As the nation prepares for a multitude of street parties and celebrations to mark the coronation of our new King, the Echo looks back at al-fresco galas held in honour of Prince Charles.

There were street parties all over the country when Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer wed at St Paul's Cathedral on July 29, 1981.

A party at Northam First and Middle School, attended by 180 children, was among the many across the south.


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Daily Echo photographers attended many of the celebrations including 

Britons enjoyed a national holiday to mark the fairytale wedding and a crowd of 600,000 filled the streets of London to catch a glimpse of the royal couple.

Daily Echo:

Lady Diana, 20, arrived almost on time for the 11.20am ceremony after making the journey from Clarence House in a glass coach with her father, Earl Spencer.

The newlyweds then took the open-topped state landau to Buckingham Palace where they emerged on the balcony to give the crowds the kiss they had been longing to see.

Daily Echo:

Afterwards, Charles and Diana retired from the public gaze to enjoy toasts and a wedding breakfast with 120 family members.

A “just married” sign attached to the landau by Princes Andrew and Edward raised smiles as the married couple were driven over Westminster Bridge to get the train to Romsey in Hampshire to begin their honeymoon at Broadlands.

Daily Echo: