfel, who sang during the coronation service. Chinese pianist Lang Lang, Andrea Bocelli, Paloma Faith, and Nicole Scherzinger also performed. Hollywood star Tom Cruise, actress Joan Collins, adventurer Bear Grylls, and singer Tom Jones appeared via video message.
The Royal Ballet, the Royal Opera, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal College of Music, and the Royal College of Art came together for a one-off performance. Buckingham Palace said the centerpiece would be “Lighting up the Nation”, in which well-known locations across Britain were lit up using projections, lasers, drone displays, and illuminations.
In addition to the festivities, the coronation has been the subject of much media coverage, with many commentators noting the magnitude of the ceremony and the challenges that King Charles III faces as monarch.
The cost of the coronation, reported to be upwards of £100 million ($126 million), has also caused disquiet at a time when many Britons are struggling with the soaring cost of living and widespread strikes.