Leicester has been chosen as a big screen location to show King Charles III’s “magical” Coronation, it has been revealed.
The city will celebrate the historic occasion, on May 6, with a big screen showing at De Montfort University.
The university has been chosen as one of 30 locations across the UK to use big screens to showcase the main event, which will see the formal crowning of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla.
The public showings are part of efforts to allow more people to watch the coronation, said Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer.
“The Coronation will be a magical moment that brings people together to celebrate the best of Britain over a special weekend in May,” 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.”
Hearing the news that DMU has been chosen as a location to air the Coronation, Komal Shahzadi an international student, from Pakistan, said: “Being an international student, this is something I never thought I would see in my life, let alone be able to watch it at my university live, celebrating with others.
“I will definitely be there, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for a lot of people, but as an international student even more so, I have been at DMU for four years now and I never thought I would be part of something like this.”
Across Leicestershire, nearly 80 groups and individuals have applied to the county council to take up its offer of free road closure applications for street parties being held across the Coronation weekend, including Monday, May 8.
According to the authority, there is a strong interest from the Charnwood, Market Harborough, north-west Leicestershire and Hinckley and Bosworth areas.
County council leader Nick Rushton said the decision to waive road closure fees will help to support villages and communities who want to organise events.
“The King’s Coronation will be an historic event for the country – and the county of Leicestershire – and we want to help people to celebrate and encourage communities to come together to mark this special occasion,” he said.
The applications for temporary traffic orders, which involve road closures if events are being held on the highway, usually cost in the region of £400 – £650.
Anyone who wants to apply, still has a few days left to do so, as the deadline is March 31.
Guidance, complete with an application form, is available at: ?www.leicestershire.gov.uk/plan-an-event
or by e-mailing eventsnetworkmanagement@leics.gov.uk
