The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) has marked the upcoming Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III with a special tree planting ceremony and a range of community initiatives.
In what will be the fifth Coronation since Wimbledon was first held in 1877, AELTC Chairman Ian Hewitt and Chief Executive Sally Bolton planted a commemorative oak tree on the Wimbledon Grounds this Wednesday 3 May.
The AELTC has a long and treasured association with the Royal Family, and the oak will create a lasting legacy of this Coronation year while also paying tribute to His Majesty’s fondness for nature.
Ian Hewitt, Chairman of the All England Club, added: “We are extremely proud of our longstanding connection to the Royal Family, and on behalf of all of us here at Wimbledon I’d like to extend our best wishes to His Majesty ahead of the Coronation.”
The Club has also invited the local community to commemorate the event, engaging local residents in celebrations including a free Coronation-themed Crafts in the Park event (29 April). 400 guests were welcomed to the proposed southern parkland, a key feature of the AELTC Wimbledon Park Project, to join in a range of family-friendly activities, including crown making arts and crafts.
The AELTC is helping communities across the local boroughs of Merton and Wandsworth embrace the spirit of the Coronation by supporting street parties with the donation of 50 Wimbledon Coronation prize bundles to the local area.
Ulrika Högberg, Head of Community Strategy at AELTC, said: “This is an historic moment in our nation’s history and we’re delighted to have played a small part in marking His Majesty’s Coronation with memorable, community-focused celebrations.”
His Majesty, together with Her Majesty The Queen Consort Camilla, most recently visited The Championships in 2012, where they watched Roger Federer play on Centre Court, and were greeted by players including former British No.1 Tim Henman.
