Hats off to His Royal Highness

Coronation streets! Crowds gather across city region to celebrate on the big day

- JOHN SCHEERHOUT

PEOPLE came together across Greater Manchester to celebrate the new monarch and enjoy a party.

The bunting came out and Union Jacks were everywhere as people decided to have a right royal knees up.

Many thronged to big screens in Piccadilly Gardens and elsewhere which showed the unfolding pageantry taking place 200 miles away.

Elsewhere, residents painted their faces in red, white and blue and held street parties to raise a glass to King Charles and Queen Camilla. Young and old alike donned plastic Union Jack bowler hats and babies wore golden crowns.

The street parties boasted games, bouncy castles, barbecues, music and at least one cocktail bar.

At Manchester Cathedral, visitors were greeted at the entrance with a commemorative flag and a copy of the order of service, while bunting was on display inside.

People of all ages, different faiths and none, sat row-by-row to watch history unfold. “It’s lovely to have something like this in town,” said mum Alisan Hogg, from Didsbury, who came to Manchester Cathedral with her partner and three young children.

Striking outfits were found at Piccadilly Gardens, where there was a party atmosphere. Families and groups of friends sat watching one of two big screens, while food and drink stalls kept the crowd refreshed.

Some had simply been passing by but stopped to soak up the atmosphere, such as Kanwal Saba and her family, from Fallowfield. She said: “Everyone’s celebrating, it’s really, really nice – I’m very happy today.”

A minority made their republic sentiments known. One man held aloft a cardboard which read ‘feed kids not kings’ while another had a plaque which read: “Abolish the monarchy.”