King Charles’s Coronation: A Modern and Multicultural Affair
As the May 6 date approaches, preparations are well underway for King Charles’s Coronation. While the final guest list is yet to be confirmed, the event promises to be a modern and multicultural affair, reflecting the society we live in today. The Coronation will be a slimmed-down event compared to that of Queen Elizabeth II’s in 1953, with only around 2,000 guests expected in Westminster Abbey.
British Royal Family
However, nearly the entire British Royal Family will be in attendance. Members from across the family, including extended cousins and grandchildren, will be present, even the youngest members of the family, such as Prince Louis, posing a challenge for their parents about how to control them. While it is unknown whether the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will attend, they have been in correspondence with the King’s office regarding the Coronation. In the event that they do attend, it is presumed that their visit will be brief. It is now confirmed that neither Archie nor his sister, Lilibet, will travel to London for the ceremony.
Queen Consort’s Family and Friends
Camilla’s family will also receive equal billing at the Coronation, and her five teenage grandchildren are expected to be thrust into the limelight for the first time with official duties. While the Queen wanted her grandchildren to hold the canopy over her while she is anointed with holy oil, Palace sources suggest that no such role will be given to them. Meanwhile, the Queen Consort’s six companions – her replacements for the previous ladies-in-waiting – will also attend the event. These companions were appointed to support and accompany Her Majesty on key occasions.
Foreign Royals
Members of foreign royal families are also expected to be invited, in a historic break with tradition. Convention dating back centuries stated that a coronation should be a sacred ceremony between a monarch and their people in the presence of God. However, King Charles is doing away with this tradition and inviting his counterparts from around the world.
Inviting the King of Jordan, the Sultan of Brunei, the Sultan of Oman, and the Scandinavian royals, who are all friends of Charles, is a good bit of soft power and diplomacy, according to a source. Some international royals have already indicated that they will attend the ceremony, including Prince Albert of Monaco. Speaking to People magazine, the monegasque head of state expressed his excitement about the upcoming event.
British MPs and Peers
Parliamentarians have been in uproar over the news that only a small minority of them will be invited to the ceremony itself. However, the Cabinet Office is keen to ensure that attendees are representative of all parties, geographical locations, ages, and backgrounds. Consequently, the final decision about which peers and MPs will make the cut will be made by the Cabinet Office.
Foreign Heads of State
The heads of state and representatives from a number of key British allies and Commonwealth nations are expected to attend the ceremony. Polish President Andrzej Duda is the first head of state to be confirmed as attending the event. However, the most notable absence may be US President Joe Biden, whose attendance is reportedly in doubt.
Members of the Public
Representatives from many of the King’s charity affiliations and a large cross-section from the voluntary sector will be present at the ceremony. In addition, refugees and the NHS will be at the heart of the star-studded concert taking place at Windsor Castle on May 8, the day after the Coronation. The performance of the Coronation Choir, a diverse group drawing together singers from the nation’s community choirs, including refugee choirs, NHS choirs, LGBTQ+ singing groups, and deaf signing choirs, is set to be one of the highlights of this event.
Conclusion
King Charles’s Coronation promises to be a modern and multicultural celebration, with guests from all walks of life in attendance. While the final guest list remains to be confirmed, the event is shaping up to be a historic one, setting a new precedent for the relationship between monarchs and their subjects.
