More than 850 community and charity representatives have been invited to the coronation of King Charles III, mingling with the royals, heads of state, politicians, peers and diplomats at Westminster Abbey.
Buckingham Palace has announced more than 450 recipients of the British Empire Medal (BEM) will attend in recognition of the contributions made by volunteers and community champions across the country.
Among them is Max Woosey, a 13-year-old schoolboy who has raised more than £600,000 for North Devon hospice through camping out in his garden for the past three years, after starting his fundraising during the first Covid lockdown.
Many of those chosen to attend were instrumental in providing services and support to their local communities during the lockdowns.
John Anderson, 73, from Fraserburgh, Scotland, a retired firefighter and member of the International Rescue Corps, which provides help worldwide in the wake of disasters, said he thought it was a scam when he received his invitation.
“I thought it was a hoax,” he said, adding he felt “a wee bit nervous” about the big day “because you don’t know what to expect”.
The grandfather received a BEM for setting up and sending out care packs to the most vulnerable in his community during Covid-19. “It’s 70 years since the last one,” he said of the coronation, “and I won’t see the next one, that’s for sure.” The fact the king had invited volunteers “when he could have used the space for more dignitaries is quite good”, he said.
Manju Malhi, a professional chief from Uxbridge in west London, who through the Open Age charity helps people cook healthily in London, received her BEM for setting up “conference call cooking” online during lockdown.
She was “a little overwhelmed” by the coronation invite, but reassured the dress code said ‘“day dress”. “At first I thought, is it all blingy? Because I don’t have anything. But it’s day dress, relaxed. I didn’t want to show anyone up, or wear the wrong thing,” she said.
“But it is amazing. I was born in the UK but am of Indian origin, so it’s like a sense of belonging, and bringing together. Regardless of whether one is a republican or a royalist, it’s a good thing to be part of.”
Buckingham Palace has also announced that 400 young people representing charitable organisations will watch the coronation service and procession from St Margaret’s church, Westminster Abbey. They will also watch the procession departing Westminster Abbey at the end of the service.
They include 200 young people involved with the Prince’s Trust, the Prince’s Foundation, Barnardo’s, the National Literacy Trust and Ebony Horse Club after the organisations were chosen by the king and Camilla, the Queen Consort.
Another 200 young people from the Scout Association, Girlguiding UK, St John Ambulance and the National Citizen Service will attend, having been nominated by the UK government for their contribution to coronation day. The four organisations will provide stewarding, route lining and first aid services across London.
