The countdown to the next big long weekend is on, and we have our incoming King to thank for it.
If you haven’t already heard, the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on Saturday, May 6 means that the UK gets an extra Bank Holiday on Monday, May 8. If that’s not worth getting your confetti cannons out, we don’t know what is.
Plans are underway for epic feasts, through street parties, picnics and BBQs. While food promises to be an exceedingly classic affair - think posh sarnies, sausage rolls, trifles and plenty of booze - there is a helpful shortcut to creating the perfect coronation feast.
The nation’s grocers have stepped up to the occasion with Best of British and celebratory food and drink - decked out in Union Jack packaging, natch - to keep you fed and watered in majestic style all through the weekend.
Coronation chicken, invented by Le Cordon Bleu London for the crowning of Queen Elizabeth in 1953, is likely to be a reigning favourite, offering a way to honour the last monarch as well as the incoming one.
Whether you’re looking for a failsafe win to take to a local street party or you want a showstopper dessert to tuck into while you’re soaking up the pomp and ceremony on TV, we’ve found the savoury and sweet bites to delight everyone on your guest list.
Here’s what you can expect from the UK’s biggest supermarkets for the royal Coronation.
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Fortnum's King’s Coronation collection
As you’d expect from the Royal grocer, Fortnum & Mason has gone all out for King Charles’ upcoming Coronation, but not necessarily in the way you would expect. Red, white and blue has been left in the backseat in favour of pretty pastel packaging featuring animals and flowers from across the Commonwealth. You’ll find everything from teaware to candles and delicious bottles of booze to sip alongside your coronation feast.
Booze first: this is a party, so while Fortnums has created a very special Coronation Brut in the standard (75cl, £45), there’s also a Magnum (150cl, £100) and Jeroboam too (300cl, £265): the bigger the bottle, the more bubbles one can expect.
In food, there are beautiful tins of biscuits (including a special musical one, £35), and tea caddies for a posh cuppa. But if Fortnums is famous for one thing, it’s the hampers. Outsource your party food to the experts and you’ll feast like a king. Prices start at £50 for the Coronation Gift Box and finish at the top end at The King of Picnics basket (£500).
Expect nothing but the very finest food and drinks in all the Kingdom.
Buy now, Fortnum's
M&S coronation food
There’s lunches, and then there’s the M&S Coronation Lunch.
You would expect the upmarket grocer to go all out for such momentous celebrations, and the spread won’t leave you disappointed. Order ahead online for lip smacking morsels across the board: honey roast ham sausage rolls and crown-topped savoury pastries (launching May 3), to a towering Coronation Chicken Club Sandwich (£4.50, in-store now) that’s perfect for lunchtime feasting. Few British picnics are complete without crisps, and M&S has delivered here too with a limited edition packet of handcooked crisps in coronation chicken flavour (£1.50).
On the sweeter end of the spectrum you’ll find commemorative tins of biscuits and tea as well as giant chocolate coins and a Coronation Sponge Cake (£10, available April 29).
Wash it all down with Coronation Ale (£3) or a bottle of English bubbles - the Coronation Cuvee NV (£23), both available to shop now.
Buy now, M&S
M&S Limited Edition Coronation Colin the Caterpillar
Is it even a party without Colin the Caterpillar? M&S certainly don’t think so because they’ve just launched a Coronation version of the legendary cake, complete with an edible crown. The chocolate sponge log-style cake is packed with lashings of chocolate butter cream and is topped with yet more milk chocolate and decorations. He tips the scales at 640g, so there’s plenty to go around.
Sweet miniature versions are also available, for celebrating on the go (five for £3). Available in M&S stores.
Buy now £10.00, M&S
Asda coronation food
They are rolling out the red carpet over at Asda with all the food, drink and decorations you need to throw a right royal shindig. Shop street party food as well as BBQ favourites and see where the Big Get-Together Bus is stopping. This bus will deliver big-name brands to various points over the May bank holiday, allowing you to stock back up with ease.
For the coronation spread, our best picks include the George Home Coronation Cupcake Kit (£2) to finesse your bakes, the three-pack ASDA Coronation Party Platter Bundle (£10.50) packed with global cuisine canapes, and ASDA’s Victoria Sponge (£1.45), created in honour of another of the UK’s longest reigning monarchs.
Buy now, Asda
Morrisons coronation food
Whether you’re having a picnic near a coronation viewing screen (there will be sites across the country), or you’re hosting an exclusive celebration at home, Morrisons is on a mission to make it easier over the May Bank Holiday.
For savoury types, choose from Food to Order curated grazing boxes that vary from savoury, spicy, small cheese, Continental and sweet, each serving around 6 - 8 diners and coming in at £10 each. Coronation chicken filled sandwiches are perfect for the celebrations, but you can really fill up on the supermarket’s baguette version and go full throttle with Coronation Chicken Flavour Crisps (£1) to nibble on alongside. Don’t miss Morrisons’ Coronation Chicken & Pork Slicing Pie (£8), perfect for feeding a crowd with up to 10 servings depending on your hunger levels.
And there are sweet treats galore, in the form of themed cupcakes and a magnificent giant cookie (£7), iced with the words Party Like A Royal; the centrepiece of your coronation soiree. You can also find branded limited editions, like McVitie’s biscuit selection in a Coronation Tin.
Buy now, Morrisons
Sainsbury’s coronation food
Got a sweet tooth? Sainsbury’s has your back with drinks and desserts that would get the royal seal of approval. We’re talking coronation biscuits and doughnuts to a themed cake called King Wiggles (£8) and more.
On the booze front, Sainsbury’s alcohol aisle needs little introduction, but particularly apt serves include Coronation English Sparkling Wine (£22), Coronation Orange Gin Liqueur (£10), and Coronation Ale, a steal for beer-drinkers at just £2.50 a pop.
Shop picnic food for your coronation spread here.
Buy now, Sainsbury’s
Waitrose Coronation Food
As one of the best-known stockists of His Majesty’s Duchy Organics range, Waitrose was always a frontrunner to go all out when it comes to coronation fare. As well as special editions for the event - think Belvoir Elderflower Cordial and Presses - the grocer has your festive cream tea nailed. There’s The Kings Coronation Berry & Apple Preserve (£2.45) for spreading on warm scones, crown-shaped gingerbread biscuits (£1.75), a Jewel the Jack Russell Cake (£9.50) in honour of the King’s favourite pooch, and pre-prepared Coronation Chicken sandwiches (£4) to get you in the mood.
Buy now, Waitrose
Tesco coronation food
There’s a party vibe over at Tesco, and we’re all invited, although only Clubcard members get the VIP prices.
The nation’s biggest supermarket will soon roll out its coronation range of products, which will include a Tesco Finest Coronation Pork Pie, Finest sandwiches in prawn and coronation chicken, and delectable sweet treats including a Tesco Finest Coronation Raspberry and Peach Bellini Trifle, a special Coronation Celebration Cake and all-butter shortbread housed in - you guessed it - a commemorative tin (£4.50).
Buy now, Tesco
McVitie’s limited edition commemorative biscuit tin
It’s not a British event without a good cuppa and a plate of biscuits. McVitie’s has gathered family favourites - think milk chocolate digestives, Highland shortbread, jam rings, Custard Creams and Bourbon Creams - in one of the nicest commemorative tins we’ve seen. The UK’s insignia is completed with a King Charles III scroll along with the month and year of the event.
Buy now £5.50, Sainsbury’s
Cartwright & Butler The Coronation Celebration Hamper
Feast like a king thanks to Cartwright & Butler’s specially designed Coronation Celebration Hamper. A smart honey-hued wicker hamper is stuffed with delicious morsels to see you through the celebrations, from marmalade and breakfast tea to start the day to fruit loaf cake, whisky fudge and tomato and chilli chutney to have with your afternoon spread. This is a party, so the brand has thrown in a bottle of Moet into the mix too. Three cheers!
Buy now £160.00, Cartwright & Butler
Hattingley Valley Kings Cuvée 2014
Such a huge occasion calls for a bottle of something special, and Hattingley Valley has just the thing - or two. The Hampshire winery has a trio of majestic serves to pop open at your coronation lunch: a limited edition engraved bottles of its King’s Cuvée 2015 (£85) and King’s Rosé 2015 (£95). Meanwhile if you're going to a party, add the King’s Coronation Engraved Oak Case (£30) for a sense of celebration.
Meanwhile this slightly older vintage is available on Amazon.
Buy now £79.99, Grape Britannia
Silent Pool Gin Coronation Limited Edition
The coronation will be full of ceremonies and traditions that will be new to most of us, but you can watch it all while engaging in another proud British tradition - sipping on a nice, gold G&T. Silent Pool has whipped up a Coronation special, complete with a commemorative label for His Maj. Packed with fruity, floral and herby notes, as well as hints of Earl Grey, it needs little more fanfare than a splash of tonic and a juicy wedge of lemon.
Buy now £45.00, Waitrose
Caviar House & Prunier Coronation Caviar
If you've got the cash and the inclination, what better way to ring in the coronation of our new king than with champagne and caviar? Prestigious Mayfair establishment Caviar House & Prunier has released a special edition Union Jack-spangled Coronation Caviar for the big day. Filled with the first Prunier caviar known as Saint James the caviar hit perfect maturity two months after being caught and has a low salt content. Prices from £90 for 30g.
Buy now £150.00, Caviar House & Prunier
Krispy Kreme Coronation doughnuts
Adding classic British flavours to light and fluffy Krispy Kreme doughnuts was always going to be a success - especially in the UK. In honour of the coronation, the brand has whipped up three new versions: citrusy Lemon Shortbread, sweet Berry Bakewell, and the showpiece King’s Trifle. In stores from May 1 - 8, add them to your street party spread to share an extra special treat.
Available as a four-pack (£9.25) and Coronation Dozen (£19.95).
Krispy Kreme concessions can also be found at Tesco.
Buy now £9.25, Krispy Kreme
Patissserie Valerie King's Coronation Cake
We’re not one to turn up our noses at a freshly baked scone, but for coronation tea parties, only a cake will do.
Patisserie Valerie has dreamed up this simple yet stunning bake; a plain sponge sandwiching layers of strawberry cream, fresh cream and strawberry jam - a combo that all the family will adore. It’s finished with Swiss meringue buttercreams with tiny golden pearls at the base and toppings of a chocolate crown, macarons and more meringue kisses.
Buy now £45.95, Patissserie Valerie
Nyetimber’s King’s Coronation Limited-Edition Classic Cuvee Multi-Vintage
A special bottle of bubbly is just the thing to wash down your coronation feast. Nyetimber, esteemed makers of English sparkling wine, has launched a limited edition bottle to celebrate the historic event, wrapped in livery to celebrate the new monarch. Made with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes, the Cuvee is widely available, but Ocado has it on offer right now for just £29. Stock up and celebrate all summer long.
Buy now £29.00, Nyetimber’s
Virgin Wines Coronation Limited Edition English Sparkling Brut NV
It’s not every day you see a coronation. In honour of the momentous occasion, Virgin Wines has whipped up 1100 bottles of English sparkling wine. The limited edition serve is ideal for the lighter weather, with notes of white apple, pear and lemon zest. Made in the South Downs, it’ll make a worth addition to any coronation feast.
Buy now £34.99, Virgin Wines
