A CORONATION could hardly take place without a crown, something of which all primary-school children in Jersey will be only too aware next week.
They will be producing up to 8,000 designs for their own crowns to celebrate King Charles’s Coronation on Saturday 6 May in a project developed by the Bailiff’s Chambers to reinforce the significance of the historic occasion to younger Islanders.
It forms part of the Crowning Glory outreach programme over the four days leading up to the Coronation when pupils will learn not only about the monarchy and the ceremony at Westminster Abbey but also about the significance of the Crown in Jersey today through the roles of the Bailiff and Lieutenant-Governor.
Deputy Bailiff Robert MacRae said that he was very much looking forward to seeing the creative outputs from the thousands of children who would be taking part.
‘This is the first coronation of a monarch for 70 years. It is an important moment in our history and reminds us of the significance of the Sovereign to us as a Crown Dependency, ‘ he said.
Seán O’Regan, group director of education, described the project as an exciting opportunity for children to learn about and remember the historic event by using their creativity and imagination.
‘It has been a privilege to be involved in this project alongside the Bailiff’s Chambers. We hope that all of the primary children across the Island will enjoy making and wearing their crowns, and our thanks go to all those who are supporting them in this venture,’ he said.
Several organisations have helped to provide materials included in resources packs being sent out to schools. They include Philips Footprints, who have supported the project with finding recycled materials, the Jersey Evening Post, who have supplied returned newspapers, and Mailmate Print, who will be distributing the resources packs to schools throughout the Island.
Children are being encouraged to wear their crowns on the day of the Coronation and the organisers say it is hoped that any photos taken of them will be accompanied by the #JerseyCrowns so the images can be captured for posterity.
