Photo: Manju Malhi
Manju MalhisaysKing Charlesis focusing his upcomingcoronationon the people rather than himself.
The cookbook writer and chef, 55, tells PEOPLE that she was expecting to watch the royal’s coronation on May 6 with her feet up and a cup of tea — before she was formally invited. “I thought it would be top viewing with the best seat in town,” she says. “And now I’m going to be there in an even better seat!”
She is one of many guests who had previously been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) honor for her work. Malhi’s presence, and that of hundreds of other ordinary people, “resonates with what the new monarch is thinking,” she says. “He is very empathetic.”
“We don’t do what we do because we want to be at the coronation, but because that is life now,” she adds. “And it can only help you if you help others as well.”
Manju Melhi
Noting how Charles is “making it a peoples' coronation as opposed to his coronation,” Malhi says, “He is promoting that sense of belonging.”
“It’s not all white, stuffy 1940s and ’50s attitude anymore. Britain has changed, and he’s reflected that,” she continues. “He wants the coronation to be not about him, but Britain and the diversity.”
“I imagine he feels overwhelmed and grateful that there were people like me, and lots of others, who were really helping out during the pandemic,” Malhi also notes.
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Like many others, the West London native pivoted during the COVID crisis and made her cooking classes for the charityOpen Age— which helps people over the age of 50 stay active, healthy and motivated — virtual.
“We had to think of ways of engaging with people. Especially the older members of society who were feeling isolated and vulnerable, with the rules that no one was able to go and visit,” Malhi details.
She adds, “We did ‘conference call cooking’ talking about food. That would cheer people up, and we’d check in on people to see if they had enough supplies.”
Malhi — who also works with charityC-Change West London— is known for her Anglo-Indian cuisine, but she also teaches how to craft healthy Mexican salads and stir fries with lots of vegetables and using low sodium soy sauce.
After her catering business ended in 2020, Malhi says, “The charities looked after me as well.”
Melhi is set to be included among the hundreds of people from around the U.K. who have been invited to attend Charles' coronation alongside foreign royals and heads of state.
The BEM honor is distributed at the local level for outstanding community service or achievement, celebrating exemplary volunteer or charity work with lasting impact.
source: people.com
