King Charles III Coronation Freebies: A Guide to Promotional Offers and No-Cost Opportunities

The coronation of King Charles III in May 2023 prompted a wave of promotional activity across the United Kingdom and Canada, with brands and government entities offering various freebies, discounts, and events to mark the occasion. These offers ranged from free food and beverages to travel discounts, jewelry, and family activities. While many of these promotions were time-sensitive and tied specifically to the coronation weekend (May 6-8, 2023), understanding the types of offers that emerged during this period provides insight into how brands leverage major cultural events to engage consumers.

Food and Beverage Freebies

Several major food and beverage brands launched promotions centered around the coronation. These offers varied from name-based giveaways to general weekend deals.

Name-Based Promotions

A recurring theme in coronation marketing was the targeting of individuals sharing names with the royal couple.

HelloFresh: The meal kit service offered a free "Royal Box" to individuals named Charles or Camilla. To claim this offer, eligible participants were required to be among the first 62 to email [email protected] with their details and proof of their name. The Royal Box included menu items such as Ultimate Creamy Coronation Chicken, The Coronation Chic-King, King’s Coronation Garlic-Chilli Prawns, and King’s Coronation Chicken Sandwich.
Beaverbrooks: The high-street jeweller offered £100 gift cards to individuals named Charles or Camilla. This promotion was available at all 64 of its UK stores on May 6, 2023, provided customers brought proof of their name.
Cosy Club: A tweet from Worcester BID indicated that The Cosy Club offered a free cocktail to anyone named Charles, Camilla, or King (surname) during the coronation celebrations.

General Weekend Offers

Other brands provided deals available to the general public over the bank holiday weekend.

Burger King: The fast-food chain ran a buy-one-get-one-free deal on the Chicken Royale and Vegan Royale burgers from May 6 to May 8, 2023. The promotion was framed as a nod to the King’s supposed favorite menu item.
Tesco: The supermarket hosted a "coronation treat party" on May 6, 2023, offering free food and drink samples at selected stores. The event was designed to provide inspiration for royal-themed menus and recipes.
Pret A Manger: Club Pret members could claim a free coronation chicken bloomer or a free coronation egg bloomer on May 6, 2023. The membership also provided five hot drinks per day with a 30-minute interval between each.

Travel and Leisure Discounts

Travel and holiday companies also participated in the promotional activity, offering freebies and discounts to celebrate the coronation.

National Railcards: National Rail launched a giveaway for 100 free railcards, which provide a third off train fare. The offer was restricted to individuals with a "regal name," defined as a first and middle name or first and last name related to the monarch (e.g., Charles Philip, Charlie Phipps). The giveaway ran from May 5 to May 8, 2023, via National Rail’s Instagram page. The first 100 eligible entrants were to receive a free railcard.
Butlin’s: The seaside resort company offered a free mini break to individuals named Charles or Camilla. The offer included a package deal of premium dining and the chance to see 'The Masked Singer' live. The promotion was available at the resort of the winner's choice.
Warner Holidays: This company offered 10 two-night staycations "fit for a king" to individuals named Charles or Camilla.
National Rail (Prize Draw): In addition to the railcard giveaway, National Rail ran a prize draw for a two-night staycation. Entrants were required to comment on an Instagram post with their name, and the first 100 "regal" names were eligible to claim the prize.

Canadian Government and Cultural Freebies

In Canada, the provincial government of Ontario organized a series of free events and admission offers to celebrate the coronation.

Coronation Celebration at Queen’s Park: On May 6, 2023, the Ontario government hosted a free event on the south lawn of Queen’s Park in Toronto. The "Coronation Celebration: A Fun Royal Fair" featured family fun activities, complimentary food, and drinks courtesy of ‘Taste of Ontario’. The event followed a flag-raising ceremony, a 21-gun salute, and a drum circle at 11:15 AM.
Free Admission to Cultural Attractions: The provincial government offered free admission to day-use at 10 major cultural attractions and 39 provincial parks. Participating cultural attractions included:
- Art Gallery of Ontario
- Fort William Historical Park
- McMichael Canadian Art Collection
- Niagara Parks’ Butterfly Conservatory and Floral Showhouse
- Ontario Science Centre
- Royal Botanical Gardens
- Royal Ontario Museum
- Sainte-Marie among the Hurons
- Science North
- Upper Canada Village

Educational and Craft Resources

While not consumer product samples, several online platforms offered free educational resources and craft activities related to the coronation. These were primarily targeted at teachers and parents.

Top Teaching Tasks: This platform offered a free set of activities including a reading passage at two differentiated levels, a reading comprehension task, and a bingo game for students. These resources were designed to help cover the coronation in the classroom.
Teachers Pay Teachers: A free King Charles III Coronation Name Craft was available, allowing students to decorate crown templates and use letter gems to spell their names. The resource included crown templates, extenders, and gems with upper and lowercase letters.

Jewelry and Other Retail Offers

Beyond food and travel, other retail sectors participated with specific giveaways.

Beaverbrooks: As noted previously, the jeweller offered £100 gift cards to individuals named Charles or Camilla across its 64 UK stores on May 6, 2023.

Eligibility and Redemption Processes

The offers detailed above had varying eligibility criteria and redemption processes, which are critical for consumers to understand.

Name Verification: Many high-value offers (e.g., Beaverbrooks gift cards, HelloFresh boxes, Butlin’s stays) required proof of identity showing the name Charles or Camilla. Some promotions extended to variations or related names (e.g., National Rail’s "regal name" definition).
First-Come, First-Served: Several giveaways had limited quantities. For example, the HelloFresh offer was limited to the first 62 respondents, and the National Railcard giveaway was limited to the first 100 eligible entrants.
Geographic Restrictions: The majority of the offers listed were specific to the United Kingdom, with the exception of the Ontario government initiatives in Canada. U.S. consumers should note that these specific coronation promotions were not available in the United States.
Time Sensitivity: All offers were tied to specific dates around the coronation weekend (May 5-8, 2023). As these dates have passed, the offers are no longer valid.

Conclusion

The coronation of King Charles III served as a catalyst for a diverse range of promotional offers from brands across multiple sectors. The marketing strategies employed included targeted giveaways based on personal names, general public discounts over the bank holiday weekend, and government-sponsored community events. While these specific offers have expired, they illustrate a broader trend of how major cultural and national events are utilized by companies to generate consumer engagement through free samples, trials, and exclusive perks. For deal seekers, such events represent opportunities to access high-value freebies, though they often require quick action and specific eligibility criteria.