A CARLISLE man who set up a support group during the pandemic has been invited to go to the King’s coronation at Westminster Abbey.

Chris Armstrong set up Carlisle Covid mutual aid and received a British Empire Medal (BEM) for his charity work.

Chris is set to be one of just 2,000 inside the abbey for King Charles’ historic coronation – the first since the late Queen’s coronation in 1953.

News and Star: Chris' special coronation inviteChris' special coronation invite (Image: Chris Armstrong)“During Covid we set up the Carlisle Covid mutual aid and helped as many people as we could in Carlisle and Cumbria,” said Chris.

“It was just simple things like food shopping, getting medicine to folk and sending out care packages as people were genuinely struggling.

“I was nominated for a BEM, and it was in the Queen’s last ever birthday honours list. The invite said as I was a recent recipient of the BEM, we want you to be present at Westminster Abbey for the coronation.”

Chris is set to join members of the royal family, world leaders, politicians, celebrities and charity workers at the historic ceremony which is due to start at 11am on Saturday, April 6.

Despite the 11am start time, Chris is going to have to arrive at the Abbey as early as 7am to clear security checks, which have been described as the one of the biggest operations in history, before he takes his seat.

When asked about how he felt ahead of the service, Chris said the whole situation was ‘unbelievable.’

“I’m just a normal lad from Carlisle so to get an invitation is absolutely unbelievable to be honest,” said Chris.

“My girlfriend said to me that Prince Harry is now going to the coronation so I’m probably going to be sat on the back row with him!”

Plans are underway for coronation celebrations in Carlisle with a big screen being erected in Bitts Park by Cumberland Council to livestream the coronation service and the big concert over the special bank holiday weekend.