CORONATION BALL
14 JULY 2023
We’ve drunk many Loyal Toasts in Stationers’ Hall over the centuries so it was with a real sense of history that more than 150 Company members and guests gathered in June to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
Just as it did on his Coronation Day, the rain paid us a brief visit – prompting the Master to quip “Long to rain over us indeed” - but this didn’t deter anyone from enjoying champagne from a vintage Rolls Royce on the forecourt and delicious G&Ts in the garden.
As guests paraded into the Hall for a sumptuous four course banquet, they were greeted by a life-size smiling cut-out of
their Majesties, which later looked down on diners from the Minstrels Gallery as the Royal Marines Association quartet played.
Instead of speeches, guests were entertained by light-hearted interludes tracing the history of various bloodthirsty and outrageous Coronations delivered by Liverymen Phil Elder and Chris Roycroft-Davis. The Master paid warm tribute to the King, who graciously sent a message of good wishes which was reproduced in the souvenir programme.
An hilarious game of heads and tails, with the winner getting a magnum of champagne, raised more than £1,000 before a grand auction conducted by Charlie Thomas of Bonhams produced an exceptionally generous response.
Finally guests danced the night away to the music of the band 29 Fingers.
In total the Ball raised in the region of £15k for our education, welfare and hall charities.