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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Entertainment
Tina Campbell

EastEnders confirms BBC soap will air special episode to mark King Charles’ Coronation

EastEnders has announced plans to mark King Charles’ upcoming Coronation with a special episode.

On May 1, the long-running BBC soap will celebrate the historic occasion with a coronation-themed street party in Albert Square.

The BBC has teased that viewers can expect to see “the community spirit of Walford at an all-time high” as the residents vow to put their troubles behind them for the big day and deck the Square out in red, white and blue bunting.

Soap bosses have yet to reveal whether this right royal knees-up will go to plan, but being EastEnders, drama is never too far away.

As well as EastEnders, BBC shows including Countryfile, Antiques Roadshow and Bargain Hunt will all air Royal-based themed episodes.

Charles and Camilla pictured with the cast of EastEnders in 2022 for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee (BBC)

Last summer, King Charles and Camilla, Queen Consort, paid a visit to Albert Square as part of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee.

In addition to being given a guided tour of the Elstree set, the royals met the soap’s cast and crew and even filmed a special scene with them.

One of the characters they got to meet with Mick Carter, played by Danny Dyer.

“They were really good, they pulled it out of the bag,” the actor told the Standard at the time.

Adding: “We had 20 minutes with them. We rehearsed it, they got out of the motor, we did it and then they left.”

Letitia Dean, who plays Sharon Watts in the soap, recalling to the PA news agency how she told the then-Prince of Wales: “You’ve got your coat on, very wise,” which prompted Charles to take his jacket off and place it around her shoulders.

The chivalrous act was met with a round of applause.

Dean, who appeared in the first episode of the soap in 1985, later told him: “Thanks for lending me your coat, it smelt rather lovely.”

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