16 April 2003

CELEBRATIONS FOR THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CORONATION ANNOUNCED

Details of celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of The Queen's Coronation on 2 June 2003 have been announced.

On 2 June 1953, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in Westminster Abbey.

To mark the 50th anniversary of that ceremony a service will be held in Westminster Abbey at 11.30am on 2 June 2003. It will be attended by members of the Royal Family and invited guests.

Tickets will be available to allow 1,000 members of the public to join the invited congregation. A maximum two tickets per person are available.

People wishing to attend should write with an SAE to:
The Assistant Receiver General Protocol
Room 2, The Chapter Office
20 Dean's Yard
Westminster Abbey
London SW1P 3PA

As there has been a strong demand for tickets, a ballot will be held.  All those who are successful in applying for tickets will be notified in due course.

The closing date for receiving requests for tickets is Friday, 9 May 2003. Tickets will be posted by 19 May 2003.

In the afternoon The Queen will host a children's tea party in the garden of Buckingham Palace. The party will feature pop stars, DJs, a funfair, a circus big top, children's entertainers and military bands.

More than 500 youngsters aged six to 12 will be invited from all over the UK through Barnado's, the London Taxi Drivers' Fund for Underprivileged Children and SAFFA Forces Help. Children at the party will include some with special needs, orphans and others from Service families involved in the Iraq conflict.