RESIDENTS across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are being urged to start preparing their celebrations for the King’s coronation.

Members of the public are being invited to apply for a free street party licence to mark the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty the Queen Consort.

The street parties will form part of the UK’s celebrations over the three-day bank holiday weekend from Saturday, May 6 to Monday, May 8.

For many people, the parties are an opportunity to come together with neighbours, friends, and families.

Councillor Beverley Dunlop, BCP Council's cabinet member for culture, said: “The King’s coronation marks a special time in our history, and it is an opportunity for us to come together again to celebrate.

"We want to make it easy for local residents and communities to organise street parties. To celebrate this special occasion, we have waived the fee to close residential roads and made the process easy to encourage as many residents as possible to join in.”

The coronation will take place on the morning of Saturday, May 6 at Westminster Abbey, and on Sunday, May 7, Coronation Big Lunches will bring communities together with a special coronation concert at Windsor Castle.

On May 8, there will be reflection on the legacy of His Majesty’s service.

The national events will be broadcast over big screens in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

Anyone wishing to hold a street party over the extended bank holiday weekend should submit their applications by Friday, March 24.

For more information visit bcpcouncil.gov.uk/News/News-Features/The-Coronation-of-King-Charles-III/The-Coronation-of-King-Charles-III.aspx