(c) London Zoo
Coronation weekend festivities: Saturday 6 May – Monday 8 May
Visitors are invited to celebrate the Kings and Queens of the animal kingdom in honour of the Coronation at London Zoo this May.
From Saturday 6 – Monday 8 May, zookeepers and volunteers at the iconic conservation zoo will join the nation in celebration of The King and Queen Consort’s historic Coronation, with visitors invited to join a jam-packed weekend of royal activities.
Discover the Kings and Queens of the animal kingdom at lively animal talks, coming face-to-face with more than 14,000 animals at the conservation zoo; from the Queen honeybee in Tiny Giants to Critically Endangered Asiatic ‘lion king’ Bhanu in Land of the Lions.
Kids can also get stuck into crafty crown-making and face-painting while grown-ups can take a guided tour exploring the historic zoo’s royal heritage.
Inspired by their day of wildlife, young conservationists will also be gifted a pouch of ecosystem-boosting wildflower seeds to take home, sow and watch bloom. In honour of The King – a life-long champion of wildlife and ZSL’s Vice Patron in his capacity as the Prince of Wales since 2014 – these tiny seeds will grow into new garden safe-havens for millions of our country’s insects, birds and small mammals.
London Zoo’s CEO Matthew Gould said: “We’re excited to celebrate the Coronation at London Zoo. The Royal Family have been part of our story since the start when we were granted our Royal Charter by King George IV in 1829. Since then every monarch, including the late Queen Elizabeth II, has served as our Royal Patron. Their support has made an enormous difference to our conservation work.”
Monarchs past and present have supported and visited London Zoo, the world’s first scientific zoo since it opened almost 200 years ago. The conservation zoo was a particular favourite of the young Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret during their childhood and – since joining ZSL’s Exceptional Young Zoologist Club aged just 13 – The King has been a long-time supporter of ZSL, the international conservation charity behind London Zoo.
Those after an extra unique day at the zoo can also channel their community spirit by signing up for a Big Help Out volunteering taster session at the Zoo on Monday 8 May, with activities ranging from preparing enriching activities for the red river hog to cleaning up after the pygmy hippos.
“We have an amazing team of volunteers at both London and Whipsnade Zoo,” Matthew added. “But we’re always looking for more animal lovers to support our work and help enthuse our visitors with a passion for wildlife. An official part of the Coronation weekend programme, The Big Help Out is the perfect opportunity to try something new and support ZSL’s mission to create a world where wildlife thrives.”
All additional Coronation activities are included with zoo entry and under 3s go for free, making London Zoo a great value royal day out this Coronation weekend. Book ahead today at www.londonzoo.org.
To join the Big Help Out, download the official app and search ‘London Zoo’ for opportunities.
