Royal visit to Kingston’s Coronation Stone to mark Queen’s Jubilee
HRH The Earl of Wessex visited Kingston’s historic Coronation Stone on Friday 8 July as the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations continued across England’s oldest royal borough.
The Earl unveiled a new information plaque commemorating the site where Aethelstan, first king of England, was crowned in 925 AD. He also met the winners of Kingston Heritage Service’s Jubilee Competition to design a new piece of commemorative memorabilia to be displayed in Kingston Museum. Local school children Erin Geraghty (age 12) and Alex Lin (age 9) won with their designs for a commemorative mug and plate.
School children and community groups from across Kingston came to welcome the Earl, and the visit was accompanied by music from the Kingston & Malden Scout and Guide band and Tiffin Girls’ School Choir.
The Earl’s visit also marked the official opening of Kingston’s new Jubilee Trail - a walking tour celebrating the borough’s rich royal heritage, created by Kingston Council along with the Friends of Kingston Museum, Kingston Tour Guides, the Kingston Society, All Saints Church and Creative Youth.
Leader of Kingston Council Andreas Kirsch said:
“It was an honour to welcome HRH Prince Edward to Kingston. It is a unique borough - the oldest royal borough in England, a vibrant and diverse place with a long history and strong cultural and community pride.
“We are immensely proud of our rich royal heritage, and place great value on embracing the strengths of our past to create a progressive and dynamic future for all those who live, work and visit our wonderful borough.”
The schools that attended were:
- St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School - Kingston
- Knollmead Primary School - Tolworth
- Park Hill School - Kingston
- Ellingham Primary School - Chessington
- Grand Avenue Primary School - Surbiton
- Burlington Junior School - New Malden
- King Athelstan Primary School - Kingston
