Pubs could have their opening hours extended to allow revellers to celebrate King Charles III‘s coronation for longer, ministers confirmed today
The Government is consulting on proposals to allow bars to open past the usual 11pm cut-off until 1am across the bank holiday weekend when he is crowned at Westminster next May.
The two-hour extension will apply from Friday, May 5, to Sunday, May 7, across England and Wales.
In a written statement to MPs today, Policing Minister Chris Philp said: ‘Opportunities to gather with our families, friends and local communities were severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
‘His Majesty the King’s Coronation provides an opportunity to come together and celebrate this great nation and enjoy our renewed ability to spend time together in marking this historic occasion.’
Cheers Charles! The Government is consulting on proposals to allow bars to open past the usual 11pm cut-off until 1am across the who bank holiday weekend when he is crowned at Westminster next May.
The two-hour extension will apply from Friday, May 5, to Sunday, May 7, across England and Wales.
The Government has already announced that Monday, May 8 will be an additional bank holiday.
Plans for the glittering Coronation – which will reflect historic tradition with Charles’s desire for a modern ceremony representing a leaner monarchy – are moving forward apace. The Mail has learnt that the King and Queen Consort visited Westminster Abbey recently as part of extensive reconnaissance for the event.
St Edward’s Crown has already been removed from the Tower of London to be resized.
And it is understood that the Queen Consort, who will be by her husband’s side, has also chosen her crown. It has not been confirmed which one, but the smart money is on the State Diadem, mostly recently worn by Queen Elizabeth II to and from the State Opening of Parliament.
King Charles has extended an olive branch to Harry and Meghan as he pledged they will be invited to the Coronation, despite the fallout from their explosive Netflix documentary.
Although the official invitations for next year’s historic event have yet to go out, several well-placed sources told the Daily Mail that Charles has graciously told his son and daughter-in-law they will be welcome to the historic event.
His view is understood not to have changed despite the most recent brickbats thrown at him and other family members by the couple as part of their multi-million-pound deal with the streaming giant.
Calls have grown for the Sussexes to be stripped of their titles after the release of their Netflix series which heavily criticised the royal family, but the Firm want to retain the ‘dignity’ of silence and not have on-going battle of who gets the ‘last word’.