Release date: 11 April 2023
West Sussex County Council joins the country in celebrating the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty Queen Camilla on Saturday, 6 May 2023 through Monday, 8 May 2023.
To celebrate this momentous event, there will be activities held across the county throughout April and May. From community Big Lunches, town and neighbourhood street parties and volunteer opportunities, there will be something for everyone.
Celebrate the Coronation in our libraries
On Saturday 6 May 2023, West Sussex Libraries are holding royally themed activities for children. There will be craft activities ranging from crown making, colour-in bunting and activity sheets, and special Storytime sessions in selected libraries.
In honouring His Majesty King Charles III’s enthusiasm and care for the environment, families can pick up seed packets when they visit one of our 36 libraries on Coronation Day.
Learn about previous Coronations with the Record Office
The West Sussex Record Office (WSRO) in partnership with Screen Archive South East (SASE) will be looking back at how the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, and that of her father, King George VI, were celebrated across West Sussex. A County Celebrates: Coronations Past and Present, will feature amateur films of local Coronation celebrations, and items from the archive. The talk will take place online on Tuesday 18 April 2023 at 7pm.
Registration to the event is open and available on Eventbrite or visit www.westsussexrecordofficeblog.com for more information.
Photographs, original records, and memorabilia from the previous Coronations are on display at the Record Office in Chichester and this display is free for everyone to visit.
Help create history by capturing your experience
Residents are invited to help to collect Coronation paraphernalia such as souvenir programmes, Coronation events and street party photographs, written accounts of the events, minutes and notes connected with planning events locally, and films of celebrations and events taking place in West Sussex. Our Record Office and Screen Archive South East will be collecting the materials and are keen to hear from anyone who has archives or films relating to earlier Coronations. The Record Office will collect paper-based archives and digital content, while Screen Archive will be taking in and preserving moving images on film, tape or digital. Interested individuals are encouraged to first contact the Record Office team at record.office@westsussex.gov.uk and the Screen Archive team at screenarchive@brighton.ac.uk.
Experience West Sussex
With community and neighbourhood street parties happening, the Coronation Weekend is a great way to explore the sights around the county. Discover the best of West Sussex’s cycling and walking paths, restaurants, and pubs by visiting www.experiencewestsussex.com.
The Chairman of the County Council, Councillor Pete Bradbury, said: “I’d like to wish all our communities across West Sussex a very happy Coronation however you’re planning on celebrating. The Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III will be a truly significant event, one that I hope all of us over the years to come will be able to look back on with fond memories. Thank you to colleagues across West Sussex County Council who are doing their bit to organise some fantastic events and activities over the coming weeks, events that will bring together communities across the county to celebrate this special occasion.”
For more information on the different events and activities happening around the county this Coronation Weekend, visit the Coronation Campaign page.
