With the King’s Coronation fast approaching, our party planners are out in force, organising events large and small to mark a momentous day in history. Sadly, we can’t create events for everyone. So instead, we’ll be sharing ideas, inspiration, and insight in a series of blogs so that anyone can plan the most incredible Coronation party. And with under 2 weeks to go, now is the time to focus on the King’s Coronation party catering ideas.
The TLC ethos? The importance of food and drink at an event is not just about the ingredients, but how they are presented. You’ll often hear our CEO, Liz Taylor say ‘nobody will remember a piece of chicken’. Followed with the explanation – if that piece of chicken is served with flair, theatre, and imagination, suddenly it’s one of the most memorable parts of the event. With that in mind, here are TLC’s food and drink suggestions for the King’s Coronation, along with some insider presentation tips to elevate your Coronation party catering ideas to regal levels!
CELTIC CREATIONS
Our Coronation party catering ideas starts with those planning a smaller dinner party. Here you can draw inspiration from regions of the British Isles that are significant for The King. With residencies in Wales, Scotland and Cornwall the Royal Family has a huge affection for all three.
Create a Great British menu using ingredients and dishes native to these special places.
For starters, delicious Scottish smoked salmon. Mousse or roulade can easily be prepared the day before. Or opt for a lighter bite. Smoked salmon blinis paired with Champagne or sparkling wine.
King Charles’ favourite dish is lamb risotto. Use Welsh lamb that’s full of flavour. Serve in a huge colourful pan for guests to help themselves. More wow factor, less work for you. Add an individual side of buttered leeks and spring greens to bring green vibrancy to the table.
Round the occasion off with an upmarket cream tea using Duchy of Cornwall organic products – the King is said to love Darjeeling tea. Smother miniatures scones with lavish clotted cream and artisan jams – jam before cream as is the tradition in Cornwall. Keep everything bite sized and serve it all in a wicker basket lined with the Cornish flag.
Presentation tips: Make a focal point of the menu. Write it out on a beautiful antique mirror or print individually scripted menu cards for each guest.
If budget were no object, we would have traditional Scottish pipers to signify the start of the dinner, but a play list on your smart speaker can recreate this fun effect. Dress the table with a nod to each location. Tartan touches and potted daffodils aplenty.
RED, WHITE & BLUE BUFFET
The Union Jack is always a theme on such a quintessentially British occasion. Bring a patriotic twist to your event by using red, white, and blue in your catering.
Stack up delicate red, white and blue miniature macaroons – as tempting as a bakery window. Fruit kebabs with strawberry, blueberry and banana with white chocolate dipping sauce are a healthier option. Or try traditional layered red, white, and blue trifles or miniature jelly shots – vodka added for the adults!
Sweet tooth? A colourful candy buffet will delight guests young and old. Take a trip down memory lane with an old-fashioned pick and mix. Sweets in vintage jars, huge swirling lollipops and retro sweetie bags. A wall of iced doughnuts, tartlets or meringues topped with strawberries, blueberries and cream, or a simple display of inexpensive cupcakes swirled with coloured frosting.
Create coloured cocktails or mocktails with grenadine and fresh lemonade topped with blueberries and strawberries. Serve in pretty jam jars with straws. Or red and blue cocktails in pretty glasses, topped with dry ice to complete the colour effect.
Presentation tips: A huge pavlova or towering Victoria sponge laden with red, white, and blue fruit can make a stunning centrepiece. Remember, it’s not a party without a cake!
COMMONWEALTH BANQUET
Invite your guests on a delicious journey with food from all over the Commonwealth.
Take inspiration from Australia and fire up the BBQ. Marinade a range of different meats and serve up with colourful side salads. Jamaican spices can liven up your marinades. Or include Namibian venison served with traditional oshifima (maize porridge).
Asian street food will fill your table with fragrance and colour. Malaysian Char Kuey Teow or Lok Lok with tasty dipping sauces. Sri Lankan fish curry. Chapli kebabs and Bangladeshi mutton biriyani and a range of fragrant vegetarian and meat curries originating from India and Pakistan served with rotis and rice dishes.
Choose South African wines or Caribbean cocktails – St Lucian rum punch, the Bahama Mama, or a Calabash cocktail from Grenada.
Presentation tips: When laying out your banquet use tiered stands, blocks and serving dishes with different heights to add interest. Add in signage and flags of the different countries, especially if you’re including more unusual dishes.
An alternative is to take traditional British dishes and serve them with flair – fish and chips, wrapped in a faux newspaper marking the King’s Coronation. Roast beef Yorkshire pudding wraps with individual gravy pots for dipping or miniature steak pies and mash in individual Union Jack trays. It’s all about the little touches.
1940S AFTERNOON TEA
Create the ultimate afternoon tea with a 1940s theme in honour of the era King Charles was born. Serve loose leaf tea in real China tea sets – it’s all about the detail. Arrange delicate finger sandwiches and exquisitely decorated cakes and petit fours on vintage stands. Add some award-winning sparkling Cornish wines from Polgoon or create a French 75 gin cocktail from Tenby Dry Gin Navy Strength, named ‘Best in Wales 2022’ in The Gin Guide Awards.
An alternative for a larger event would be to give each guest their own personalised picnic basket crammed with delicious treats – miniature bottles of homemade lemonade or English wines, cakes, pastries, and finger sandwiches.
Presentation tips: Ice biscuits with a specially designed Royal insignia to honour the day. You can create a personalised design for each guest as a special touch.
Keep guests comfortable as they dine al fresco – hand out picnic blankets, pretty parasols, or umbrellas to suit the weather.
ORGANIC/LOCAL PRODUCERS’ LUNCH
King Charles is renowned for his environmental endeavours so ensure your event has low to no food miles and support your local community with a local producer’s lunch. There really is no need to cook everything yourself at a party. Head down to a nearby deli to source artisan breads and pastries, homemade salads, and dips. Farm shops offer a delightful range of locally produced cheeses, pies, chutneys, and cold meats. The food is generally of a very high standard. What could be more British than produce grown, harvested, and made right in your local community? Again, it’s all in the presentation. Display in pretty bowls and baskets nestled in among floral arrangements on your table.
Presentation tips: Embellish your dishes with edible flowers. Create botanical themed cocktails garnished with a floral flourish – hibiscus, lavender, or pansies. Use potted plants as table décor over cut flowers as a more sustainable decorative touch.
THE CORONATION EVENTS
Everything you need to know about the Coronation events and timings can be found here https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/articles/2023/bbc-how-to-watch-the-coronation-and-coronation-concert/