This weekend, most of us will be witnessing an event we’ve never seen before, the Coronation of our monarch. You’d have to be over 70 years old to remember the last coronation, such was the long and glorious reign of Elizabeth II. Across the constituency, families, friends, and neighbours will come together to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III.

I’m spending the day itself, and the day proceeding it, on duty in London. A number of us have to be available should we be needed. My aim, as I did for the funeral of our late Queen, will be to head to one of the parks to watch the spectacle. MPs and Peers were offered tickets to watch the event from outside Parliament but I’d rather do so in the crowds. Before that, I am helping to unveil a commemorative coronation train in Paddington. I’m also hoping to drop in on the British Transport Police team who will be busy ensuring our transport system is safe and secure. I will be back in the constituency on Sunday to give a reading at one of our local coronation church services.

I’m writing this column on local election day. This always involved an early start and I am currently sat on a bench in the recreation park in Peasmarsh, having taken a break from delivering local election leaflets reminding residents to cast their vote. Whilst it’s true that my leaflets are also lending an opinion on which candidates to vote for, I want to pay tribute to all who serve as Councillors. This is not an easy job to do but most I know do so out of public service and duty for their community.

By the time this column is published, we will have a view on who will run Rother District Council. Inevitably, some hard-working Councillors will not be returned. Candidates who have fought to be elected may fall short. I know how that feels. It took me two attempts before I first became a District Councillor. I then spent eight happy years on Wealden District Council, for whom I chaired the regulatory and audit committee. It was this role as a Councillor, representing 2,000 residents, which inspired me to give up my day job in the quest to represent 98,000 more as a Member of Parliament. To those District Councillors who are elected; congratulations to you. I look forward to working for the betterment of our community regardless of political colours. For those who have not been returned, thank you for your service or for putting yourselves forward. Don’t be put off by defeat. It’s part of the journey towards eventual achievement.

Back to King Charles III. We were very honoured to have him visit Parliament earlier this week. When I give tours in Parliament for charity, I explain the history of the building as it evolved from Royal Palace to the home of democracy. Initially, the role of Parliamentarians was to merely counsel and advise the monarch. As time progressed, Parliamentarians wanted more powers of their own and this is how the power of the monarchy was ceded to Parliament.

When the King entered Westminster Hall this week, he was immediately surrounded (or observers may say ‘mobbed’) by MPs and Peers keen to meet and exchange words. Watching on, and not finding it a particularly dignified experience, I was minded that little has changed in the almost 1,000 years since the Palace was first built. Back in the early times, Parliamentarians would be keen to thrust themselves upon the monarch of the day. Years may have passed but a determination to ingratiate, perhaps for mobile phone footage rather than patronage, remains to this current day. I decided to watch on from a short distance and will write offering my congratulations instead.

I hope that you and your family enjoy this amazing Coronation celebration. It is a chance to celebrate both the reign of our new King and the history, pageantry and ethos which knits our United Kingdom and Commonwealth together.