London Gets Bejewelled as it Prepares for The King’s Coronation

Once again, the great city that is London will be centre stage this coming weekend to celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort at Westminster Abbey on Saturday 6th May. The Service, which will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, will reflect the Monarch’s role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry.

As the first coronation ceremony that the nation has seen in more than 70 years, The King and Queen Consort will travel from Buckingham Palace in the King’s procession to Westminster Abbey during the morning. For those staying at Holland House, it’s just a short stroll to the Palace. Viewing spots along the procession route are not ticketed and will be open to the public on a first-come first-served basis but remember to pitch up early as spots will fill quickly, and many are expected to camp overnight.

The places with the best views of the procession will be outside Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey – where the procession will begin and end – as well as along The Mall, Horse Guards Parade, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, and Parliament Square.

There will also be numerous ceremonial, celebratory and community events taking place over the Coronation Weekend between Saturday 6th and Monday 8th May.

On Sunday, 7th May, a special Coronation Concert is being staged and broadcast live at Windsor Castle which will see a world-class orchestra play interpretations of musical favourites fronted by some of the world’s biggest entertainers and performers including members of the Royal Ballet, the Royal Opera, the Royal Shakespeare Company, Take That, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie – amongst others.

The Coronation Big Lunch, at which neighbours and communities are invited to share food and fun together, will also take place across the country on the same date – a nationwide act of celebration and friendship.

And finally, on Monday 8th May – members of the public will be invited to take part in The Big Help Out which will encourage people to try volunteering for themselves and highlight the positive impact volunteering has on communities across the nation.

As many of our residents know, LHA’s volunteer scheme is central to its success as it allows us to keep our accommodation affordable. In fact, for many years it has generated noticeable impact as a gateway for young people to establish themselves in London by providing free accommodation and board in return for their time. During the last 20 years, approximately 10,000 young people have used the scheme as a steppingstone to independent living in our vibrant capital so, if you fancy a new challenge, click here to find out more.

Whatever you end up doing during the weekend’s celebrations – keep safe, have fun and sparkle!