Scouts support King Charles III's Coronation at Westminster Abbey
Scouts and volunteers made their way to Westminster Abbey to coordinate and support the coronation, where HRH King Charles III was officially crowned on 6 May 2023.
The Scouts, aged between 14 and 25 year old, had travelled from all corners of the UK and the Commonwealth to do their duty for the king and take part in this momentous occasion.
Fifty Scouts attended the coronation event at St Margaret’s church. These young people were able to witness the historic moment taking place and experience the once-in-a-lifetime event due to their service and willingness to support the nation. The Scouts were some of the first people to see the newly-crowned king after he left Westminster Abbey.
They were responsible for supporting the Coronation at Westminster Abbey, crowd stewarding, and supporting the public who were there to celebrate with the king. The Scouts managed huge crowds at locations, such as the big screen in St James Park, Hyde Park, Green Park, and the Admiralty Arch.
Yesterday, 50 Explorer Scouts were invited to the #Coronation at St. Margaret’s Church, Westminster Abbey. They were some of the first people to see the newly crowned King. We’re sure it’s a moment they’ll always remember! pic.twitter.com/StHl4S82pI
— Scouts (@scouts) May 7, 2023
The previous year, Scout Volunteers had supported the thousands of people paying their respects at Her Majesty The Queen’s Lying in State. Scouts had helped those with accessibility needs and supported the 250,000 people who had queued to see the Queen's coffin.
Taking part in these events was a huge responsibility, but Scouts doing their duty to the nation was always a priority, no matter the scale.
Volunteering lies at the core of Scouting and to commemorate these values, Scouts across the UK took part on 8 May 2023 in The Big Help, a national day of volunteering. It had been organised by The Together Coalition and a wide range of partners, including The Scouts.
In tribute to His Majesty The King's public service, The Big Help Out encouraged people to try volunteering for themselves and join work being undertaken to support their local areas. The aim of The Big Help Out was to use volunteering to bring communities together and create a lasting volunteering legacy from the coronation weekend.