Civil servants who have contributed to delivering King Charles’s coronation will be among the recipients of a commemorative medal, it has been announced.
The design of the coronation medal was unveiled this morning – shortly before cabinet secretary Simon Case wrote to civil servants thanking them for their “tireless” work leading up to this weekend’s festivities – and features a double portrait of King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla
The nickel-plated medal – which has a version of the Royal Cypher, a laurel wreath and the date of the coronation on the reverse – "acts as a thank you gift from the nation to commemorate the coronation for the people who will make the historic service happen", the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said in a statement this morning.
Officials who have actively contributed to the official coronation events will be among around 400,000 people to receive the medal, along with long-serving emergency services staff and military personnel.
Serving members of the Armed Forces who have completed five years of service as of the Coronation Day on 6 May will receive a medal, along with personnel who participate in coronation events.
Civil servants who have spent five years in prison services are also eligible, along with police, fire and other paid and volunteer frontline emergency-services personnel who have served for the same period.
In a memo to civil servants this morning, the cabinet secretary said the title of the liturgy being used for tomorrow’s coronation service – “called to serve” – is the “driving force behind our modern organisation: selfless service”.
“And just as we supported Her Majesty the Queen throughout her 70-year reign, the civil service will unite in common purpose and with shared values, to deliver for the King and the people of the United Kingdom. Service to our communities is our core duty,” Case wrote.
“This weekend, the eyes of the world will once again be upon the United Kingdom at this historic moment,” the cab sec added.
“For us, it will be the culmination of the formal arrangements that began with the Queen’s funeral. We came together magnificently to honour her memory as civil servants, colleagues, friends, communities, institutions and nations. It has been remarkable to see the same happening for His Majesty’s coronation.
“Hundreds of civil servants will be volunteering to support the many processions and solemn rituals. Hundreds more have worked tirelessly throughout the last weeks and months – alongside our partners – to make sure that the country once again looks, and performs, at its absolute best.
“Your efforts are deeply appreciated both inside and outside this organisation, across the United Kingdom and beyond. Once again, I thank you for your service as we work together to fulfil the hope and opportunity of the next chapter in our great nation’s history.”
Announcing the design of the coronation medal this morning, culture secretary Lucy Frazer said it “will act as a reminder of the important part each person has played in this moment of history”.
“From our Armed Forces who protect our country to the emergency services who care for us at home, alongside those volunteers who are giving up their time to make this event so special, I am delighted that we can mark their contribution to this special day, and for each and every day that they go above and beyond serving their country,” she said.
Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden added: “The coronation would not be possible without the dedication and selfless service shown by our armed forces and other public servants. This medal is a fitting recognition of their efforts, and a thank you from the nation. It will be worn with pride for years to come.”