The Museum of London commissioned me to document community-led Coronation celebrations and events in London during the weekend of 6th-8th May 2023. These photographs capture the unique and contemporary ways in which Londoners celebrated the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at street parties and other community events. The images will be used by The Museum of London to contribute to their permanent collection of objects & photographs of previous coronations. They capture three distinct community celebrations including The Kings Coronation, Kings Road, Chelsea; Coronation Big Lunch, Maxwell Road, London Borough of Bexley and Coronation Big Lunch, Lockner Estate, Hackney, London.
The British flags, red, white and blue balloons adorning the Hackney-based estate, transcend all notions of routine. Warmth & unity are found where tight knit neighbours from British, African & Caribbean communities come together to eat Jerk Chicken served out of a BBQ drum poised on a shopping trolley. Finger sandwiches are replaced by Ethiopian Injera bread filled with spiced chickpeas. Neighbours can be seen braiding each other’s hair.
Lisa, a resident from Lockner Estate, has been holding Big Lunches since 2009, with the events sparking more than a decade of get togethers, support and community spirit on her diverse estate in London. These events were originally inspired by the The Big Lunch - the UK's largest annual celebration for neighbours and communities that every June invites millions of people to stop what they're doing and get together in a nationwide act of community and friendship.
A wry humour is found in Bexley where children inscribe on the road in chalk the words GOD SAVE THE KINGQUEEN SHE IS DEAD whilst young Indian girls play with their toy kitchen shop and serve plastic food. Meanwhile, on the Kings Road, a young girl parades in a gold inflatable crown and a group drinks champagne alongside crowds under umbrellas, whilst the rain pours. Undeterred, Chelsea pensioners and King Charles Spaniels join the throng adorn in fur robes and diamonds.
Other coronation activities include crown decorating, quizzes, Jenga, sports, balloon modelling, bouncy castles, national anthem singing, with long communal sharing tables stretched up and down London's roads where cuisine from every culture could be enjoyed. The weekend’s events project traditional British customs onto different, intersecting communities, resulting in a fervent celebration of modern British communities. Whilst the Coronation was a catalyst for the celebrations, Nicola the organiser of Bexley party pointed out, ‘We would use any excuse to celebrate, to have fun, to be together.’ , echoed by Lisa's words, ‘We would be having a big party whatever. Normally you do rainbow bunting but this time we just added a few more union jacks.’
This series is a celebration of both this historic event but also of the cultures and social histories interwoven into a sense of modern-day Britishness. Against the backdrop of Brexit, austerity, and current political unease, it was important to me to find displays of communal harmony and connection within the multicultural landscape of London life. I hope that the work resonates with the positivity of shared experience which was at the heart of the Coronation.
View the full series on my website.
