King Charles coronation: Our guide to the events taking place in Cambridge, South Cambridgeshire and East Cambridgeshire
God save the King will be the cry across the nation on Saturday as His Majesty is officially crowned King Charles III, alongside Camilla, the Queen Consort.
And there is plenty going on in and around Cambridge to mark this momentous occasion – the likes of which haven’t been seen since Queen Elizabeth II was crowned way back in 1953.
If you want to watch the coronation coverage from Westminster Abbey on a big screen, there are a number of options. In Cambridge, the Meadows Community Centre in Arbury and the Clay Farm Centre in Trumpington are showing the event, or you could opt for the grand setting of Ely Cathedral, where there will be free refreshments and a coronation flower display.
The coronation service starts at 11am on Saturday and will feature five main elements – the Recognition, the Oath, the Anointing, the Investiture and Crowning, and the Enthronement and Homage, as well as the Queen Consort’s coronation.
The King will be adorned in heavy priest-like golden robes worn by his ancestors for his moment of crowning. He will put on layer upon layer of glittering coronation vestments, inspired by priestly attire, in the middle of Westminster Abbey’s coronation theatre during the religious service.
For the investiture, during which the crowning takes place, Charles will be given a long shimmering gold-sleeved coat to wear called the Supertunica, created for his great-grandfather George V in 1911, and worn at successive coronations including by Elizabeth II.
On top of the Supertunica will be placed a floor-length cloak called the Imperial Mantle – or Robe Royal – made for the King’s extravagant ancestor George IV in 1821.
The heir to the throne, the Prince of Wales, will play a role in the service by entering the coronation theatre to assist with placing the robe on his father.
During the event, Charles III will become the first monarch to pray aloud in front of a coronation congregation.
At the end of the service, the national anthem will be sung and the outward procession will take place.
Across the region, many street parties and coronation lunches are lined up to mark the occasion. Many of the street parties will lead to local road closures.
FRIDAY, MAY 5
CAMBRIDGE
Coleridge Community Forum, St Thomas’ Hall, Coleridge, CB1 3TT
Coronation supper/barbecue and disco, with games – 6.30pm-9.30pm
Coronation Floral Event, The Parish Church, Willingham
The church will display 10 different arrangements depicting 10 different parts of King Charles III’s life.
Ring for the King, St Mary’s Church, Ely
The bell ringers of St Mary’s Church Ely have finalised their programme to ‘Ring for the King’, beginning on ‘coronation eve’ with a quarter peal – 1,260 changes. On coronation day, the sound of the bells will be heard for an hour in the morning before the start of the service and again as dusk falls over the city following the lighting of Ely’s Beacon.
SATURDAY, MAY 6
CAMBRIDGE
Clay Farm Centre, Hobson Square, Trumpington, Cambridge CB2 9FN
Coronation screening – from 11am
Impington Salvation Army, Impington Lane, Impington, CB24 9XP
Coronation screening – from 11am
Meadows Community Centre, 299 Arbury Road CB4 2JL
Coronation screening – from 11am
Ely Cathedral
Everyone is invited to gather in the cathedral free of charge, to watch the BBC coverage of the coronation on a large screen, with free refreshments
The Edge Cafe, Mill Road, Romsey, Cambridge
King for a Day: Community tea party with photo opportunity to dress up as a king or queen – 1pm-4.30pm
Denis Wilson Social Club, Trumpington
Afternoon tea celebration, including homemade scones food/drinks and decorations – 1pm-5pm
Cambridge Royal Albert Homes, Hills Road - Private
Coronation garden party for residents
Guest Road Area Residents’ Association, Avenue of Limes, Mill Road Cemetery or Mackenzie Road
Tea party with live music and games – 11.30am-6pm
Priory Road Coronation Party
Coronation party with a ‘green theme’ featuring live music and games – 12-7pm
Savills Cambridge office, Hills Road CB2 8PA - Private
SOUTH AND EAST CAMBRIDGESHIRE
Aldreth Coronation Afternoon Tea – Private
The Stained Glass Museum is celebrating its ties to the British monarchy by opening to visitors for free all day
King’s Coronation Weekend, The Green, Eltisley, PE19 6TG
Coronation breakfast, with the ceremony shown on a large screen
Longstanton Coronation Celebration, Longstanton Village Institute, Longstanton
Live-screening of the coronation ceremony
Woodditton Village Big Coronation Lunch Street Party
SUNDAY, MAY 7
Feast on Parker’s Piece, Cambridge
1pm
Abbeyfield Cambridgeshire Vietnamese Society
Barbecue and party for An Lac House friends and residents, with coronation-themed games, quizzes, fancy dress, karaoke, and entertainment.
St Barnabas Church, Mill Road, Cambridge
Coronation fun day with soft play, an inflatable obstacle course, arts, crafts and games – 10am-2pm
RCCG City of David Cambridge
Barbecue party for Cherry Hinton residents – 1pm-5pm
York Street Area Residents’ Association
Tea party with historical activities – 2pm-5pm
Ditton Court Fund, The Lounge, Ditton Court, CB5 8UD
Tea party with music, food and a quiz on the Royal family – 12pm-8pm
Accordia Community and Residents Association, Aberdeen Square/Avenue
‘Bring and share’ tea party with volunteers providing the entertainment, including a variety of dancing styles – 6pm-8pm
Gwydir Street Friends
Coronation ‘breakfast with the birds’, commemorative shrub planting and street exhibition – 4.30am-7.30am
Christs’ Pieces Residents’ Association, New Square Park, CB1 1EZ
Picnic in the park at New Square with activities such as rounders, croquet, cricket and dancing – 12.30pm-6.30pm
Eddington Residents Association, Eddington Cricket Pitch, Eddington Avenue and Storey’s Field Centre
Great Eddington Coronation Picnic, with arts and crafts and games – 10am-4pm
The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Saint Mary the Less, Little St Mary’s Lane, Trumpington Street
Coronation Big Lunch street party with hog roast and live music and children’s activities – 12pm-4pm
Church of the Good Shepherd, Arbury
Community coronation party, with barbecue, crafts, garden games, and bouncy castle – 12pm-3pm
Cavendish Road Coronation Party - Private
Street party with music and dancing with a live band, ceilidh, silent disco, children’s games, bring and share food, cupcake competition and fancy dress competition – 11am-10pm
Cambridge African Network, Chesterton Road Recreation Ground
Screening a recording of the King’s coronation on a big screen; screening the life history of King Charles through pictures; art and craft activities for children to design crowns; African dance and cultural performances, and African food tasting – 12pm-6pm
Chesterton Hall Crescent Coronation Party - Private
10am-8pm
Glisson Road Coronation Party - Private
8am-10pm
Kimberley Road Coronation Party - Private
1-6pm
Little St Mary's Coronation Big Lunch - Private
MacKenzie Road Coronation Party - Private
11.30am-6pm
Mawson Road Coronation Party - Private
11.30am-10.30pm
New Square Coronation Picnic - Private
Orchard Park Community Council Coronation Lunch
12pm
Roseford Road Coronation Party - Private
Coronation party, with party games, face painting and live music – 12-9pm
The Square Coronation Street Party - Private
1pm
Barton Coronation Street Party – Private
Bottisham Coronation Celebration, Downing Close, Bottisham
12pm-late: This will include the Bottisham Coronation Celebration Big Lunch at The Dirt Hills between 12.30pm and 2.30pm
Great Shelford Coronation Family Fun Day, Great Shelford Recreation Ground, Woollards Lane, CB22 5LZ
Bouncy castle, royal treasure hunt, duck race, wildlife activities and mini golf. Bring your own picnic – 12pm-3pm
Fenstanton Big Coronation Picnic, Fenstanton and Hilton Primary School, Fen Lane, Fenstanton
All the organisations in the village have joined together to put on an afternoon of live music, games, and competitions for the children of the village – 1-5pm
King’s Coronation Weekend, The Green, Eltisley, PE19 6TG
A large picnic for the whole village with bouncy castle, kids baking competition and kids colouring station.
Litlington Coronation Celebration, Litlington Recreation Centre, South Street, Litlington, SG8 0QR
There will be a village picnic, barbecue, children’s tea party with a senior citizen’s tea party at 3.30pm. There will also be a number of activities including arts and crafts and plaque making – from 3pm
Longstanton Coronation Big Lunch, Longstanton Recreation Ground
10am-3pm
Northfield Street Party, Girton – Private
Shepreth Village Celebrates, Shepreth Recreation Ground, Station Road
Community organised gathering with stalls, food and drink, live music, a football tournament, dog show and children’s crafts.
Swaffham Prior Village Coronation Picnic – Private
Swavesey Coronation Picnic, Swavesey Community Pavilion, The Village Green, Swavesey
Bethel Baptist Church is inviting everyone in Swavesey to the village green for a picnic with refreshments for sale in aid of the hub youth group – from 1pm
Teversham Community Picnic, green space next to Teversham Community Orchard
Bring your own picnic
The West Wickham Coronation Big Lunch, West Wickham Village Hall, CB21 4SB
Barbecue, bar, teas and coffees plus cakes and pastries from 12pm
Willingham Coronation Festival, Willingham Recreation Ground, Willingham
Live music, craft stalls, street food, ice cream and face painting – 12pm-5pm
MONDAY, MAY 8
Ainsworth Street Coronation Party - Private
12-9pm
Albert Street Coronation Party - Private
10am-7pm
North Newnham Residents Association, Litchfield Hall, Litchfield Road
Neighbourhood social event, music, food and also recognition of people’s contribution in volunteer activities – 2pm-6pm
