Thousands of Big Lunches take place across UK as coronation celebrations continue

Ellen Manning
·3 min read
People take part in a Big Lunch event to celebrate the coronation of Britain's King Charles, at Gloucester Street in London, Britain, May 7, 2023. REUTERS/Yara Nardi
Thousands of Big Lunches took place across the country on Sunday to mark the coronation. (Reuters)

Thousands of street parties and lunches were held across the country on Sunday as part of celebrations of the coronation of King Charles.

Some 50,000 Coronation lunches were expected to take place on Sunday in the UK and across the world and come a day after the nation watched the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey.

A coronation concert is set to round off celebrations on Sunday night, attended by the King, Queen and Royal Family along with around 20,000 members of the public.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 07: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hosts a lunch in Downing Street to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 07, 2023 in London, England. Dignitaries and guests will include the First Lady of the United States of America, Dr. Jill Biden. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hosted a lunch in Downing Street, with guests and dignatories including US First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. (Getty)

The Coronation Big Lunch, an idea by the Eden Project and made possible by the National Lottery, was set up as a way of reducing loneliness and supporting charities and good causes.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife, Akshata Murty, hosted a lunch in Downing Street, inviting volunteers, Ukrainian refugees and youth group members.

Members of the Royal Family also attended events, with the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh going to one in Cranleigh, Surrey, while the Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence joined a community street party in Swindon.

SWINDON, ENGLAND - MAY 07: Princess Anne (L) speaks with residents of a street as they hold a Coronation street party on May 07, 2023 in Swindon, England. The weekend of Coronation celebrations will continue this evening with a the Coronation Concert in the grounds of Windsor Castle later, featuring artists including Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Take That. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
Princess Anne attended a street part on Swindon on Sunday. (Getty)
CRANLEIGH, ENGLAND - MAY 07: Britain's Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh taste a coronation chicken pie as they attend a Big Lunch with residents and representatives from the Royal British Legion, the Scouts and the Guides, in Cranleigh Village Hall, Cranleigh village on May 7, 2023 in Cranleigh, England. (Photo by Peter Nicholls-WPA Pool/Getty Images)
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh tucked into a coronation chicken pie at a Big Lunch with residents and representatives from the Royal British Legion, the Scouts and the Guides, in Cranleigh. (Getty)

In a post on the Royal Family's official Instagram account, pictures of royals at various events were shared with the caption: "Wonderful to see so many people out enjoying their Coronation Big Lunch today!".

Other events around the country included a Big Lunch in Blackpool, with families sat around in deck-chairs enjoying picnics and live entertainment, while hundreds of people across Scotland came together for sunshine, ice-creams and bouncy castles at Big Lunches.

FALMOUTH, ENGLAND - MAY 07: Residents of the Cornish fishing village of Flushing enjoy a street party the day after the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 07, 2023 in Flushing, Falmouth, England. People around the UK celebrate with street parties after Charles III and his wife, Camilla, were crowned as King and Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the other Commonwealth realms. The Coronation took place yesterday at Westminster Abbey eight months after Charles acceded to the throne on 8 September 2022, on the death of his mother, Elizabeth II. (Photo by Hugh Hastings/Getty Images)
People in the Cornish fishing village of Flushing enjoy a street party. (Getty)
FALMOUTH, ENGLAND - MAY 07: Aerial view of a Coronation celebration street party in the Cornish fishing village of Flushing the day after the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 07, 2023 in Flushing, Falmouth, England. People around the UK celebrate with street parties after Charles III and his wife, Camilla, were crowned as King and Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the other Commonwealth realms. The Coronation took place yesterday at Westminster Abbey eight months after Charles acceded to the throne on 8 September 2022, on the death of his mother, Elizabeth II. (Photo by Hugh Hastings/Getty Images)
An aerial view of the coronation celebration street party in Flushing, Cornwall. (Getty)
In Warwick, a Coronation Pageant formed part of the Big Lunch. (George Gulliver)
In Warwick, a Coronation Pageant formed part of the Big Lunch. (George Gulliver)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 07: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak beckons his pet dog nova during a lunch in Downing Street to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 07, 2023 in London, England. Dignitaries and guests will include the First Lady of the United States of America, Dr. Jill Biden. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Rishi Sunak's pet dog nova joined in the celebrations in Downing Street. (Getty)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 7: Residents of the Kirby Estate in Bermondsey have a street party with BBQ, drinks and a bouncy castle as they take part in The Big Lunch to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 7, 2023 in London, United Kingdom. People around the UK celebrate with street parties after Charles III and his wife, Camilla, were crowned as King and Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the other Commonwealth realms. The Coronation took place yesterday at Westminster Abbey eight months after Charles acceded to the throne on 8 September 2022, on the death of his mother, Elizabeth II. (Photo by Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images)
Residents of the Kirby Estate in Bermondsey had a street party with barbecue, drinks and a bouncy castle as part of The Big Lunch. (Getty)
People are served food at a 'Big Lunch' event at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir temple during celebrations following the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camillla, in London, Britain May 7, 2023. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls
Food was served up at a Big Lunch event at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir temple in London. (Reuters)
People take part in a Big Lunch event to celebrate the coronation of Britain's King Charles, in Napier Avenue in Fulham, London, Britain, May 7, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Coombs
Neighbours on Napier Avenue in Fulham, London held a Big Lunch event too. (Reuters)
The market town of Alcester hosted street parties - as they did during the 1977 and 1935 jubilee celebrations. (SWNS)
The market town of Alcester hosted street parties - as they did during the 1977 and 1935 jubilee celebrations. (SWNS)
People watch Morecambe Ukulele Club play some music during celebrations for the Big Lunch on the prom, in Morecambe, Britain, May 7, 2023. REUTERS/Molly Darlington
People enjoy a performance from Morecambe Ukulele Club during Big Lunch celebrations. (Reuters)
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attends the Big Lunch event on Downing Street to celebrate the coronation of Britain's King Charles, in London, Britain, May 7, 2023. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
Rishi Sunak serves up cake at his Big Lunch event on Downing Street. (Reuters)
Warwick's celebrations included a specially-commissioned performance of a play by the Guy of Warwick Society. (George Gulliver)
Warwick's celebrations included a specially-commissioned performance of a play by the Guy of Warwick Society. (George Gulliver)
People take part in a street party during celebrations for the Big Lunch, in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Britain, May 7, 2023. REUTERS/Carl Recine
People take part in a street party during celebrations for the Big Lunch, in Newcastle-under-Lyme. (Reuters)
The Coronation Carnival Parade makes its way along the promenade during celebrations for the Big Lunch on the prom, in Morecambe, Britain, May 7, 2023. REUTERS/Molly Darlington
A Coronation Carnival Parade made its way along the promenade during celebrations for the Big Lunch on the prom, in Morecambe. (Reuters)