The Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort

Saturday 6 May is the Coronation day of His Majesty King Charles III. The Coronation Ceremony will take place at Westminster Abbey, London, and will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Ceremony will see His Majesty King Charles III crowned alongside Her Majesty The Queen Consort.

Across the Coronation Weekend, there will be opportunities for people to come together in celebration of the historic occasion.

The Official 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 2023.

Activites and events taking place across Dorset to mark the special occasion

The Coronation Big Lunch

The Coronation Big Lunch, where neighbours and communities are invited to share food and fun together, will take place across the country between Saturday 6 and Monday 8 May.

If you would like to join in with celebrating this historic occasion and organise your own, sign up to receive a 'Big Lunch' pack. Containing all you need to get started with fun ideas, top tips, practical advice and more.

The official Coronation website also has an interactive map which will display all the events and activities that will be taking place in Dorset as well as the rest of the UK, and you can find out about local events and add details of your own.

Town and Parish Councils as well as community groups across Dorset will be organising events, so check out your local information sites to see what’s happening near you.

Road Closures

If you are planning to host a street party we are waiving the costs of road closure applications in the area to make it easier. We welcome residents to apply for a street party road closure.

All applications will be considered but please submit by the end of the day on Friday 31 March.

If you need help with organising your street party the Government have produced a helpful street party guide.

National Lottery Awards funding is available to support events and activities that celebrate and commemorate the King’s Coronation on or around the weekend of 6 to 8 May.

The Big Help Out

On Monday 8 May 2023, members of the public are invited to take part in The Big Help Out, which will encourage people to try volunteering for themselves and support their local areas.

Visit the ‘Big Help Out’ website for further information on how you can take part and don’t forget to put the date in your diary! Volunteer Centre Dorset also have hundreds of ideas and projects to get involved with.

Dorset Civic Service

Councillor Val Pothecary, Chairman of Dorset Council will be hosting a Civic Service of Celebration for the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III at Sherborne Abbey on Friday 5 May at 2:30pm. More than 500 people are expected to attend. The event will be live streamed for people to join online. More details to follow nearer the time.

Dorset Council will also join the ‘Lighting up the Nation’ on 7 May in which iconic locations across the UK will be lit up with projections, lasers, drone displays and illuminations.