The British Embassy celebrated the coronation of King Charles III with a Sidewalk Celebration corresponding with Around the World Embassy Tour as part of Passport DC. Massive crowds of onlookers crawling up Massachusetts Ave and onto Observatory Circle took selfies in front of a 15-foot Big Ben, explored a photography exhibit of King Charles’ relationship with the US, and enjoyed a “coronation cake.” With the residence under construction, the gates to the embassy compound remained closed to the public, and the bees in its lush gardens could buzz undisturbed.
This is the first such open house the embassy has participated in since 2019, when it was then a prime feature in the EU Open House Day. With Brexit finalized on January 31, 2020, the UK embassy was no longer able to participate with the other European embassies. The pandemic cancelled Passport DC in 2020, and 2021 saw many embassies host virtual events. The residence, which shares grounds with the embassy, has been under renovation since 2020, which has prevented the UK from throwing the massive open embassy events that is has in years past.
While other embassies have hosted sidewalk events during Passport DC and EU Open House to complement their interior festivities, this entirely exterior function was something rare, if not entirely new. It was, by all appearances, a success.
Embassy spokeswoman Charlotte North told Diplomatica, “We were thrilled with how it went.” She added that the embassy hopes to be able to fully participate again next year, when the refurbishment work on the residence is complete.
