Attendees at the Coronation Big Lunch in south-east London believe they may have set the record for the “largest human image in a crown” after more than 500 people donned purple, yellow and white and attended the coronation weekend.
Those attending Sunday’s Big Lunch Coronation Tea Party at Broomhill Common in Orpington were invited to take part in the record attempt, with the template being inspired by the Wye Crown in Kent, which was carved into a hillside to mark the coronation of King Edward VII. to celebrate 1902.
Steve Sangster, 40, from Orpington, chairman of the Knoll Residents Association, told the PA news agency the idea for the record came after the community produced a candlelit portrait of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.
“The idea of the record attempt came from the Queen’s death in relation to the twinkling stars,” he said.
“Someone said, ‘Oh, that’s probably some kind of world record, the largest picture of the Queen,’ and that got us thinking about maybe doing something along those lines for our next event.
“We really wanted to look forward to the coronation with a different kind of vibe, we wanted it to be a celebration.
“This idea of a community coming together to create a visual image, a temporary historical marker if you will, was our vision for it.”
It took 45 minutes to create the final image, with people encouraged to break up their picnics and join in by donning ponchos to fill out the crown.
“First we were calling people for colors, positioning ourselves, and then of course people get off the mold, they don’t fill in certain parts of it,” said Mr. Sangster.
“So we’re trying to communicate, we had a PA system, I was there with the drone and I was like, ‘Okay, we need to fill out this part, you know, we need more purple,’ and trying to get people to stop having picnics and the seating to come and participate.
“But yes, it worked out in the end.”
Mr Sangster said they would have to produce their evidence and wait a few weeks before their records would be confirmed, but he believes 539 people were counted.
However, he also stressed the importance of bringing people together, regardless of their passion for the royal family.
“Whether you’re a royalist or not, it’s an excuse to bring the community together,” he said.
“Unfortunately that doesn’t happen too often and everyone on that day is like ‘Oh we have to do this twice a year’ because there are so many new interactions, so many new friendships and connections and ideas that come out of these events.
“It’s such a boost for the local community.”
