Pomp, parades, pageantry; the King’s Coronation in May promises an occasion like no other, a uniquely British event that offers the nation cause to unite in celebration over a Bank Holiday weekend. And when it comes to planning a party to mark this royal day, the devil is all in the detail.
So, with just weeks to go, now is the time to ensure every element of your Coronation party achieves the royal seal of approval. And as one expert reveals, there is more than one way to throw a party fit for a king.
Liz Taylor is an award-winning party organiser who has been at the helm of one of the UK’s leading luxury event planning businesses, The Taylor Lynn Corporation, for over thirty years. Having met the King more than once, Liz has a keen understanding of the monarch’s taste and personality, ideal insider knowledge to steer her Coronation events.
It also happens that Liz is no stranger to arranging parties by royal appointment. In fact, when the Kensington Palace Winter White Ball Charity Fundraiser was in jeopardy, it was Liz that Kensington Palace officials called in to save the day.
So, who better than Liz to conjure up some ideas for honouring The Coronation that offer a touch of regal elegance, fun and importantly capture the spirit of the occasion? Here are five fantastic ways to celebrate the coronation this May.
Elegant picnic
Gather loved ones for a refined al fresco banquet that spans the entire Coronation ceremony and indulge your guests with artisan goods and delectable handmade products from all over the UK.
Hand out cosy woollen blankets made with the finest quality Welsh wool. Source luxury wicker picnic baskets – Fortnum and Mason or a local artisan supplier, and fill them with the best English sparkling wines, Scottish smoked salmon, miniature pastries, delicate Victoria Sponge cakes, and traditional savoury treats such a bite-sized organic pork pie. Add a selection of cheeses sourced from your local area, English roast beef and mustard sandwiches and if you’re feeling retro, include Coronation chicken. Finish with sweet strawberries, scones with Cornish clotted cream and artisan jams for a feast that can be devoured at once or lingered over for the afternoon.
Décor can be classic nautical – blue and white, clean crisp – look to the Henley Regatta for direction on the tone and ambiance. Your picnic can be arranged in any outdoor space that’s large enough for your guest list – a garden and patio area or communal green for larger parties. If your outdoor space is near water then all the better for channelling that Henley vibe.
Hand out sunglasses and parasols if the weather is kind and set up a gazebo or small tipi tents with open sides to shelter guests to save you from a wash out– it’s important have a plan B. You can introduce lawn games as entertainment – croquet, a giant chessboard, Giant Jenga or Connect 4.
The finishing touch? A big screen to stream the celebrations, complete with cosy cushions, deck chairs and popcorn.
Majestic coronation dinner
Nothing will be more elegant that recreating the banquet that The King will host for visiting heads of state.
Follow an elegant colour scheme – gold and white, a timeless signifier of opulence. The golden glamour of Royal banquets can be recreated by using elegant white linens or with a special gilded table and matching chairs. Layer your table settings with clear plate chargers trimmed with pearls (a favourite of HM Queen Elizabeth II), and gold cutlery. Add clear glassware with a golden rim for additional wow factor and keep flowers simple and low but add a tall, gold candelabra for drama.
Hosting at home? My suggestion would be to turn your home into Buckingham Palace and delegate the roles of butler and waiting staff to your most trusted friends and family. Or you could hire a team for the evening and add the extra memorable touch to the night.
Create a royal cypher for each of your guests using their own initials and have it embroidered onto napkins or engraved onto hip flasks or a crystal brandy glass as a take home gift. Have a mixologist to create a signature serve for the occasion mixed in front of guests to their delight.
One thing the royal family does exceedingly well is tradition, using small, significant tokens to remember those no longer with us. A favoured colour, photographs, or accessories. Include a few nods to the Queen in your party with bright colours or her favourite flower – Lily of the Valley.
Purple reigns!
In ancient times the dye for purple material was very expensive and so it was reserved for society’s elite. The associations have stuck throughout the centuries with the colour purple still having royal connotations to this day. In fact, the Coronation robes being worn by King Charles will be purple.
Use this historically regal hue as a styling compass for your party bringing it into every element of the day. For table or room décor, create a classic ombre effect using every variant of the shade from the lightest lilac right through to deep purple. Decorate with fragrant lavender suspended from the ceiling on floral chandeliers or across archways or floral installations to create a multisensory experience that fills the room with colour and scent.
Use purple in your catering too. Create a delectable tower of violet macaroons or a cake with purple layers again utilising the ombre effect. Hire a mixologist and have them create a mauve cocktail just for your day, topped with edible purple pansies. As dusk descends use purple uplighters to illuminate your room according to your theme.
Sustainable street party
King Charles is famed for his dedication to the environment so a party in his honour should mirror this commitment. Take the traditional street party celebration and re-examine each element to make it kinder to the environment. Of course, there will be no travelling by car, so that’s a great place to start.
Use local suppliers to reduce food miles, or take dishes from across the UK and serve them with added flair. Whitby fish and chips wrapped in a faux newspaper marking the occasion; rare roast beef served in Yorkshire pudding wraps with individual gravy pots for dipping, or creamy Welsh goats’ cheese canape tarts. Finish with Scottish raspberry mousse shots served with traditional shortbread or a tower of deeply decadent Bushmills Irish Whiskey cupcakes.
A rustic inspiration allows for a simple colour palette and less expensive design. Dress simple wooden tables with clear glassware, candle holders and white napkins. Arrange a display of potted plants, a timeless colour match with the hues of green leaves and foliage, simple white candles can complete the look. King Charles is a keen gardener so this would certainly appeal to His Majesty. Plus, it’s much more sustainable than decorating with a bounty of cut flowers. Gift these to people – a favour with longevity to be enjoyed for years to come.
Create (or get your entire street to create) bunting from recycled, preloved material rather than using the plastic, throw away kind.
Embrace the commonwealth
Start in one of His Majesty’s favourite nations and breakfast like a king, with Scottish salmon or the celebrated Scottish Lorne sausage and eggs topping miniature tattie scones. Embark on a delicious culinary journey throughout the Commonwealth – next stop a lazy brunch with pancakes served with a range of toppings – bacon, exotic fruits like guava and papaya and of course, a large helping of Canada’s finest Maple syrup. Accompany with English sparkling wine in a Bucks fizz or a mimosa bar.
Take lunch inspiration from Australia and fire up the barbecue. Marinade a range of different meats and serve up with delicious side salads bursting with colour and vibrancy. Bring in some Jamaican inspiration into your marinades – juicy jerk chicken pieces or include Namibian venison served with traditional oshifima (maize porridge).
Provide an evening of Asian street food. Malaysian Char Kuey Teow or Lok Lok with delicious dipping sauces. Sri Lankan fish curry. Chapli kebabs and Bangladeshi mutton biriyani and a range of fragrant vegetarian and meat curries originating from India and Pakistan served with rotis and rice dishes.
Finally upscale your party entertainment with a Caribbean steel band or Scottish Ceilidh with dancing till dawn.
Liz Taylor is founder and CEO of corporate and private event planners, the Taylor Lynn Corporation, and has been at the forefront of the UK event scene for over thirty years. She is also MD at Liz Taylor Consultancy, her own luxury hospitality consultancy helping aspiring brands to break into the luxury market.
