Government sets aside £1,000,000 for massive TVs to screen coronation
The government is making more than £1million available for the setting up of enormous TV screens across the UK to show the King’s coronation.
More than 30 screens will be set up for royal fans nationwide, at sites including Cardiff Castle, Belfast City Hall, Piece Hall in Halifax, Jubilee Square in Brighton and Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester.
The cash has been set aside for the jumbotrons by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said the coronation on May 6 would be a ‘magical moment’ which will unite people ‘to celebrate the best of Britain’.
She added: ‘These big screens, in major locations in towns and cities in the four nations of the UK, will make it easier for everyone to take part and have a memorable experience to mark this exciting and historic event.’
The live screenings of the ceremony at Westminster Abbey will form just one part of a larger coronation weekend, also featuring a concert with ‘global music icons and contemporary stars’ and a light show.
On Sunday, people are invited to gather for a ‘coronation big lunch’, overseen and organised by the Big Lunch team at the Eden Project.
The meal may featured one of two dishes created to mark the occasion: a roast rack of lamb from Ken Hom and griddled aubergine from Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussein.
The following Monday is a bank holiday, during which people are being encouraged to do volunteer work.
Billed as ‘the big help out’, the campaign has been organised by the Together Coalition and a wide range of partners such as the Scouts, the Royal Voluntary Service and faith groups from across the UK.
In order to mark the occasion, pubs across the country have also been granted a two-hour licensing extension between Friday May 5 and Sunday May 7, meaning they can stay open until 1am.
Big screens across the country have previously been used for royal events including the weddings of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and Prince William and Kate Middleton.
They were also used to show the Platinum Jubilee last year and the Queen’s funeral in September.
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