Dressed to impress for a right royal occasion!

The Council’s Wendy Bowen has the golden touch when it comes to sewing, creating a number of her own outfits from scratch.

But her latest design is fit for a dancing Queen, complete with royal guards, beefeaters, palaces, the crown jewels, golden coaches and the Union flag!

Wendy, who is a Quality Improvement Officer with the Education Service, is heading south with her own Prince Charming, aka husband David Bowen, for the King’s Coronation weekend and felt she needed some special attire for the royal occasion!

She said: “Elephant in my Handbag printed the material, which I preordered in November and the dress took around six hours to complete.”

The couple are eagerly waiting to see if they have won a pair of tickets to a special Coronation concert at Windsor Castle on the Sunday night of the celebratory weekend during May.

“There are 10,000 tickets to a concert at Winsdor Castle grounds on the Sunday night so 5,000 pairs of tickets. It was advertised a few months back. David applied as soon as he heard about it for me. He thinks we have no chance, but I’m hopeful as I’m sure they will try to make sure folks from all over the UK will be represented... I mean how many folks in KW postcodes applied?!

“We have decided to extend our trip just in case we are lucky... we hope to hear at the end of April! I was hugely disappointed not to get an invite to Westminster - it must have got lost in the post!  I mean... honestly!”

The couple head to London on Friday 5 May but there’s to be no camping on the streets like some royal fans!

“I'm not allowed to camp on the street - David put his foot down! So, we will be part of the crowd and, who knows, maybe even catch a glimpse of the King and Queen Consort at some point. We plan to visit Kensington Palace and if we are unsuccessful in winning tickets, we will head to the Tower of London on the Sunday as I’ve never been before.”

Wendy is very much looking forward to the magic of the ceremony.

“I am so excited. My granny was the family royalist she had all the books and I loved to look at the outfits. I'm more caught up in the history of the event.”

As to our new King, Wendy said: “If he leads with compassion integrity, valuing diversity and promoting equality and pushing to make the world a better place, he will do well! I'd never say no to having a cuppa with him!” 

Wendy is now waiting for her gold trainers to arrive home in time for the event – no royal outfit is complete without a pair of golden shoes!

The Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort will take place at Westminster Abbey on Saturday 6 May, 2023.

Across the Coronation Weekend, there will be further opportunities for people to come together in celebration of the historic occasion. On Sunday, 7 May 2023, a special Coronation concert will be staged and broadcast live at Windsor Castle by the BBC and BBC Studios, with tickets available via public ballot.

The Coronation Big Lunch, at which neighbours and communities are invited to share food and fun together, will take place across the country on the same date. On Monday, 8 May 2023, members of the public will be invited to take part in The Big Help Out, which will encourage people to try volunteering for themselves and join the work being undertaken to support their local areas.

Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort hope the Coronation Weekend will provide an opportunity to spend time and celebrate with friends, families and communities across the United Kingdom, the Realms and the Commonwealth.

The Council has set up an online page for community councils, associations or schools for example,  to log their Coronation plans – please get in touch if your area has an event planned and we will share here https://www.orkney.gov.uk/Calendars.htm