On Sunday, after King Charles III’s coronation, celebrations continued with street parties, picnics, and concerts throughout the United Kingdom. The king’s son and heir to the throne, Prince William, spoke at the concert about his father’s dedication to service. Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Take That headlined the concert, with other performances by the Royal Ballet, Andrea Bocelli, and Nicole Scherzinger. Princess Charlotte and Prince George were among the crowd waving Union flags on the castle’s east terrace. Even Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog made an appearance.
British tradition known as the Big Lunch was celebrated with thousands of community get-togethers, and a nighttime concert was held at Windsor Castle. Many criticized the coronation’s cost at a time of high living expenses and double-digit inflation, but the festivities continued, bringing neighbors together to celebrate the crowning of the new king.
Charles encouraged volunteer activities on Monday, which was made a public holiday. William and Catherine surprised people with picnics outside the castle before the concert, while the king’s siblings and their spouses took on lunch duty. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hosted U.S. First Lady Jill Biden and her granddaughter Finnegan Biden at the Big Lunch party, along with Ukrainian refugees and community activists.
The celebrations continued after the regalia-laden pageantry that saw the king and queen crowned together in Westminster Abbey. They were presented with centuries-old swords, scepters, and a jewel-encrusted golden orb symbolizing the monarch’s power in a medieval tradition celebrated with liturgy, song, and hearty cheers of “God save the king.” The couple then paraded through the streets in a gilded horse-drawn carriage led by the largest ceremonial military procession since the coronation of Charles’ mother.
Overall, the coronation celebrations brought together people from different communities and backgrounds in a joyful celebration of a new era in the United Kingdom.