Archbishop of Canterbury hosts young people for Post-Coronation lunch at Lambeth Palace

06/05/2023

Archbishop Coronation Lunch

The Archbishop of Canterbury welcomed four-hundred young people to Lambeth Palace this afternoon after presiding at the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The Archbishop and Mrs Caroline Welby hosted the gathering in partnership with the Royal Household and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

Ranging in age from 13-25, the young people were from charities and organisations which have The King and Queen as Patron. These include the Prince’s Trust, Barnardo’s, the Scout Association, St John’s Ambulance, the National Citizen Service, Ebony Horse Club and Girl Guiding UK. 

Archbishop of Canterbury Hosts Post-Coronation Lunch For 400 Young People

The group watched the Coronation this morning on big screens at St Margaret’s Church, Westminster Abbey, before walking across Lambeth Bridge to the garden of Lambeth Palace. There they joined the Archbishop for lunch, together with other Church of England bishops who participated in the Coronation service. During the gathering, the Archbishop thanked the young people for their outstanding work helping others.

The Archbishop of Canterbury referred to the group of young people in his Coronation sermon, saying: “Today we have the honour of being in this Abbey with so many who show such love; you work with charities and organisations, you build community, you serve the nation in Armed Forces, in emergency services, and so many other ways. Next door are 400 or more extraordinary young people in St Margaret’s Church, whose lives speak of service. Around the world in the Realms and Commonwealth are so many more. You live your lives for the sake of others.”

Archbishop of Canterbury Hosts Post-Coronation Lunch For 400 Young People

Some of the young people at Lambeth Palace were young artists from a range of different backgrounds. They are part of the Young Creative Commission, which is a Coronation legacy project commissioned by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Church of England and delivered by Youth Beyond Borders. Some of their art, which is around the theme “Service to the Community”, was on display at Lambeth Palace during the lunch. Later, the artwork will go on tour around the Church of England.

Commenting on the lunch event, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Justin Welby, said: “We were delighted to welcome these young people to Lambeth Palace. They are teenagers and young adults who are profoundly engaged in serving their communities, and they lead the way in their creativity, their commitment and their care. We were glad to be able to work alongside others to ensure they all had a memorable and meaningful day, and to sense they had participated in this historic moment, not simply for our King and Queen, but for our nation.”

Archbishop of Canterbury Hosts Post-Coronation Lunch For 400 Young People
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