US First Lady, British Sikh entrepreneur, Ukrainian refugees among invitees
London: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and wife Akshata Murty hosted a Coronation Big Lunch at Downing Street in London on Sunday, May 7, for community heroes to celebrate the crowning of King Charles III and Queen Camilla as part of the country’s long celebratory weekend, a PTI report in The Tribune, Chandigarh, says.
Among the invitees were US First Lady Jill Biden, British Sikh entrepreneur Navjot Singh Sawhney, who won the UK PM’s Points of Light Award earlier this year for his eco-friendly hand-cranked Washing Machine Project, which is benefitting over 1,000 families without access to an electric machine in underdeveloped countries or refugee camps.
The event was one of an estimated 50,000 Big Lunches or street parties being organised accross the United Kingdom to celebrate the Coronation at Westminster Abbey in London on Saturday.
Also at the Downing Street party were Ukrainians forced to flee the war-torn country amid its conflict with Russia.
“I am proud to welcome Ukrainian refugees and some incredible community heroes to Downing Street for our very own coronation lunch to celebrate this historic moment,” he said.
“Come rain or shine, thousands of friends and neighbours are coming together this weekend to put up the bunting, pour the tea and cut the cake at street parties and community events across the UK,” said Sunak.
“I am proud to welcome Ukrainians forced to flee their homes and some incredible community heroes to Downing Street for our very own Coronation lunch to celebrate this historic moment. In England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland – and across our Overseas Territories and the wider Commonwealth – people are marking this momentous occasion in the spirit of unity and hope for the future,” he said.
The British Indian leader made history at the Coronation ceremony on Saturday when he read a passage from a biblical book at the Abbey as the head of government.
Akshata Murty, the daughter of Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy and the UK’s Indian First Lady, marched in with him as part of a Commonwealth Realms procession.
Sunday marks the designated Big Lunch element of the Coronation weekend, a nationwide initiative to bring neighbours and communities together to celebrate the historic event.
Downing Street has been adorned with bunting featuring the official Coronation emblem and the Union Flag. Crockery was donated by Emma Bridgewater – the award-winning ceramics company based in Stoke-on-Trent – including a limited-edition King Charles III teapot.
Besides Sawhney, several other recipients of the Points of Light Award – volunteers that have made an outstanding contribution to their community – were invited to attend the event.
Ukrainians fleeing the Russia-Ukraine conflict and their UK-based sponsors also joined the event.
They include Olga Breslavska who travelled to the UK as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme and is currently studying an intensive English course.
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