Residents can now apply to hold a street party to mark the Coronation of His Majesty, the King, and Portsmouth City Council is making it easier by waiving some of the costs.
This year, Portsmouth will join towns and cities around the country in celebrating His Majesty King Charles III being crowned alongside the Queen Consort. It is anticipated that many residents and community groups will mark the occasion over the bank holiday weekend by holding street parties.
As on previous national occasions, the council will be covering the cost of road closures, signage and insurance to help make these celebrations happen. Residents will be able to apply to hold a street party on any of the days of the Coronation weekend from Saturday 6 May to Monday 8 May 2023. The council will also waive the usual road closure fee.
Residents wanting to hold a street party must complete a specific simplified online application form for Coronation parties at www.portsmouth.gov.uk/coronation Alternatively paper copies can be requested at Portsmouth libraries. There will also be information on how to arrange insurance, which is being paid for by the council.
Following the success of the Platinum Jubilee, the council are also planning to hold a Big Lunch style event as an opportunity for the whole community to gather outdoors with more details to follow.
Councillor Chris Attwell, Portsmouth City Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Central Services, said: “Over a hundred street parties were held in Portsmouth last year to mark the Platinum Jubilee and we want to offer the same opportunity to residents to mark the Coronation. We will once again be covering the cost of the public liability insurance and road closures for all street party applications that are approved.
“We hope this will encourage lots of people to organise a street party, but we will also be holding a Big Lunch event so everyone in the city has the opportunity to get involved in this historic occasion.”
Carley Gardner from Portsea event group (PEG) organised a street party for the jubilee and is looking forward to arranging another one to mark the coronation. She said: “We are really looking forward to celebrating the King’s Coronation with our family and friends old and new in the community. Our street parties always bring everyone together making memories to last a lifetime, it will be a party not to miss or forget.”
Portsea resident, Jodie Marsh, said: “I will enjoy this street party as it’s the start of a new era of having a king. Being a royalist, I can’t wait to celebrate and am very excited to have had a queen and to celebrate her life and now a king crowned in my lifetime.”
To find out more about the Coronation events visit the council’s website at www.portsmouth.gov.uk/coronation
