COVENTRY celebrated the Royal Wedding in style with street parties, a special choir performance and an unexpected invite.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle got married on Saturday (May 19) as wedding fever swept the nation.
Stoke Heath and Mount Nod were among the neighbourhoods who held street parties.
It was also a special week for Coventry’s Gosp-ability choir which gave its long awaited performance on BBC TV’s One Show in honour of Prince Harry’s ‘Heads Together’ mental health campaign.
Sandra Godley, an acclaimed Coventry gospel singer, assembled a special choir of 26 individuals who had overcome mental illness or physical disability to perform in honour of the royal couple.
She was also sent a message of support by the Prince himself.
She said last week: “I am incredibly proud of every member of the Gosp-Ability choir. They have all shown such grit and determination over the last few weeks.
“I’ve watched them grow in confidence and they really have become a close knit family.”
Rashid Bhayat, founder of the Positive Youth Foundation (PYF), also had royal responsibilities as one of the lucky Coventrians who was invited to attend the wedding.
He believed his charity had made an impression with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge when they visited the city.
He said: “It was amazing, the weather was perfect, the set-up was flawless – it was a good day out.
“But what really mattered to me was the chance to profile the work that we do with young people at the PYF – and ensure that we continue to bang the drum for young people and make sure that they get the support and investment they need.
“The Royal family are on quite a similar mission at the moment with some of their charitable work.
“It is a sign the Royals are forward looking and have values around supporting society’s more vulnerable people.”
There were signs of Coventry elsewhere on the wedding day as the Archbishop of Canterbury wore the Coventry Cross of Nails on his suit – the city’s international sign of peace and reconciliation.
There was also a special wedding at Coombe Abbey where Sarah Holgate and Jay Balchin happened to tie the knot on the same day as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Sarah, 29 and Jay, 27 said it was a pleasant surprise when the Royal couple announced their wedding and a lovely coincidence – but didn’t hesitate to clarify that they had set the date first.
Sarah said: “We had the date sorted and booked Coombe Abbey back in 2016, so when Prince Harry and Meghan announced their date we got so many texts from family and friends, but luckily no one has received clashing invitations.
“But it is a fantastic coincidence and it will be a lovely story to tell that our wedding day was on the same day as Prince Harry and Meghan – we definitely won’t forget the date that’s for sure.”
