King Charles and Queen Camilla will then attend an evening concert at the palace west of London.
London:
Thousands of local street parties were planned for Sunday, the second day of events to mark the coronation of King Charles III with a concert in front of 20,000 people at Windsor Castle.
Following days of back-to-back diplomatic receptions, garden parties and rehearsals for Saturday’s event, at Westminster Abbey, Charles, 74, and Queen Camilla, 75, will host a private reception.
They will then attend an evening concert at the palace, west of London.
Charles’s coronation as monarch of the United Kingdom and 14 Commonwealth countries around the world was the first in Britain in 70 years.
Global royalty and world leaders attended the spectacular ceremony steeped in 1,000 years of tradition and customs.
But Sunday’s events are a change in emphasis.
While coronation celebrations have their roots in the England of 1066, “Big Lunch” parties seek to bring the communities of modern Britain closer together.
Monday has been declared a public holiday – meaning people can relax on Sunday without worrying about hangovers.
Buckingham Palace said Charles and Camilla hoped the long weekend would “provide an opportunity to celebrate and spend time with friends, family and community”.
Street parties were a major feature of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953 – and a memorable part of the celebrations of her long reign in 1977 and last year, following the hardships of the Second World War.
The Big Lunch is an attempt to keep that more neighborly spirit alive.
– Sense of community –
“From a cup of tea with a neighbor to a street party, the Coronation Big Lunch brings celebration to your neighborhood and is a great way to get to know your community a little better,” said Buckingham Palace.
It’s likely to see many hit-and-miss attempts at making coronation quiche – a specially baked savory tart featuring spinach, broad beans and tarragon.
The king’s sister, Princess Anne, was due to attend a community street party in Windsor, west of London, while his nieces Princess Beatrice and Eugenie – Prince Andrew’s daughters – will attend a large lunch in the same royal town.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will host a lunch at his 10 Downing Street office and residence, inviting community volunteers and Ukrainian refugees.
– Stars and lights –
Take That, Lionel Richie and Katy Perry are among the stars to perform in a show that commemorates the late Queen’s previous royal jubilee.
Welsh bass-baritone Brian Terfel – who sang during the coronation service – will also perform, along with Chinese pianists Lang Lang, Andrea Bocelli, Paloma Faith and Nicole Scherzinger.
Hollywood star Tom Cruise, actress Joan Collins, adventurer Bear Grylls and singer Tom Jones will appear via video message.
The Royal Ballet, Royal Opera, Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal College of Music and Royal College of Art will come together for a one-off performance.
Buckingham Palace said the focal point would be “lighting up the nation”, using projections, lasers, drone displays and lights to illuminate famous places across the UK.
– feedback –
As expected, the coronation dominated the British media on Sunday, with attention focused on the grandeur of the ceremony as well as the country’s problems facing Charles.
The cost of the coronation – reported to be upwards of 100 million rupees ($126 million) – has sparked disquiet at a time when many Britons are grappling with rising costs of living and widespread strikes.
Many covered up the anti-monarchy’s arrest before they had a chance to protest, raising concerns from rights groups.
The Guardian praised an incident that was “ridiculous but also brilliant” and “an extraordinary display of precision in a country where nothing seems to work”.
The Times noted that the “stirred, almost worried expression” on Charles’s face at Westminster Abbey was probably a reflection of the scale of his task.
“He rules a messed up country and a monarchy reduced to scandal, with both his younger brother and son being ousted from the inner circle” while foreign territories are departing with the prospect of continuing.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)