Plate Britain
Street parties and Coronation Big Lunches prove royal treat
BUNTING, King Charles masks and Union Jack outfits... when it comes to celebrating a big event, nobody does it quite like the British.
We joined revellers at Coronation Big Lunches and street parties across the country to get in the Coronation spirit...
SPORTING a Union Jack suit and a King Charles mask, Dave Simpson was celebrating the Coronation his way, unveiling a joke toilet throne he had created especially for the occasion.
Sitting down on his gold-painted, recycled seat, the 56-year-old plumber grinned as he said: “This is what today is for, isn’t it? Having a few laughs and a lot of nice food. We’re with our family marking this historic weekend.” The promenade in the Lancashire town was home to a mile-long line of picnic tables, decked with 7km of festive bunting, with locals hoping to beat the 5,000 attendance record they set last year for the Jubilee picnic.
Up to 10,000 people were expected this time, with thousands of sandwiches being shared and 1,000 slices of a specially commissioned Coronation Cake, cut by the town cryer, given out. As the sun beamed down, guests – a mixture of local families and volunteer groups – arrived laden with bags, paper plates, cake stands, tea urns and plenty of beer and fizz.
Mum Natalie Jones, 42, wanted to be here with her five children, including six-month-old Annie.
“It doesn’t matter how you feel about the Royal Family,” she said.
“Today is about our values as a country, working together at a time when community is really needed.” By mid-afternoon, a dazzling Coronation Carnival Parade was in full swing, complete with drag queens, drummers, Brazilian dancers and Egyptian performers. The crowd was loving every minute.
Back at his table, Dave – known as Daft Dave to his mates – who travelled from nearby Lancaster, was getting ready to tuck into homemade banoffee pies, a King Charles caterpillar cake and trays and trays of neatly cut sandwiches and rolls.
Sporting an ermine-style cloak, plastic crown and Union Jack dress, his wife Louise, 53, said: “I’ve always loved the Royal Family. Saturday was about them – now we’re celebrating where we live and people that matter.”