In just over a month, neighbours around the UK will be coming together to mark the upcoming Coronation for His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort, when people everywhere are invited to share friendship, food and fun at Coronation Big Lunch street parties and community celebrations as they join in a moment in history.
To kick off the festivities, broadcaster, actress and comedian, Mel Giedroyc joined guards and musicians at Wellington Barracks, where His Majesty’s Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards and Scots Guards are based and prepare for their ceremonial duties.
Known together as The Foot Guards, these historic Army Regiments are the protectors of Royal Palaces including Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace. Their ceremonial expertise sees them regularly called upon to play leading roles in the biggest state occasions.
Next-door to the iconic Buckingham Palace Royal Residence of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty Queen Consort, Wellington Barracks is also near Hyde Park Barracks where The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and their horses live. In an act of community friendship, encouraged by Mel, the Royal Household Foot Guards invited their Cavalry neighbours to join them at the Coronation Big Lunch on the day.
Mel was sharing top tips about the benefits of The Big Lunch and how inviting neighbours and getting to know one another a little better can make a difference in communities. The special moment was a chance for troops who don’t normally spend time together to enjoy friendship, food and fun, knowing they will be hard at work over the coming weeks including the Coronation bank holiday weekend 6-8 May when the nation will be celebrating.
After learning about the guards, musicians and cavalry duties, and seeing the Foot Guards’ parade ground where they regularly rehearse for ceremonial processions and events, Mel shared how people in streets and neighbourhood in all four corners of the UK are preparing at home for the Coronation Big Lunch.
Mel explained how the annual Big Lunch event has helped millions of people to make meaningful connections and bring their community together. To show how easy it is to get involved, Mel offered tips and ideas including how to invite the neighbours, simple food to enjoy, how to decorate and the kind of entertainment and games that help get people chatting to one another.
Speaking from Wellington Barracks, Mel Giedroyc said: "It’s wonderful to bring these busy hard-working troops and their four-legged friends together for this special Coronation Big Lunch here at Wellington Barracks. Our Big Lunch today shows how easy it is to invite your neighbours over and enjoy a few nibbles together. It’s so important to take time out from our busy lives to meet and share friendship with the people you live alongside. When the serious Coronation ceremonies are over, everyone UK wide is invited to be part of the celebration with a Coronation Big Lunch, whether that’s joining in with a garden picnic, having a cuppa on your doorstep, or a party in your street. Why not start planning your Coronation Big Lunch now? Join in to have some fun - let’s mark this moment in our nation’s history together on 6-8 May.”
Captain Thomas Windsor-Clive, Coldstream Guards, said: “Those of us here today represent different Regiments, come from different backgrounds and will have different responsibilities during this year’s special summer ceremonial season. But having all conducted hundreds of hours of preparations already, it was great for us to come together to take a moment for food and fellowship. As a global family, we need to look after all our neighbours, our communities and our world.”
Peter Stewart LVO, Chief Purpose Officer at the Eden Project who are behind the Coronation Big Lunch said: “The Household Division is made up of separate groups who are all neighbours but don’t always get to spend time together. Today’s event and the invite from Mel to come together for a Coronation Big Lunch shows us how easy it is to join in - it’s all about community, sharing friendship, food and fun! The Big Lunch gives people more than just a good time - people to feel less lonely, raise money for the things they care about, make new friends and go on to get more involved with their community, all as a result of sharing a sarnie and a chat in their neighbourhood. Anyone and everyone can be part of this special moment, just save the date and register for your free pack at www.CoronationBigLunch.com.”
The Coronation Big Lunch will form a central part of the celebrations for His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort’s Coronation Weekend between 6-8 May. By bringing neighbours, communities and the nation together in celebration, the Coronation Big Lunch will help people make new connections and friends where they live, raising community spirits as part of this historic occasion. Her Majesty The Queen Consort has been Patron of The Big Lunch since 2013.
The Big Lunch has been running annually since 2009 and is made possible by The National Lottery. Last summer people across all four nations got together with a Big Lunch, with many positive impacts felt by those taking part. Millions of people said the event helped them to feel less lonely, £22m was raised for good causes and 92% of organisers reported it had a positive impact on their community. Almost two thirds of people who took part said it encouraged people to get more involved in voluntary work.
Tens of thousands of Coronation Big Lunch events of all shapes and sizes are expected to take place across the UK with neighbours invited to join the celebrations in whatever way works for them. What makes the Coronation Big Lunch ‘big’ is everyone coming together on the same weekend, so whether you fancy sharing a cuppa, hosting a back garden BBQ, planning a picnic in the park or putting on a street party – everyone can be part of the special celebrations.
With so many benefits, Coronation Big Lunch organisers hope that every cup of tea shared with a neighbour and street party held will help to raise community spirits, as people everywhere are invited to get to know their community a little better.
To find out more go to www.CoronationBigLunch.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @edencommunities
