Across Hampshire, people are getting ready for the Coronation of King Charles III and The Queen Consort on Saturday 6th May.
Winchester Cathedral is offering a no-booking-required live screening of the Coronation Service from Westminster Abbey on Saturday, with screens positioned throughout the nave and a large central screen by the altar.
The cathedral will be adorned with symbolic floral arrangements, banners, and other special touches to mark the occasion. These will include a massive suspended corona made of dried native species, willow fleur-de-lis, lavender bunches forming crosses, dried roses, herbs, and other local plants.
Additionally, a new set of green and gold banners, featuring images of the King, will be showcased.
On Friday 5th May, a public Thanksgiving Service will take place at the cathedral at 7pm. The service will feature massed children’s choirs composed of around 200 young people, The Spitfire Band, The Royal Corps of Drums, and other military musicians. The Cathedral clergy, civic, and military representatives, and representatives of the King’s charities and other faiths will also be in procession.
A giant outdoor screen will be set up at West Quay, on the Esplanade in Southampton, where people can watch the coronation coverage on Saturday and the Coronation Concert on Sunday. The screenings will be open to the public and will be free of charge. There will be no tickets required, and everyone is welcome to attend.
The screen will also be showing the Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony on Sunday, the two semi-finals on 9th and 11th May, and the final on 13th May.
Portsmouth’s Coronation Big Lunch in Victoria Park, on Sunday 7th May, promises free live music and entertainment for the whole family throughout the day.
The festivities will begin with a Teddy Bears’ Picnic for children and their toys between 11am and 12.30pm. Tickets are free but must be pre-booked via Eventbrite.
From 12.30pm until 5pm, Live at Victoria Park will see the stage filled with a celebratory programme of live music and community performances, organised in collaboration with The Wedgewood Rooms. There will be performances from The Floor Fillerz, South Coast Ghosts, EMZ All Stars, The Military Wives Choir and SD Studios.
Families and friends can bring a rug and a picnic, and there will also be food stalls.
Lepe Country Park in Exbury is hosting a ‘bring-a-picnic’ and enjoy a Coronation Big Lunch with a cliff top view over the Solent, along with fun entertainment on Sunday 7th May.
Royal Victoria County Park in Netley has a Royal Celebrations Gala on Monday 8th May, celebrating the 160th Anniversary of Queen Victoria’s first visit to patients at the Royal Victoria Military hospital with a day of activities, featuring the Coronation Big Help Out, with a host of volunteering ideas.
Street parties are also being planned across the county.