King Charles and Queen Camilla will be officially crowned on Saturday 6th May, giving us all the perfect excuse to throw a coronation party.
From the food and drink to the themed decorations, there’s a lot to consider if you want to be the host with the most this bank holiday. But don’t let that put you off – Blossoming Gifts is here to help you get everything in order, ready to raise a glass to our new king and queen.
Decorations
If there’s ever been an occasion to go all out, this is it – just make sure you do it in appropriately regal style. There’s a deluge of coronation decorations to trawl through online, from Union Jack flags, bunting and table cloths to those ever-so-slightly-scary royal family masks. But to reflect the King’s passion for sustainability, consider shunning single-use plastic and opting for a ‘greener’ approach, with recyclable or multi-use decorations, plates and napkins. If you’re feeling crafty, or need to entertain children, why not get busy making good old-fashioned paper chains?
It would be remiss of us not to champion the use of flowers in any coronation decor, not least because our new monarch would approve. The King has been throwing his support behind environmental causes for decades, memorably calling for the creation of wildflower meadows up and down the country to mark the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee, and he is also an enthusiastic gardener.
Good quality flowers can quickly elevate even the simplest of set-ups, and there’s a bouquet for all tastes and budgets in our extensive range. Our top tip is to pick a colour scheme and weave it through your space – that might be the traditional red, white and blue, but it could also be purple, the colour of royalty, or soft spring-time pastels. For a charmingly nostalgic feel, we’ll be opting for the latter and styling our quintessential British tea party with elegant peaches, pinks and greens – think our Coral Peonies and Blush Pink Roses, dahling!
To reflect our new king’s floral taste, consider including delphiniums in your display. In 2020 Charles, then the Prince of Wales, declared this show-stopping bloom his favourite. “For me, the magnificent, gloriously appareled delphinium, with its impeccable bearing and massed in platoons, holds pride of place in my botanical affections,” he told the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. You’ll find delphiniums in our special coronation bouquet, The King’s Celebration, or for a similar look consider fragrant hyacinths, or sculptural agapanthus.
Spread flowers all the way along your table, ideally at varying heights to create more visual interest. For another eco-friendly idea that would earn you the royal nod of approval, try splitting your bouquet across posy jars and ramekins sourced from your local charity shop. Make the centrepiece bigger and bolder, perhaps by using taller stems or more eye-catching species such as orchids, lilies and peonies.
Of course, if you’re looking for an activity to whip out should the ceremony start dragging, it’s got to be flower crown making! Lay an array of stems on a table, along with some florist’s wire, tape and scissors, then let your guests indulge their creative sides.
Food
Once your dining space or garden (come on sunshine…) is looking suitably majestic, it’s time to serve up some equally impressive food. Retro classics always go down a storm at royal events, so we’ll be preparing moreish coronation chicken sandwiches, a colourful trifle and, of course, a fluffy Victoria sponge laden with cream and jam.
The new coronation recipe, coronation quiche, certainly looks worth a try – it’s packed full of seasonal broad beans, spinach, cheddar and tarragon for a tasty treat that’s quick and easy to make. Finger food like sausage rolls, Scotch eggs and mini pork pies is also sure to be popular, especially when washed down with a big jug of Pimms or pink lemonade!
If you’re looking to eat while watching the coronation, which starts at 11am, you may prefer to go down the brunch route. King Charles is a famous fan of eggs, reportedly enjoying his coddled or baked every morning, so you could serve these with English muffins and Scottish smoked salmon. He also enjoys Darjeeling tea, taken with milk and honey – the perfect accompaniment to afternoon tea later on?
Drinks
Other than the obligatory celebratory fizz, you can have a lot of fun with your coronation party drinks offering. Consider setting up a home bar complete with a range of alcoholic and non-alcholic beverages, from gin to elderflower cordial, so that guests can make their own. Prepare garnishes to pick and mix, including mint, basil, rosemary, lemon, lime and cucumber.
For an extra special flourish, pick some flowers to decorate the rims of your best glassware. Orchids are the most sophisticated choice – they’re considered safe to eat, but some species may cause stomach upset, so we suggest admiring them only! Rose buds look stunning floating atop foamy cocktails and sprigs of lavender exude summery elegance. Carnations, hibiscus, pansies and cherry blossom are all also edible. Cheers!
It’s not a celebration without flowers! Treat yourself or order a coronation surprise for a loved one – there are fantastic offers available at Blossoming Gifts right now.
