This is an event where the British superstars will be conspicuous by their absence. Ihe BBC revealed on Friday 14 April which artists would be present during the concert produced by him (BBC Studios) on the occasion of the coronation of Charles III. The lucky ones are Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. This eclectic poster will perform in front of 20,000 people at Windsor Castle on Sunday May 7, the day after the coronation. Around them, other artists will come to save British honor: thus will be present the boy band “Take That” (without its founder Robbie Williams), the singer Freya Ridings, the pioneer composer of classic soul Alexis Ffrench but also Welsh opera singer Sir Bryn Terfel.
Choices that seem to have a close connection with the past prerogatives of Charles as a prince. Lionel Richie was thus the first global ambassador of the charity The Prince’s Trust (founded by Charles in 1976) while in 2020, Katy Perry was appointed – creating a controversy – ambassador for children within the British Asian Trust , a group of prominent British business leaders from Asia also set up by the former Prince of Wales.
The sequel after the ad
The show of excess
“The concert will celebrate a new chapter in the nation’s history, with themes of love, respect and optimism, celebrating the four nations, their communities and the Commonwealth”, underlined the BBC, partner of the coronation. Accompanying the American stars, a choir made up of amateurs from different communities – lifeguards at sea, taxi drivers and reggae groups – will push the song. And, 2023 obliges: a virtual choir bringing together representatives of the Commonwealth will also be organized, a sort of Zoom conference of the former Crown territories. The highlight of the “Lighting up the Nation” show will be a light show with drones, lasers, projections and illuminations.
The unifying event, however, has so far generated very little enthusiasm among a British public more concerned about a year of soaring prices and facing a serious social crisis. The jubilee of the 70 years of reign of Elizabeth II is still in everyone’s mind and had already marked by its excess. An audience of stars had performed in front of Buckingham Palace for the occasion: Queen + Adam Lambert, Alicia Key or even Diana Ross. Even Elton John had recorded a tribute.
That said, 46% of Britons still think they will watch the broadcasts or participate in certain planned celebrations (neighborhood parties etc.). The coronation itself will take place on May 6 at Westminster Abbey. It will be held in front of 2,000 guests and should last one hour, in a more modest format than that of Elizabeth II (8,000 guests and three hours). Many crowned heads and foreign leaders will be present, such as French President Emmanuel Macron. Joe Biden will be represented by his wife Jill and Prince Harry, at odds with the royal family, will come without his wife Meghan.
That said, 46% of Britons still think they will watch the broadcasts or take part in certain planned celebrations (neighbourhood parties, etc.). The coronation itself will take place on May 6 at Westminster Abbey. It will be held in front of 2,000 guests and should last one hour, in a more modest format than that of Elizabeth II (8,000 guests and three hours). Many crowned heads and foreign leaders will be present. Emmanuel Macron himself will be present on behalf of France while Joe Biden will be represented by his wife Jill and Prince Harry, at odds with the royal family, will come without his wife Meghan.
