King thanks the nation for ‘glorious’ Coronation as he and Queen Camilla say they were ‘deeply touched’ at celebrations – as William releases new video showing him rehearsing concert speech
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The King and Queen were ‘deeply touched’ by yesterday’s coronation celebrations – and as millions of Brits continue the festivities today, Prince William has released a new video showing him rehearsing for his anticipated concert speech.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said King Charles and Camilla were also ‘proudly grateful’ to the hundreds of thousands of people who turned out across London, the UK – and around the world -to make it such a ‘glorious occasion’.
Their Majesties are resting today at Windsor Castle ahead of tonight’s glittering Coronation Concert, including a VIP reception for stars including Lionel Ritchie, Katy Perry and Take That beforehand.
Ahead of the concert, Kensington Palace has released a short 12-second clip of William laughing and smiling before a sound engineer can be heard telling him: ‘Ok, Prince of Wales. It’s time for your rehearsal.’
William then strides up to a microphone on the stage and looks out to the distance while clasping his hands before the video cuts off, leaving royal fans on a major cliffhanger over what he is preparing to say to the nation tonight.
The Prince of Wales (pictured) has released a new video showing him rehearsing his speech ahead of tonight’s concert at Windsor Castle
The King and Queen were ‘deeply touched’ by yesterday’s coronation celebrations. A Buckingham Palace spokesman said they were also ‘proudly grateful’ to the hundreds of thousands of people who turned out across London, the UK – and around the world -to make it such a ‘glorious occasion’. Above: The King and Queen wave to crowds from the Buckingham Palace balcony yesterday
The Prince and Princess of Wales are seen on the Buckingham Palace balcony with their cihldren Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, along with the Duchess of Edinburgh, her daughter Lady Louise, Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence
Before tonight’s concert, other members of the Royal Family are taking part in street parties across the country as part of a ‘Big Lunch’ initiative to bring communities together.
A spokesman for King Charles and Queen Camilla said: ‘Their Majesties were deeply touched by the events of yesterday and profoundly grateful both to all those who helped to make it such a glorious occasion – and to the very many who turned out to show their support in such numbers in London and further afield.’
The couple will attend tonight’s concert, which is being organised by the BBC and will feature a stage in the shape of a remarkable multi-layer Union flag.
The Prince of Wales is expected to take to the stage of give a warm speech about his father and step-mother.
Produced by BBC Studios Productions and hosted by renowned actor Hugh Bonneville, the concert will feature performances from Take That, Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, Tiwa Savage, Andrea Bocelli, Paloma Faith, Lang Lang, Nicole Scherzinger, Olly Murs, Pete Tong, Steve Winwood, Vula, Jerub, Sir Bryn Terfel, Freya Ridings, Alexis Ffrench and winner of The Piano, Lucy – whilst Bollywood star Sonam Kapoor will deliver a spoken word performance.
The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera, The Royal Shakespeare Company, The Royal College of Music and The Royal College of Art will come together for the first time ever to create a spectacular one-off performance featuring Ncuti Gatwa and Mei Mac.
Stars including Tom Cruise, Dame Joan Collins, Bear Grylls and Sir Tom Jones will be appearing via video message.
Tens of thousands of people are seen massed down The Mall yesterday as the RAF performs a flypast over head
Ten iconic locations will also be ‘connected’ through a choreographed display of light on May 7 as part of the official Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle.
From Edinburgh to The Eden Project, famous landmarks, areas of natural beauty and street parties will connect through an unprecedented live ‘Lighting up the Nation’ sequence using projections, lasers, drone displays and illuminations.
Blackpool, Sheffield, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Gateshead, Cornwall and Belfast – as well as some surprise locations – will form the centrepiece of the event being broadcast live from Windsor Castle across the BBC and produced by BBC Studios.
Actor James Nesbitt, who was awarded an OBE for his services to drama and the community in Northern Ireland, will perform a poem written specially for this occasion by Dalit Nagra, Chair of the Royal Society of Literature, as the sky lights up.
Over the weekend members of the Royal Family including the Prince and Princess of Wales, Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie will join in community Big Lunches as well as the Big Help Out volunteering initiative tomorrow.
Yesterday, the King and Queen set the seal on their incredible day by twice appearing on Buckingham Palace’s balcony to acknowledge the nation.
King Charles and Queen Camilla wave to crowds from the Buckingham Palace balcony yesterday
King Charles is seen wearing the Imperial State Crown as he leaves Westminster Abbey after his crowning
King Charles wears St Edward’s Crown and wields the Sceptre with Dove and Sceptre with Cross while sitting in the Coronation Chair
Charles and Camilla, in lavish robes and wearing their crowns, returned with a wave the cheers of the crowds who braved downpours during a ceremonial military celebration not seen for 70 years.
The Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, joined the monarch and his wife and then well-wishers were treated to an encore with just the King and Queen.
Making their first balcony appearance of the King’s reign, the couple looked relaxed after the momentous coronation, watched around the globe.
It was the fulfilment of Charles’ destiny, but followed the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, after a 70-year reign.
The event brought together around 100 heads of state, kings and queens from across the globe, celebrities, everyday heroes and family and friends of the couple.
Global popstars Richie and Perry were part of the 2,300-strong congregation, as was French President Emmanuel Macron, actresses Dame Judi Dench and Oscar-winner Dame Emma Thompson, presenters Ant and Dec and King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands.
Katy Perry was among the pop stars at Westminster Abbey and will perform today at the Coronation Concert
Lionel Richie is seen talking to Mayor of London Sadiq Khan inside Westminster Abbey
Pomp and pageantry were to the fore, with the Armed Forces staging the biggest ceremonial military operation since Queen Elizabeth’s 1953 coronation, culminating in a 4,000-strong coronation procession of servicemen and women from across the globe, that wound its way through the heart of the capital.
Charles’ grandson Louis, who turned five a few weeks ago, lighted the mood as he yawned and fidgeted during the ceremony, while big brother George was a page of honour helping to hold the long train of the King’s robe.
The historic moment came a few minutes past midday, when the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby placed St Edward’s Crown on Charles’ head and he became the 40th reigning sovereign to be crowned at Westminster Abbey, the nation’s coronation church since 1066.
The coronation was a spiritual and deeply personal event for the King, a ‘committed Anglican Christian’, who was anointed, seen kneeling at the abbey’s high altar and received homage from his son and heir, the Prince of Wales.
William’s interaction with his father, where he touched St Edward’s Crown then kissed the King on the right cheek, appeared a poignant moment for the head of state.
As William knelt before Charles, who held his son’s hand between his palms, the future monarch said: ‘I, William, Prince of Wales, pledge my loyalty to you and faith and truth I will bear unto you, as your liege man of life and limb. So help me God.’
King Charles and Queen Camilla wave to Crowds as they travel from Westminster Abbey in the Gold State Coach
The royal couple arrived at Westminster Abbey in the more comfortable Diamond Jubilee State Coach
The King’s estranged son the Duke of Sussex was among the congregation, sitting two rows behind his brother with the Duke of York’s family, and he was seen intently watching the crowning.
And when a few minutes later the congregation was invited pay homage to the new monarch, Harry spoke, along with the other royals around him, the words: ‘God save King Charles. Long live King Charles. May the King live forever.’
Charles delivered a King’s Prayer, the first time a monarch has spoken words to God aloud during a coronation, and he prayed to be a ‘blessing’ to people of ‘every faith and conviction’.
In his sermon the archbishop told the nation’s new monarch ‘we crown a King to serve’.
Mr Welby spoke of how ‘Jesus Christ was anointed not to be served, but to serve’ – adding: ‘The weight of the task given you today, Your Majesties, is only bearable by the spirit of God.’
The ceremony had five main elements: the Recognition; the Oath; the Anointing; the Investiture and Crowning; and the Enthronement and Homage, as well as the Queen’s coronation.
Tracing it roots back to the medieval period the Christian ceremony, not witnessed for 70 years when Queen Elizabeth was crowned, saw the King dressed in a series of garments signifying a symbolic journey which concluded with him anointed with holy oil during its most sacred moment and crowned.
It reflected the diversity of the of UK, with representatives from the nation’s faith communities playing an active role in the coronation of a monarch for the first in history.
Members of the crowd hold umbrellas as they stand down The Mall to celebrate the King’s crowning
But in a change, the controversial ‘Homage of the People’ element of the service was toned down after there was widespread criticism.
Mr Welby ‘invited’ a show of support from the congregation rather than a ‘call’ to those in the abbey and elsewhere to swear allegiance to the King.
At the end of the day ‘unsuitable weather conditions’ meant the planned flypast was curtailed to just the Red Arrows and a helicopter display which still enthralled the royals, who included the Princess Royal, Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and their children and the King and Queen’s pages of honour.
Charles who wore the Imperial State Crown and Camilla Queen Mary’s Crown, were among the last to leave the balcony during an appearance which lasted almost 10 minutes and saw the crowd sing along when the national anthem was played.
But they were back a few minutes later by themselves and received a cheer from the crowds as they waved.
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