King Charles draws hundreds in Lichfield after postponed visit

King Charles is back on the road and this time, he’s has has touched down at Lichfield Cathedral, bringing a royal splash of ceremony, community spirit, and history to the Midlands. 

Crowds have lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the monarch, who is celebrating local heritage and skills including a very special centerpiece: the Fenland Black Oak Table, known as 'The Table for the Nation.'

This colossal 13 metre long table is carved from a single 5,000 year old black oak, now on display in Lichfield for a year.

Inside the cathedral, King Charles is meeting invited guests, from volunteers to local choirs, in a scene that’s equal parts reverence and celebration. 

The Dean of Lichfield, the Rt Revd Jan McFarlane, called the visit “thrilling,” marking his first trip to the historic landmark since Queen Elizabeth II graced it 14 years ago.

It’s a particularly meaningful stop on the royal calendar, as the King was previously forced to postpone his trip to the region including a planned visit to the new Midland Metropolitan University Hospital while undergoing cancer treatment earlier this year. 

Now, fully back in action, he’s making up for lost time and lifting spirits along the way.

Later today, King Charles will make history of his own as he unveils the UK’s first national memorial saluting LGBT members of the armed forces a long overdue tribute to those once silenced by policy but never forgotten by service.

The moving memorial, shaped like a crumpled bronze letter, is etched with words drawn from the testimonies of those affected a haunting reminder of the pain and resilience woven through decades of discrimination.

Military charity Fighting With Pride called the moment “a powerful step forward in recognising the service and sacrifice” of veterans.