View an accessible version of the letter from Rt Hon Michael Gove to local authorities on preparations ahead of the King's Coronation in May.
To all local authorities in England
26 January 2023
Dear colleague,
HIS MAJESTY KING CHARLES III’S CORONATION
The Coronation ceremony for His Majesty King Charles III will take place on Saturday 6 May 2023 at Westminster Abbey. His Majesty’s Government, led by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), is delighted to be supporting Buckingham Palace in planning and delivering celebrations to mark this historic occasion.
The Coronation will see people across the UK and the Commonwealth come together to celebrate. The Coronation programme will include the procession and service at Westminster Abbey on 6 May, the ‘Coronation Big Lunch’ across the country on 7 May (with a concert taking place in Windsor in the evening), and ‘The Big Help Out’ community activity on the bank holiday, Monday 8 May.
I know that efforts by you and your local communities will be central to making this a momentous weekend of UK-wide celebration. I would ask you all to take every possible action to help your communities in their preparations - making processes cost-free for residents, cutting red tape, and being completely flexible when receiving applications for road closures. I know that your work in doing so for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022 contributed greatly to such memorable community events for so many.
I set out further opportunities for councils and communities to plan local events below:
Street Parties
Street parties should be encouraged, and you can support residents who want to organise parties for their neighbours, for example, by relaxing road closure rules to enable street parties to take place as easily as possible. Your residents should be made aware of all the support that is available and no one should be put off by needless red tape. Guidance for residents on how to organise a street party can be found here. You can also highlight guidance on ‘Street Meets’, which offer an even easier way to bring neighbours together.
The Coronation Big Lunch
The Coronation Big Lunch, on 7 May, will encourage communities to come together, celebrate their connections and get to know each other better. It will bring the Coronation festivities into the heart of every community. More detail on getting involved is available on the Coronation Big Lunch website.
The Big Help Out
The Big Help Out, on 8 May, will provide an opportunity to reflect on the legacy of His Majesty’s service and showcase the impact of volunteering within communities. People across the UK will be able to get involved and more detail is available on The Big Help Out website.
Coronation events and projects organised by council-owned civic amenities
Civic amenities, including libraries, museums, leisure centres and heritage sites, are welcome to host their own events and projects to mark the Coronation. This could include exhibitions, concerts or special talks.
Council-led events
Councils are welcome to organise Coronation events and celebrations within their towns and cities, which could include their own civic occasion, for example, "The Mayor's Coronation Party".
Public broadcasts
Large screens in public places can be used to show television coverage of the Coronation, which could include the Ceremony and Procession on 6 May and the Coronation Concert on 7 May. These screenings could be complemented or enhanced by being a part of a wider local event.
National Lottery funding
Funding is available of up to £10,000 for events and activities through the National Lottery Awards for All programme and you can encourage community groups to apply.
National Lottery Awards for All does not have a deadline, but it can take up to 12 weeks from the point of application submission to receiving funding, which means applications for the Coronation weekend should be made before the middle of February. All funding criteria and terms and conditions are here.
As with the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022, DCMS will be launching a Coronation website with resources and an interactive map. This will be publicised in our local government bulletin once available. You can subscribe to the bulletin here.
I look forward to seeing the exciting and creative ways in which you and your communities choose to mark the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.
With every good wish,
Rt Hon Michael Gove MP
Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Minister for Intergovernmental Relations