Coronation of King Charles III
Celebrating the Coronation
HM King Charles III automatically became Monarch and our Head of State on the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022.
The Coronation marks the symbolic crowning of the King and will take place at Westminster Abbey in London on Saturday, 6 May 2023.
The Government has announced an extra Bank Holiday on Monday, 8 May 2023.
The Coronation Weekend provides an opportunity for communities to celebrate this moment in history and for local people to get involved.
This could include organising ‘Celebration Big Lunch’ street parties for your local community or taking part in a local volunteering project as part of the ‘Big Help Out’ initiative.
Ways to get involved
Saturday, 6 May 2023
Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey
The Coronation will be broadcast live from Westminster Abbey on Saturday morning.
Sunday, 7 May 2023
Coronation Lunch
Neighbours and communities are being encouraged to join in the celebrations for the King’s Coronation. It could be afternoon tea with your neighbours or a ‘Celebration Big Lunch’ street party for your local community.
We’ve made it easy for you to organise your street party and, if needed a road closure. Just fill out our online form by 3 March 2023. (Note: Road closures are handled by Kent County Council)
Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle
In the evening, there will be a national ballot for tickets to the special Coronation Concert produced, staged, and broadcast live by the BBC. Details of the concert and how to apply for tickets will be released in due course.
Lighting Up the Nation will see iconic landmarks across the UK lit up with projections, lasers, drone displays and illuminations.
Monday, 8 May 2023
‘The Big Help Out’
The Big Help Out is designed to recognise the positive impact of volunteering has on communities both locally and nationally.
The Big Help Out will encourage people to try volunteering in their local community with the aim of leaving a lasting legacy from the Coronation Weekend.
The District and the Monarchy
The Dover district is proud of its links with the Monarchy.
It was on 25 May 1660 that Charles II landed on the beach in Dover to restore the Monarchy. The scene is depicted on a magnificent stained-glass windows at the Maison Dieu (Dover Town Hall),
Portraits of both Charles I and Charles II are held by the Dover Collections, which also includes paintings of other British Monarchs depicted in their Coronation robes and with the St Edward’s Crown, Orb and Sceptre, the symbols of Monarchy that will be used at the Coronation of King Charles III on 6 May.
Street Parties
Residents are being encouraged to join in the celebrations for the King’s Coronation by holding street parties in their neighbourhood. Guidance on how to organise a street party can be found on the gov.uk website.
For all street parties in the Dover District, please let us know by completing the Street Party event notification form.
Please note for all street parties that require a road closure, a separate application will also need to be submitted to Kent County Council. The deadline for road closure applications is Friday 24 March 2023.
Find out details from the map below of street parties taking place in your neighbourhood.
Events
For more information on events across the district over the Coronation Weekend and beyond, please see the White Cliffs Country What’s On pages. For more information on events nationally, please see https://coronation.gov.uk/events/
Join the Big Help Out as we celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III and the reawakening of Dover's Maison Dieu – see our Press Release here.