Well, What a fantastic weekend we had. Thank you to everyone who attended our Picnic in the Park on Sunday 6th May at Duston Sports Centre. We hope you all enjoyed the free cake and bubbly, and that you enjoyed the rest of your weekend. A huge thank you to all of the shops and homes across Duston who put out the bunting and flew the Union Jack flag. It really did look fantastic.
I am sure the King and Queen are very grateful to you all for marking the occasion
Palace Plans
The Coronation - 6th May 2023
The Coronation Service took place on the morning of Saturday, 6th May 2023 at Westminster Abbey. The Coronation is a solemn religious service, as well as an occasion for celebration and pageantry.
Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort arrived at Westminster Abbey in procession from Buckingham Palace, known as 'The King's Procession'.
After the Service, Their Majesties returned to Buckingham Palace in a larger ceremonial procession, known as 'The Coronation Procession'. Their Majesties were joined in this procession by other Members of the Royal Family.
At Buckingham Palace, The King and The Queen Consort, accompanied by Members of the Royal Family, appeared on the balcony to conclude the day's ceremonial events.
The Coronation Concert - Sunday 7th May
On Sunday, 7th May 2023, a special Coronation Concert took place at Windsor Castle. Produced, staged and broadcast live by the BBC and BBC Studios, the Coronation Concert brought global music icons and contemporary stars together in celebration of the historic occasion.
Attended by a public audience including volunteers from The King and The Queen Consort's many charity affiliations, the concert saw a world-class orchestra play interpretations of musical favourites fronted by some of the world's biggest entertainers, alongside performers from the world of dance. The performances were supported by staging and effects located on the Castle's East Lawn and also featured a selection of spoken word sequences delivered by stars of stage and screen.
Through a national ballot held by the BBC, several thousand members of the were selected to receive a pair of free tickets for the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle.
Alongside the stars of the concert, the show also saw an exclusive appearance from The Coronation Choir. This diverse group were created from the nation's keenest community choirs and amateur singers from across the United Kingdom, such as Refugee choirs, NHS choirs, LGBTQ+ singing groups and deaf signing choirs. A new documentary exploring the formation of The Coronation Choir will tell the stories of the people representing the many faces and voices of the country. The Coronation Choir appeared alongside The Virtual Choir, made up of singers from across the Commonwealth, for a special performance on the night.
The centrepiece of the Coronation Concert, 'Lighting up the Nation', saw the country join together in celebration as iconic locations across the United Kingdom was lit up using projections, lasers, drone displays and illuminations.
The Coronation Concert was produced by BBC Studios, broadcast live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds.