A Royal celebration: Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh with Blackburn with Darwen Mayor Cllr Suleman Khonat
Published Saturday 6 May 2023 at 10:22
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council’s Mayor is celebrating the Birthday of his lifetime today saying it was cause for a double celebration when he met the King earlier this week!
The Borough’s Mayor, Cllr Suleman Khonat, was invited with daughter Mayoress Hajra, to attend the King’s first Garden Party of his reign just days ahead of his Coronation.
Cllr Khonat, the borough’s first ever African-born Mayor, was over the moon at being able to talk to King Charles as he and Queen Consort Camilla welcomed thousands of royal fans to Buckingham Palace their first garden party since he became monarch and just days before their Coronation.
Joining The King for the seasonal festivities was Queen Camilla alongside the Duke & Duchess of Edinburgh, the Duke & Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent.
Commenting on meeting the Royal family: “It was just amazing when we met King Charles, Queen Consort Camilla and Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh,” he said.
“Thousands of people were there trying to get a moment to chat with the Royal family and then it just happened.”He recalled: “King Charles spotted my chains and asked what they were for, I explained I was a Mayor, he said Mayor of where? So I replied Blackburn with Darwen, he said with a smile that he could tell by the bees on the Mayoral chains, he said Blackburn is a great place and then said: Good old Blackburn!”
“He then asked how my year as mayor had gone, I said I’d had a brilliant year, albeit the sombre moment of the Queen passing. I said thank you for having your coronation on the 6th of May and for the additional Bank Holiday, he asked what the significance of the date was to me, I said it was my birthday, so he said well it’s a cause for a double celebration then!
“For many of us the Coronation of King Charles III will be the first time we experience a new monarch taking the throne, it’s a huge moment in history. This will be a memory that will certainly last a lifetime.”
Did you know, that interestingly, on the Blackburn Coat of Arms, the background of green is there to remind us of the time when Blackburn was one of the Royal Forests in the time of Edward the Confessor!
Last year Cllr Khonat was honoured to become the first African-born Blackburn with Darwen Mayor.
Cllr Khonat said: “When I became Mayor I was featured in headlines all over the world. My grandparents were from Gujarati, a place the size of Lancashire.
“And so it was a big deal in the Indian news but also in the African news. As a little boy from a small place like Malawi, where children there don’t even get to go to high school, becoming a Mayor really is seen as such a high standard.
“I’ve had such a fantastic year as Mayor of this borough and I sincerely hope that what I have achieved inspires a generation.”
As for the Mayor’s birthday today, he added: “I’ll be carrying out my civic duty with two formal engagements today and then the evening will be spent celebrating with my family. I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate being 63!
Among the crowds were dozens of the Queen Consort’s Coronation Champions Awards winners. The initiative, organised by the Royal Voluntary Service, has rewarded 500 of the country’s most dedicated volunteers.
Garden parties are held annually to create access for members of the Royal Family to meet with people who have contributed significantly to their communities.
The next Garden Party will take place on 9 May which will also be a celebration of the coronation, with Their Majesties due to host their Scottish party on 4 July.
The coronation of Charles III and his wife, Camilla, as king and queen of the United Kingdom will take place today, May 6 at Westminster Abbey. It will be the first coronation of a British monarch in the 21st century and will be the 40th coronation to be held at Westminster Abbey.
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- A Royal celebration: Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh with Blackburn with Darwen Mayor Cllr Suleman Khonat
Cllr Khonat is a passionate community supporter, volunteer and local Magistrate.
Over his Mayoral year he has carried out hundreds of public engagements, raising awareness and money for several local charities.
He was born and raised in Malawi, Africa. He has lived and worked in Blackburn with Darwen since 1976.
Cllr Khonat has selected three main charities to support during his year in office: East Lancashire Hospice, Nightsafe and Anaphylaxis Awareness.
Happy Birthday Mr Mayor! Long live the King!