Prince Charles has said he hopes that “bickering” does not return after a feeling of “togetherness” across the nation over the Platinum Jubilee weekend.
The Prince of Wales made the comments while he and wife Camilla mingled with guests at the Big Jubilee Lunch in The Oval cricket grounds, which was just one of several celebrations taking place across the country to mark The Queen’s 70 year reign.
Around 16,000 parties are expected to have taken place over the four day long weekend, bringing together communities across the UK in a show of solidarity and celebration for Her Majesty’s years of service.
The event at the Oval honoured 70 volunteers from the Royal Voluntary Service's Platinum Champions Awards, who are recognised as Platinum Champions.
On the milestone occasion, Charles and Camilla presented each volunteer with a pin and certificate to mark their achievement, before getting stuck into a stunning cake adorned with Union Jack flags, London red buses, Big Ben and even some corgi dogs.
But it was a conversation with Sarah Friar, CEO of neighbourhood app Nextdoor, who was among the lucky guests to meet the Prince that sparked hope among many residents.
“He said at the end how great it was that everyone comes together this weekend,” she told PA.
“We see it with neighbours, right? I’m from a company called Nextdoor, so people coming together with the best coming out. People who don’t know each other are out having fun.”
Sarah, who is originally from Sion Mills in Co Tyrone, said that Charles commented: “When it comes to Monday are we going to go back to all the bickering again? Let’s hope we don’t do that.”
She then replied that it was a “a wonderful thought” for all of us.
Gemma Snow, from the Eden Project, also reiterated the Prince’s commitment to the sentiment.
She was lucky enough to be sitting next to Charles at the lunch for a few minutes, with Gemma explaining he kept talking about “keeping that togetherness going”.
So far the Jubilee Celebrations appear to have done just that, with thousands of people joining forces in all corners of the country to host street parties and community events to mark the once in a lifetime milestone for a reigning monarch.
Across four days of exciting celebrations, people around the country have been treated to plenty of tea, cake and frivolity, but also to elaborate military parades featuring performers from across the commonwealth, toe tapping tunes from award winning musical acts and perhaps most poignantly an appearance from The Queen herself.
As the four day celebration drew to a close the monarch appeared on Buckingham Palace’s balcony as she listened to a rendition of the national anthem in her honour.
Despite appearing emotional at times, the Queen continued to smile, waving to the thousands of fans that had come out to celebrate her momentous and enduring reign on the British throne.
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