Plan a party fit for a King

Residents can now request a street party to be held to mark the coronation of His Majesty the King and Portsmouth City Council is making it easier by waiving part of the cost.

This year Portsmouth will join cities across the country in celebrating His Majesty King Charles III. being crowned along with the Queen Consort. Many local residents and community groups are expected to celebrate the occasion with street parties over the bank holiday weekend.

As with previous national occasions, the council will cover the cost of road closures, signage and insurance to make these celebrations possible. On any day of the Coronation weekend from Saturday 6 May to Monday 8 May 2023, residents can request a street festival to be held. The council will also waive the usual road closure fee.

Residents wishing to host a street party must complete a special simplified online coronation party application form at www.portsmouth.gov.uk/coronation. Alternatively, paper copies can be requested from Portsmouth Libraries. There will also be information on how to get insurance that is paid for by the municipality.

Following the success of the Platinum Jubilee, the council also plans to hold a big lunch-style event to allow the entire community to gather outdoors. More details to come.

Councilor Chris Attwell, Cabinet Member for Communities and Central Services at Portsmouth City Council, said: “Last year Portsmouth held over a hundred street parties to mark the Platinum Jubilee and we want to give residents the same opportunity to celebrate the coronation. For all approved street festival applications, we will again cover the costs for business liability insurance and road closures.

“We hope this will encourage many people to organize a street festival, but we will also be hosting a Big Lunch event so everyone in the city will have the opportunity to take part in this historic event.”

Carley Gardner from Portsea Events Group (PEG) organized a street party to mark the anniversary and is looking forward to organizing another to mark the coronation. She said: “We are very much looking forward to celebrating the King’s coronation with our family and our friends, old and new, in the community. Our street parties always bring everyone together and create memories that will last a lifetime, it will be a party not to be missed or forgotten.”

Portsea resident Jodie Marsh said: “I will enjoy this street festival as it is the start of a new era where there is a king. As a royalist I can’t wait to celebrate and I’m very excited to have had a queen and 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