The Reverend Matthew Price, a recipient of the British Empire Medal, will attend the coronation next month.
The coronation invitations have arrived, and one local vicar is overjoyed.
The Reverend Matthew Price, vicar of Gorleston’s Mary Magdalene church since 2018, was happy and startled when he received an invitation from Buckingham Palace to attend King Charles and Queen Camilla’s coronation.
“I knew it was coming because I got an email a few weeks ago, but I was taken away by the elegance of the invitation when it arrived – it’s amazing!” Price shares his family’s narrative from his home in Gorleston, Norfolk (about three hours east of London). “The thought of being there in person is just fantastic – it’s a historical moment, something we haven’t seen in 70 years!”
Price, 45, has been invited to the historic occasion at Westminster Abbey on May 6 as a recipient of the British Empire Medal, a distinction he obtained in 2020 as a result of his diligent community engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our church became a major food hub, giving food for those who couldn’t find food on their own,” Price explains. “At its peak, we were distributing over 100 food boxes per week and working with a team of roughly 100 volunteers.”
Price and his wife were invited to a garden party at Buckingham Palace last summer after being presented with the medal by the Lord Lieutenant.
“It feels like the gift that keeps on giving,” he quips, adding that his wife is overjoyed for him despite his lone invitation.
In fact, the entire neighborhood is buzzing about his brush with royalty.
“When the post lady brought it, she exclaimed, ‘I suppose it’s from the King!’ because it had the King’s monogram in the corner.”
Locals from his church have taken turns photographing the weighty, golden invitation to present to their families.
“What’s amazing is that I live and work in a really poor community, and the fact that someone from our community will be at this event is absolutely extraordinary,” he says.
Due to the early start of the event (guests must be seated in the Abbey by 7.30 a.m. – 3 1/2 hours before the ceremony begins! ), Price will spend the night in London and will proudly display his BEM medal.
He expresses his excitement for the following events: “The music, without a doubt. I’ve read that many new pieces have been produced, and I believe the music would be fantastic in a place like Westminster Abbey, which has exceptional acoustics.”
