People came together to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III today as street parties continued across Greater Manchester.
Communities around the region marked the crowning of the new King and Queen by throwing a right royal knees up.
Streets could be seen adorned in bunting and Union Jacks across the long bank holiday weekend as many raised a glass to King Charles and Queen Camilla.
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Yesterday’s coronation ceremony might have been swept up by a very British deluge, but the rain gave way to summery sunshine across Greater Manchester as neighbours were out in force setting up street parties.
Over in Bolton, organiser Mandy Hundle is a seasoned professional when it comes to royal celebrations.
Her Platinum Jubilee street party was a hit, bringing around 200 people out of their homes to say cheers to Queen Elizabeth II.
This year, she’s expecting to top that with at least 300 people signing up to come along to the Victoria Road street party.
Organisers were out at 9.30am on Sunday (May 7) stringing up bunting and laying out tables. They were met with smiling faces as families from the area gathered to make the most of the warm weather.
Joining them were husband and wife duo Helen and Nigel Livesey, helping to run the raffle aiming to raise £1,000 for the DEC Turkey Appeal filling the country’s devastating earthquake.
Debbie Mac, from Greatest Hits Radio, was also on hand to bring the bangers with a DJ set for the street as children guzzled pop and adults sipped Pimms.
Meanwhile, over in Nuttall Park, Ramsbottom gathered together in their hundreds, across the generations, to stage a huge event on the grass.
Picnic blankets aplenty, the brass band conducted the party through the afternoon, with temperatures climbing to 18 degrees, finally bringing the sunshine to Greater Manchester after a dull spring so far - just in time for a very special weekend.
One party organiser told the M.E.N.: “We could have had this nice weather yesterday… but then we couldn’t have had this amazing party!”
Over in Stockport, hundreds had poured onto Compstall Road in Romiley for one of the region's largest street parties. The event only stretched a few blocks - but there was barely space to walk through as neighbours came together for the occasion.
Some residents watched the proceedings below from their balconies as glorious sunshine bathed the street, while independent shops, cafes and bars were busy. At one end of the party, live performers entertained the crowds, but for most people on Compstall Road it was the chance to catch up with old friends and make new ones that was most special.
Romiley locals are no strangers to street parties, but residents told the M.E.N. today's celebration was bigger than last year's event for the late Queen's platinum jubilee.
Ethan, who came to the party with a friend and his mum, said: "I think it's nice to see everyone together because you don't get much chance to meet people who live next door to you otherwise, so it's nice."
Brits were urged to hold Big Lunch events today to mark the coronation in a 'nationwide act of celebration and friendship', with more than 3,000 parties expected to take place in England across the weekend.
On Saturday, Charles and Camilla were crowned at a glittering Westminster Abbey service attended by more than 2,000 guests. A grand military procession through central London and an appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace alongside other members of the royal family rounded off their momentous day.
Later on tonight, the King and Queen will join around 20,000 members of the public at the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle for performances by Take That, Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and more. The show, hosted by Paddington and Downton Abbey actor Hugh Bonneville, will see Hollywood star Tom Cruise, Dynasty actress Dame Joan Collins, adventurer Bear Grylls and singer Sir Tom Jones appear via video message.
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