Coronation of King Charles III

All smiles for the future King and Queen, visiting Exmoor in 2019

Photo by Nigel Childs

Crowning a new king and queen pages 18-22

When the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla takes place on Saturday, May 6th, many local people will reflect on the time when they visited Exmoor (pictured opposite), to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the UK’s national parks.

Then, as The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, the royal couple joined hundreds of guests at a ‘big picnic’ at Simonsbath on July 17th, 2019. At the time he said, “These places of exceptional landscapes and precious natural habitats provide opportunities for us all to find peace in beauty, enhance our health and wellbeing and explore our links with nature.”

“My own visits never seem to last quite long enough, and I always leave yearning to return as soon as possible.”

The future King and Queen have made several visits to North Devon in recent years, including Barnstaple, Braunton and Bideford.

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Make your party ‘green’

Recognising the King’s and Royal Family’s support for the environment and green causes, North Devon and Torridge Councils have teamed up with local charity Plastic Free North Devon to produce some ‘top tips’ to help event organisers ensure a celebration that doesn’t damage the earth.

Suitable for any size of gathering, from afternoon tea with the neighbours to a party for the whole community, they’ve produced a handy guide to reducing and eliminating single-use plastic, preventing litter, increasing recycling, and supporting local shops.

“We know that people in North Devon are concerned about their local environment, and keen to take action to protect it and the planet. These top tips offer a simple way

to host a celebration for the King and keep it green with just a little preparation and planning,” said Claire Moody, CEO of Plastic Free North Devon.

Sustainability and Climate Officer at North Devon and Torridge Councils, Donna Sibley, added, “We’re hoping our communities will rise to the challenge of making different choices and showing the rest of the country what a ‘Green Coronation’ looks like.”

The tips are aimed at jogging people’s memory into thinking about how they might collect food waste or provide recycling collection points. Purchasing drinks in cans or glass as opposed to single use plastics, getting people to bring their own cups, and using alternatives to plastic straws are further examples of easy ways to help the environment without affecting people’s fun and enjoyment.

You can find out more information by scanning the QR code above, or go to the website: northdevon.gov.uk/coronation2023

A royal party 120 years ago - a grand dinner at South Molton Pannier Market to celebrate the coronation of Edward VII in 1902. Part of the exhibition ‘Right Royal Occasions’ running at The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon until July 8th, marking the Coronation of King Charles III

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Documenting your Coronation celebrations

Locally, the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla will be screened in South Molton Assembly Rooms, and Kings Nympton and West Buckland village halls on Saturday, May 6th. There will be community lunch parties in North Molton, Chulmleigh, West Buckland, George Nympton and Chittlehampton on Sunday, May 7th - see the what’s on section and social media for more information - plus special markets in South Molton on both the 6th & 7th.

Please help Molton Monthly record this historic occasion by emailing us your photos of celebrations from the royal bank holiday weekend - a selection will be published in the June magazine. Whether it’s a tea party with friends, relatives and neighbours or a big community event, we’d love to hear from you (email address below).

The Coronation of King Charles III will take place at Westminster Abbey on Saturday, May 6th. A Coronation Concert will be performed at Windsor Castle on Sunday, May 7th, along with local ‘Big Lunch’ events. Monday, May 8th is a special bank holiday, with ‘Big Help Out’ charity and community initiatives.

Key Coronation information:

Email your Coronation photos to: info@moltonmonthly.co.uk

Get your ‘Big Lunch’ kit for street parties: edenprojectcommunities.com/the-big-lunch

Plan a ‘Big Help Out’ in your community: thebighelpout.org.uk

Find out the latest Coronation information and to access the official toolkit: coronation.gov.uk