The first woman to hold the post, Jennifer Tolhurst reveals what life is like as His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Essex
A Royal visit
On March 7, His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort came to Colchester to mark the granting of city status to the town. It was a wonderful occasion on which Their Majesties met a great variety of people who live and work in Colchester. Many of these guests gathered at Colchester Castle, which provided an atmospheric and fascinating setting.
Their Majesties arrived at the gates to Castle Park where I greeted them as the British Army Band played. On their walk to the castle with the mayor, Cllr Tim Young, they met children, refugees, people involved with the park and council workers. Inside the castle, Brigadier Nick Cowley, Commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade, introduced them to soldiers from the Garrison, and upstairs they viewed various exhibits with Pippa Pickles, Colchester Museums manager.
Their Majesties met representatives from organisations including University of Essex’s Building with Nature for Ecosystem-Based Coastal Defence project, Essex Native Oyster Restoration Initiative, Firstsite, which as well being an arts venue provides free hot meals to local low-income children and their families through their Holiday Fun initiative, and finally Next Chapter, a domestic abuse charity supporting survivors in the local area.
The mayor thanked Their Majesties for coming to Colchester, saying ‘Words cannot describe how much it means to us that you are here’ – a sentiment that I am sure was felt by all those present. The King and Queen Consort finished by meeting the Animal Care Team from Colchester Zoo to hear about their conservation work, before revealing the chosen name for the zoo’s newest addition, a baby white rhino named Dara.
The second venue was Colchester Library where The King, accompanied by The Vice Lord-Lieutenant Rear Admiral Roy Clare, joined volunteers and others involved with Age UK for a tea party. In the library’s Literacy Corner, the Queen Consort met Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Dermot O’Leary, who had supported the very successful Essex Year of Reading.
Actors from the Mercury Theatre performed an extract from The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party joined by Fatima Jallow (year 6 from Braiswick Primary School). Then, Maddy Earl, the schoolgirl who won the Essex Year of Reading writing competition, read her winning entry, and The Queen Consort was delighted to be presented with a library card. Travelling between the two venues, Their Majesties spoke to many appreciative people in the huge crowd that had gathered in the High Street.
Coronation time
Now, we are looking forward to the King’s Coronation, which will take place on May 6. This formal ceremony has enormous constitutional and symbolic significance as the new King is invested with the powers and authority of the Crown. He will take an oath to uphold the laws and customs of the kingdom and to serve the people. This oath is a key constitutional moment as it establishes the monarch as the head of state and the source of authority for the government and the nation.
The Coronation is also an important symbol of continuity and tradition. It is a great ceremonial occasion that has been carried out in a similar way for centuries, demonstrating stability and reinforcing the legitimacy of the Sovereign and the state.
The Coronation has important religious connotations. It is a Christian ceremony that involves the anointing of the monarch with holy oil and the receiving of various religious symbols. This aspect of the Coronation emphasises the close relationship between the monarchy and the Church of England, which is the established church in England, and which the King will swear to maintain and preserve. The King has already sworn to uphold the security of the Church of Scotland at his first Privy Council, which was televised live on September 10, 2022.
Finally, the Coronation has important diplomatic and international implications. It is attended by Commonwealth and other Heads of State and is a major event that will be watched all over the world. It helps to cement relationships with other countries, particularly the Commonwealth, of which the King is head, and to demonstrate to the world the commitment of the United Kingdom to the rule of law and constitutional government.
There are two main initiatives that we are all being asked to join in with in the county. The first is the Coronation Big Lunch on Sunday 7 May, which consists of street parties and general celebrations. Suggestions can be found at edenprojectcommunities.com/the-big-lunch.
Lending a hand
On Monday May 8, we are invited to take part in The Big Help Out, which is all about encouraging volunteering; for information, visit thebighelpout.org.uk. Communities and voluntary organisations are celebrating their work and will be thanking those involved and showing how rewarding voluntary work can be.
Volunteering is a core part of our country; we have among the highest rates of volunteers in the world. During the last three years, we have needed these volunteers more than ever because of the pandemic. Over 12 million people answered the call for volunteers, supporting the vaccination centres and checking in with people who were isolated.
Now, our task is to inspire a new generation of volunteers. The Coronation is an opportunity to raise the profile of volunteering and give everyone a chance to join in. Whether they have volunteered before or whether it is their very first time, we want the whole county to be involved.
