A well-known member of the Pakistani society is invited to the King’s coronation.

LONDON: Atif Ali, a young British-Pakistani man, was asked by the Royal family to attend the coronation of King Charles III. He thought it was “surreal” when he got the offer.

Ali was one of the few people who were called to the coronation of the King at Westminster Abbey on May 6. Queen Elizabeth II praised Ali two years ago for his work during the COVID-19 lockdown, when he did a lot to help people in need in the community.

“Out of the blue, I was asked to attend the event. The mood was great, and it felt great to be there. Ali told Geo News, “At first, I thought the invitation was a spam email. I couldn’t believe I was invited.”

The picture of the invitation to the King’s Coronation that British-Pakistani teenager Atif Ali got. —Taken by the author
The picture of the invitation to the King’s coronation that British-Pakistani teenager Atif Ali got. —Taken by the author
“I’m thrilled to be able to go to the event. This showed how different and different Great Britain is. When I got the offer, I was happy and proud. It was an important time in history. After the 1950s, this took place. Inside, there was a lot of joy and fear. There was also some fear, but everything turned out fine,” he said.

Ali got the British Empire Medal in 2021 as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for his work in the Birmingham community during COVID-19. He was one of the 2,000 people who were called to Thursday’s ceremony.

During the pandemic, Ali helped disabled children and adults. For this, he was given an award.

“My dad came to this country in the 1980s. He worked in a factory. He is happy that Buckingham Palace asked me to come. He never imagined that one of our family members would be at Westminster Abbey for the crowning. My friends ask me over and over again to send them pictures of Kate, William, and Harry. I told them we can’t take pictures inside, so they should watch it on TV!”

Atif, who was born and raised in Small Heath and now lives in Birmingham, started the Birmingham Pakistani Report in 2022.

The study, which will come out in June 2023, will tell what the Pakistani people in Birmingham need and want. He has been working with the town council to help people in need, and his work has been recognized.