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British RoyalsKing Charles III

Duchess of Cornwall to host street party to honour murdered MP Jo Cox

As part of a new community initiative, which has been launched by the Duchess of Cornwall and chef Jamie Oliver, a series of street parties, bake-offs and picnics will be held across the UK in honour of murdered Labour MP Jo Cox.

Called the ‘Great Get Together’, the gatherings will be held on the weekend of 17-18 June 2017 and are designed to unite friends, family and neighbours in what will be the largest local celebrations the UK has seen since the Queen’s diamond jubilee.

The Jo Cox Foundation and the Big Lunch – of which the Duchess of Cornwall is royal patron – will join the Duchess and Jamie Oliver at Clarence House in London today (Wednesday, 22 February) to encourage people to start organising their events. Representatives of a variety of community groups will also be in attendance at the Duchess’s London home.

MP Jo Cox’s widower, Brendan, has said that there could be ‘no more fitting tribute’ to his wife and that ‘Jo loved a party and she would have been thrilled by the idea of the Great Get Together…As she said in her maiden speech in parliament – we have far more in common than that which divides us. Jo wanted a chance to bring our communities together to celebrate what unites us.’

Ahead of the event Jamie Oliver was quoted as saying: ‘There’s nothing better than a good get together with friends, family and amazing food. The Great Get Together takes it to a whole new level.

‘Food connects us to the best things in life – it breaks down barriers, and gets people talking and sharing happy times like nothing else. This is an awesome initiative, and I’m really proud to add my support.’

The Big Lunch is part of the Eden Project, an education charity designed to connect people with each other and the living world in order to explore ways and means of working together towards a better future.