Coronation Concert and Big Lunches as the celebrations continue

Events are happening across the UK today including a concert at Windsor Castle

Lionel Richie and King Charles III during a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on 3rd May
Author: Abbie ChesherPublished 7th May 2023

Thousands of street parties are taking place today as 'Big Lunches' are due to be held across the United Kingdom as celebrations continue following the coronation of King Charles III.

Today, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will attend a big lunch in Cranleigh, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence will be going to a community street party in Swindon, and Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie will attend a big lunch in Windsor.

A spokeswoman for Buckingham Palace said the events will be part of "a nationwide act of celebration and friendship”.

Communities taking part in the Coronation Big Lunch are receiving a letter from the newly coronated King and Queen Consort to commemorate their involvement.

King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla at a Big Lunch celebration last year for the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee at The Oval Cricket Ground in London

Later, around 20,000 members of the public are expected to attend the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle where they will see performances by Take That, Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, Paloma Faith, Olly Murs, veteran rock guitarist Steve Winwood, and Nicole Scherzinger of The Pussycat Dolls.

Lionel Richie already has close ties with the King, having been made the first Global Ambassador of The Prince's Trust in 2019.

He's also the First Chairman of the Global Ambassador Group for the organisation as well.

The show, hosted by Paddington and Downton Abbey actor Hugh Bonneville, will see Hollywood star Tom Cruise, Dynasty actress Dame Joan Collins, adventurer Bear Grylls and singer Sir Tom Jones appear via video message.

The stage for the Coronation Concert under construction at Windsor Castle recently

The series of pre-recorded sketches will reveal little-known facts about the monarch and will also include moments from beloved literary figure Winnie the Pooh – seemingly echoing the famous moment Paddington Bear drank tea with the late Queen during her Platinum Jubilee celebrations last summer.

Classical acts including Andrea Bocelli, Welsh bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel and Chinese pianist Lang Lang will also perform.

The Royal Ballet, the Royal Opera, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal College of Music and the Royal College of Art will come together for the first time to create a one-off performance featuring Sex Education and Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa and Olivier Award nominee Mei Mac.

As part of the Coronation Concert, choreographed lasers, projections and drone displays will radiate over historic bridges and buildings.

Seven of the 10 locations involved in the event, Lighting up the Nation, have been disclosed so far, including Blackpool seafront in Lancashire, where people can join a viewing party from Blackpool Tower.

Sheffield Town Hall will showcase a display in the Peace Gardens, while Newcastle’s Tyne Bridge and Gateshead’s Millennium Bridge lights will cast riverside reflections for an audience stretching between the quays.

A drone show will light up the sky above the Eden Project in Cornwall, and its biomes will become multicoloured for spectators invited from the local volunteer community.

Light shows will also brighten up Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff at various locations.

The remaining three locations will be revealed during the concert.

King Charles III's Coronation in pictures

King Charles & Queen Camilla

King Charles's coronation takes place on 6th May 2023.
Ahead of the Coronation The King and Queen had official photos taken in the Blue room in Buckingham Palace.

Coronation rehearsal

A few days before the official coronation a huge rehearsal took place overnight in London.

Crowds gather in their ponchos outside Buckingham Palace

The crowds brave the damp weather outside Buckingham Palace ahead of the Coronation.

Royal Fans at Trafalgar Square

Crowds gathered at Trafalgar Square watching as a procession goes by.

Royal fan in her hand-made dress

Rebecca hand-made her patriotic dress and had met Stephanie this morning who'd travelled from America to watch the Coronation.

The Royal Carriage at Trafalgar Square

The Royal Carriage carrying King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla passes through Trafalgar Square

Royal fans at Parliament Square

Some royal fans have opted for fancier dress today to celebrate the Coronation.

The Diamond Jubilee carriage

The Diamond Jubilee carriage carries King Charles and Queen Camilla up The Mall ahead of the coronation

The Royal Carriage along the Mall at Buckingham Palace

The Royal Carriage carrying HRHs Charles and Camilla passes Buckingham Palace

Princess Anne and her husband Sir Tim Laurence

Princess Anne and her husband Sir Tim Laurence arriving at Westminster Abbey for the Coronation.

Queen Consort Camilla arrives at Westminster Abbey

The Queen Consort Camilla arrives at Westminster Abbey ahead of the Coronation of her husband King Charles III.

Prince Harry arrives at Westminster Abbey

The King's younger son, Prince Harry, arrives at Westminster Abbey for his father's Coronation.

Members of the Royal Family at Westminster Abbey

Members of the Royal Family took a front row seat for the Coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey

The Princess of Wales with two of her children

The Princess of Wales smiles as she sits with her children Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis at Westminster Abbey.

Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis holding hands

In a touching moment, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis hold hands ahead of the ceremony.

Sir Bryn Terfel

Welsh bass-baritone singer Sir Bryn Terfel performs at Westminster Abbey during the Coronation service.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reads an Epistle

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak made a reading of an Epistle during the service at Westminster Abbey.

The Orb, the Sceptre with Dove and the Imperial State Crown are brought to the thrones before the coronation

The Orb, the Sceptre with Dove and the Imperial State Crown are brought to the thrones before the coronation

The anointment

King Charles is anointed with holy oil by The Archbishop of Canterbury behind private screens in what's considered the most sacred part of the ceremony.

St Edward's Crown

Nicholas Lyons, the Lord Mayor of the City of London brings the St Edward's Crown to be presented to the King.

King Charles III is crowned

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby crowns King Charles III.

King Charles wearing the crown

King Charles III shortly after being crowned with the St Edward's Crown by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

King Charles with crown and sceptres

King Charles III has been officially crowned and was presented with various important items including sceptres.

Queen Camilla leaving Westminster Abbey

Queen Camilla leaves Westminster Abbey following the Coronation of her husband.

King Charles leads the procession out of Westminster Abbey

King Charles leads the procession out of Westminster Abbey

Procession at Trafalgar Square

The procession following the Coronation around Trafalgar Square

The procession gathers outside Buckingham Palace

Part of the procession gathers outside Buckingham Palace ahead of it's start.

King Charles leaves Westminster Abbey

Despite the wet weather, Charles emerged from Westminster Abbey after being crowned King.

The Princess of Wales after the Coronation service

The Princess of Wales smiles as she leaves Westminster Abbey following the Coronation of her father-in-law King Charles III.

The Gold State Coach carrying the newly-crowned King Charles and Queen Camilla

The Gold State Coach carrying the newly-crowned King Charles and Queen Camilla

Princess Charlotte waves to royal fans during the procession

Princess Charlotte waves to royal fans from the Diamond Jubilee Carriage during the procession

The Gold State Coach makes a procession up The Mall

King Charles and Queen Camilla in the Gold State Coach as it takes part in the procession up The Mall towards Buckingham Palace.

King Charles and Queen Camilla in the Gold State Coach

King Charles and Queen Camilla in the Gold State Coach

Military give a royal salute

Members of the military from across the Commonwealth give a royal salute to King Charles and Queen Camilla on the lawn of Buckingham Palace

King Charles receives a royal salute from members of the military

King Charles receives a royal salute from members of the military on the lawn of Buckingham Palace

King Charles and Queen Camilla on the balcony of Buckingham Palace

King Charles and Queen Camilla greet the waiting crowds on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

King Charles and Queen Camilla on the balcony of Buckingham Palace

King Charles and Queen Camilla are joined by the pages on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to greet the public.

The royal flypast from the Red Arrows above Buckingham Palace

In a scaled back flypast due to the weather, the Red Arrows fly above Buckingham Palace.

The Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace

Working members of the Royal Family appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace following the Coronation.

The Royal Family watch the flypast above Buckingham Palace

Working members of the Royal Family enjoy the flypast.

The Red Arrows soar above the crowds on The Mall

The flypast was scaled back due to the weather but still enchanted the crowds gathered on The Mall and the Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

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