Why the king's coronation is a celebration of British fair play and inclusivity | Opinion

On Saturday, King Charles III will be crowned at his coronation. Rooted in tradition and pageantry, the ceremony will highlight his priorities for the future. Many will watch events from Westminster Abbey and, a few hours later, will gather to celebrate the occasion with a Big Lunch.

In Manhattan, the St. George’s Society of New York will host a Big Lunch Coronation Picnic in Central Park. It's an opportunity to gather with family and friends and recreate a New York version of the street parties many of us experienced when growing up in the United Kingdom — bunting, overcast weather, cheese and pickle sandwiches and too much sugar. Street parties have now been rebranded in the UK as the Big Lunch, but the intention here is the same, to bring people together and enjoy a few hours company with those who live in the same area and often don’t know the names of people they see every day in the bus queue — line, as Americans say — on the school run or walking the dog. Being New York, we can't close a street or an avenue so folks will bring their own blanket and picnic and Thermos of tea.

Despite what you might imagine, most expats don’t spend every day thinking about the royal family — the numbers are probably similar to those in the UK. According to a YouGov poll on March 17, less than half of British adults planned to watch the coronation. But most expats quite like the opportunity to gather around a national occasion, something about the memory or tradition reminds us of the distance — or maybe it's the hats and robes that help strike up a conversation with the people we only normally see in passing.

Being based in New York, our St. George's Society community is a happy mix of folks who have lots to say to each other, bringing the best of our cultures together. Our community is varied but predominantly comprised of immigrants from one of the 56 countries of the Commonwealth, an area that makes up a quarter of the world's land mass. One in three young people aged between 15 and 29 live in Commonwealth communities. Just like events around Westminster Abbey, our eye is on the future.

More perspective: Thank you, Ma'am: Queen Elizabeth II was a stoic link across four generations

We know what it is like to arrive in a place with few contacts and big ambitions to achieve the American Dream. It is hard work that might be easier for some than others, and in egalitarian New York, everyone deserves the opportunity to meet their potential. Despite some Hollywood portrayals, we Brits do have a deep sense of fair play and our community wants to see others succeed. I know this because I see it every day.

What unifies our community is a sense of purpose — and despite his privilege, and like his mother before him, the King has committed himself to the causes he is passionate about: perhaps most famously the environment, but also interfaith dialogue and allowing the next generation to meet its potential through access to education, vocational training, access to funding and mentorship.

Similarly, the St. George's Society of New York is proud of the work we deliver in the tri-state area, including supporting final year grad students from across the Commonwealth now living in New York. Our scholars are recognized as academically strong and are referred to us by partners in five CUNY colleges, one in each of New York’s five boroughs. Despite their hard work and accomplishments, meeting university tuition and fees is a challenge for these scholars and finding $7,500 saddles them with even more debt or the added pressure to hold down yet another job, thereby spending less time achieving the grades they are capable.

About 40% of these students chose careers in the health and human services sector, professions where the tri-state area has significant shortages. Since 2008, the St. George's Society of New York has supported more than 470 New Yorkers and helped them reach the milestone of graduation. Our students have a 98% graduation rate in the academic year — compared with U.S. national average of 62%. Only 42% of U.S. students graduate without student debt. And once they join our program, our students become members of our community and meet other professionals who provide invaluable career and life advice. Investment in our fellow citizens is good for them and our region. In a time when we are facing some big challenges, it provides a concrete example of how individuals can have an impact and achieve something good.

For some of our community and like many others in the tri-state area, May is significant not because of the coronation, but because of another occasion to celebrate the promise of the future for a family — graduation. Their special events will probably include celebrations with great meals. And you know there will be some tradition, fancy robes and strange hats at those events, too.

Coronation or graduation, I wish every success to them all.

Do join us at the picnic or if you would like to support the class of 2023-24, contact us via hello@stgeorgessociety.org or donate.

Clare Risman is the executive director of the St. George's Society of New York.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: King Charles Coronation St. George's Society of New York