Lots people in Charlton have fond memories of either meeting members of the Royal Family or celebrating different Royal events. Here, in pictures, words and films we share some of these memories.

Christine Hennings remembers the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

I remember the coronation of Elizabeth the Second as being a very wet day. My dad hired an enormous TV with a tiny screen, obviously all black and white. I remember being in our small kitchen watching it with loads of neighbours who turned up with their chairs. We had tea out in the road. Then I went to Prentiss Court and joined in their party, dressed as the Queen of Hearts (my cousin lived there.) In the evening some men came in our house and took our piano into the street. My auntie played the piano and there was lots of singing and dancing. I remember that my mum and dad went down to the Royal Oak pub for a drink, the first time I ever saw them go in there.

Sometime later, I’m sure I saw the Queen travelling down Shooters Hill road but I might have dreamed that! We had a street party in Thorntree School. My mum helped organise the party with several other mums.

A Deputy Lieutenant remembers

Cyril Young is a former Deputy Lieutenant of the Royal Borough of Greenwich. He served for 15 years between 1998 – 2013. In this video he shares some of his happy memories.

Memories of the Late Queen Elizabeth II by Jane Lawson

Jane remembers meeting Queen Elizabeth in 2000 when she was invited to a reception at Buckingham Palace. Read her story in this article from the News Shopper.

Jane also shares the guidance she was given on the protocols for meeting the Queen as well as some memories of the day.

Jane also tells us: I remember the coronation too. It was a week before my First Holy Communion and of the two mine was most fun. I remember rolling around the floor, bored out of my skull at my Aunties while the grown-ups watched the Coronation, in front of a tiny television and handed out sandwiches and made cups of tea. It was cold and wet.

Paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

Some of the young people at St Thomas’ Church gave their own tribute to Queen Elizabeth II following her death in 2022. See their story in this film

The Tuesday Group remember

The Tuesday Group and Heathwood Gardens Community are frequent visitors to St Thomas’s. Last year, the Heathwood Gardens Community group commemorated the death of Queen Elizabeth by holding a candle lit vigil in the churchyard.

The Tuesday Group recently recalled their memories of the death of George the Sixth, one member recalling that she remembered the adults around her shocked and solemn, while she, aged thirteen, wondered what all the fuss was about. Another member of the group recalled that Princess Margaret had visited Woolwich to open the largest car park.

The Group shared similar memories of the last coronation, small televisions costing a lot of money broadcasting the service from Westminster Abbey, fish paste sandwiches, tea, cakes and bunting. They recalled a spirit of optimism following the dark days of the Second World War and a feeling of hope for the future.

Ringing the bells for King Charles III

On the morning of the Coronation of King Charles III, Alison rang the bells at St Luke’s. We hope you enjoy this special version of the National Anthem