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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Damien Edgar

King's Coronation - NI park to be 'well knitted-out' for occasion

A Dundonald park will be festooned with red, white and blue bunting as well as crocheted pieces and balloons to mark the coronation of King Charles III.

Moat Park will be the site for picnic-ers on Saturday, with one local group taking it upon themselves to have the park fit for the celebration.

Jan Aitken is from the Dundonald Arts Community and she and her fellow members have been busy readying the park, at short notice, for the occasion.

Read more: King's Coronation: Final touches put to The Coronation Garden in Hazelbank Park

"We just decided that there wasn't really anything happening in Dundonald for the coronation," she said.

"It was a bit late to be doing anything major so we just asked people to do red, white and blue bunting and we'll decorate as much of Moat Park as we can.

"One lady came to us and saw us while we were decorating and she's now going to come and have her coronation picnic in the park.

"That's the whole idea, that more people will use the park, because it's an under-used resource and it's a beautiful setting and very well-kept.

"We'll be there putting stuff up on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning so that we can all sit and watch the coverage when it starts."

The decorating includes the aforementioned bunting but there are also some more distinctive pieces on display for those attending.

"We have a crocheted balcony scene which is the King and Queen Consort with the Prince and Princess of Wales," Jan revealed.

"Then there's one of the late Queen Elizabeth II, a lovely little doll so that's a nice tribute as well.

"We're hoping to see lots more creations from people and for people to use the park for their picnics and even just over the weekend.

"The big tree that we are sitting at is a tree which has been adopted by the Dundonald Arts Community and we'll be decorating that through each of the seasons too, so this is part of that.

"It's amazing what has been conjured up out of nothing almost."

The King will be crowned alongside Camilla, the Queen Consort, on Saturday, May 6, at Westminster Abbey in London. As well as the ceremony a host of other events have been planned throughout the weekend. There is also an extra bank holiday on Monday, May 8, to mark the occasion.

The King's Procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey will take place before the Coronation Service, which starts at 11am on the Saturday. Once the service is over, it will be followed by the Coronation Procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace.

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