Indian-Origin Chef Among British Empire Medal Winners To Attend King Charles’ Coronation

An Indian-origin chef, Manju Malhi, is among the British Empire Medal (BEM) winners on the royal invitation list for King Charles and Queen Camilla’s Coronation ceremony in London next month, Buckingham Palace announced on Saturday, as per PTI.

Malhi works with a senior citizens charity in the UK and was awarded a BEM for services to the community in London during the COVID-19 response will join 850 BEM recipients as well as other community champions and charity representatives from across the UK at the ceremony to be held in Westminster Abbey on May 6.

Malhi is a professional chef who, since 2016, has acted as the Resident Chef for the charity Open Age, which champions an active life for senior citizens in London, helping them sustain their physical and mental fitness, maintain an active lifestyle and develop new interests .

“Manju turned Open Age’s kitchen into a cookery school and restaurant for members and staff, and offered remote cookery classes during COVID-19,” the palace statement notes.

“Manju also leads Open Age’s community Big Local Family Cooking Club. The sessions are fun, interactive and an opportunity for local residents from all backgrounds to come together, make a meal and eat together as a community family,” the palace announced.

Malhi has come up with what she describes as a “Brit-India” style of food, which mixes Indian and western influences.

The late Queen Elizabeth II awarded the chef BEM, an honor conferred on those who support a local charitable and voluntary activity or innovative work that has delivered a real impact in the community, PTI reported.

This time around BEM particularly recognizes the contribution to the local community. As per PTI, the palace said many of the 450 BEM recipients attending the Coronation Service were instrumental in providing services and support to their local communities during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The Coronation which is going to be organized on a grand scale will include a series of celebratory events all weekend long between May 6 and 8.

The Coronation will take place at St Margaret’s Church, Westminster Abbey, in London. Also known as “the Church on Parliament Square” it is a 12th-century place of worship.