Boy who raised £750,000 camping in garden for three years invited to coronation
Invitations for King Charles’ coronation in London have been posted and the guest list is looking long.
Buckingham Palace announced that community and charity representatives from across the country have been invited to the event at Westminster Abbey on May 6.
Charles and Camilla are honouring 450 British Empire Medal (BEM) recipients in recognition of their contributions.
John Anderson, from Fraserburgh, in Aberdeenshire, who was honoured for his community work throughout the pandemic, said it was ‘quite a privilege’ to be amongst those invited.
The 72-year-old set up a call centre where people with Covid-19 could call for a food parcel and have it delivered to their home.
‘I will not see another one and I have never seen one,’ the retired firefighter said.
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‘There’s a lot more higher up people than me, film stars, lords and ladies… to be asked is quite an honour.’
Meanwhile, 400 youngsters representing charities are also invited to observe the coronation service and procession from the adjacent St Margaret’s Church.
Among them is Max Woosey, dubbed ‘the boy in the tent’, who raised more than £750,000 for North Devon Hospice by camping in his garden for three years.
The 13-year-old first pitched his tent in March 2020 with the aim of raising £100, inspired by his neighbour and friend Rick Abbot, who died of cancer in February 2020.
But then he went on to set a Guinness World Record for the biggest sum raised by camping.
Half of the 400 invitees are working with the the Prince’s Foundation, Barnardo’s, the Prince’s Trust, the National Literacy Trust or the Ebony Horse Club, after the organisations were chosen by Charles and Camilla.
The other 200 are from the Scout Association, Girlguiding UK, St John Ambulance and the National Citizen Service and were nominated by the government.
The four organisations are providing stewarding, route lining and first aid services on coronation day across London.
The guests will also be able to see the coronation procession leaving Westminster Abbey at the end of the service.
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