It’s the once-in-a-generation event that will attract some of the biggest names from the worlds of politics, celebrity and high society.
And despite his attempts to ‘slim down’ the occasion, the guestlist for the Coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey on May 6 is believed to be around 2,000-people strong.
It’s no secret that the list – as of very recently – now includes Prince Harry, who will be flying in from Montecito, California, leaving behind his wife Meghan Markle and their two children Archie and Lilibet.
It will also include fellow monarchs from Europe, including the statuesque King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain, who promise to add to the pomp and pageantry of the affair.
A host of British celebrities who have contributed to the Coronation or who have close ties with the Royal Family will also make an appearance for the historic service in central London.
King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla at the State banquet at Bellevue Palace as part of the British royal couple’s state visit to Germany
King Charles’ official coronation invites were designed by Andrew Jamieson, a heraldic artist and manuscript illuminator, and a Brother of the Art Workers’ Guild, of which the King is an Honorary Member
Some of the famous invitees are rumoured to include David and Victoria Beckham, who would join confirmed guests such as Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden and legendary composer Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Below is the most exhaustive and up to date guestlist for Charles’ coronation next week.
British royals
With Charles the reigning monarch, Prince William is now heir to the throne.
As a result, he and Princess Catherine are set to play an important part in the ceremony – which will see them officially become the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Their nine-year-old son Prince George has been handed a notable role in the ceremony, too, as one of Charles’ four Pages of Honour.
George will be required to carry the King’s robes alongside three other Pages of Honour – schoolboys Lord Oliver Cholmondeley, 13, Nicholas Barclay, 13, and Ralph Tollemache, 12. All three are sons of His Majesty’s friends.
Prince William will be the only royal liege at the ceremony, and only he will kneel to ‘pay homage’ to the King, before touching the crown and kissing his father’s right cheek
Prince Harry will be flying in from Montecito, California, leaving behind his wife Meghan Markle and their two children Archie and Lilibet (pictured together)
The Queen Consort’s pages of honour all come from Her Majesty’s family. They include her grandsons Gus and Louis Lopes, 13, and Freddy Parker Bowles, 12. Pictured: Freddy stands in the foreground with twins Gus and Louis behind
Growing up together: Prince Harry with Eugenie (centre) and Beatrice (left) at a Buckingham Palace Garden Party in May 2019. The pair remain close even though he lives in California. All three will meet again at the coronation on May 6
Prince William and Princess Kate of Wales, Duke Edward and Duchess Sophie of Edinburgh and Harry and Meghan at the Commonwealth Day service in March 2020
Princess Anne has also been entrusted with an important role during the Coronation, and will ride horseback behind the newly crowned King and Queen’s carriage as it travels down the Mall. While her husband Sir Timothy Laurence has no formal role, he will be in attendance
The Wales’ other children – Louis, 5, and Charlotte, 7 – will also be inside the Abbey for the service.
Because she is being crowned as Queen, Camilla has made her three grandsons – twins Gus and Louis Lopes, 13, and Freddy Parker Bowles, 12, as well as her great-nephew, Arthur Elliot, 11 – Pages of Honour.
The Duchess of York also revealed that she had not yet received an invitation to attend the coronation, although Prince Andrew has.
After much speculation, Prince Harry will be attending his father’s coronation, although where exactly he will be seated remains to be seen.
He will likely be seen chatting with Prince Edward now the Duke of Edinburgh – who will be attending with his wife Sophie.
The popular couple were seen happily interacting with Harry and Meghan at Westminster Abbey at the Commonwealth Day service in March 2020.
The King’s only sister, Princess Anne, has also been given a starring role in the coronation procession.
The Princess Royal, who is a former Olympic equestrian, will ride horseback behind the gold state coach that will carry Charles and Camilla down The Mall.
This role is formally given the title of Gold-Stick-in-Waiting, a position that has historically been given to the person trusted with looking after the Monarch’s safety.
While no plans have been announced for the Princess’ husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, to have a formal role during the service, he is expected to attend.
Other royals set to fill the front pews inside Westminster Abbey will be princesses Eugenie and Beatrice and Zara and Mike Tindall.
Celebrities
Perhaps the biggest star at the coronation will be US singer Katy Perry, who will be performing for the King and his dignitaries.
And the 38-year-old’s husband and Pirates Of The Caribbean star Orland Bloom, 46, and their two-year-old daughter Daisy will be there to cheer her on.
It comes after Perry was appointed ambassador of The British Asian Trust, a charity founded by Charles, in 2020.
Perry, who will be staying at Windsor Castle, told Extra’s Melvin Robert: ‘I’m an ambassador to one of his foundations for the British Asian Trust, which primarily focuses on ending child trafficking, which is a huge issue of our time that people don’t talk enough about, and it just aligned with all my values… He asked me to sing and it all aligned.’
Katy Perry has been offered an overnight stay at Windsor Castle as part of a deal to perform at the King’s Coronation Concert next month
Katy Perry’s husband and Pirates Of The Caribbean star Orland Bloom (pictured), 46, and their two-year-old daughter Daisy will be there to cheer her on
David and Victoria Beckham – who met the late Queen on multiple occasions – are also rumoured to be on the list, but have yet to be confirmed
HRH Queen Elizabeth II meets England soccer captain David Beckham on November 19 2002, during a reception for the Football Association held a Buckingham Palace
David and Victoria Beckham – the former of whom met the late Queen on multiple occasions – are also rumoured to be on the list, but have yet to be confirmed.
Meanwhile Absolutely Fabulous star and OBE Dame Joanna Lumley, 76, received her invitation as a guest of Charles and Camilla.
After the ceremony, Dame Joanna will be joining the Sky News’ coronation line-up, which includes royal events commentator Alastair Bruce and presenters Kay Burley and Anna Botting.
The Repair Shop’s Jay Blades MBE this week revealed he’s been invited to the King’s coronation – as he asked his fans ‘what they think?’.
Taking to his Twitter and Instagram accounts, the presenter and furniture restorer, 53, showed off his invitation to the historic event on May 6, at Westminster Abbey, and encouraged his followers to comment their thoughts on the matter.
Father-of-three Jay, who is now based in Ironbridge, Shropshire, after growing up in poverty in Hackney, is Co-Chair of Heritage Crafts Association (a national charity aiming to safeguard craft skills), of which King Charles is President.
Other stars attending include Amanda Holden, Strictly Come Dancing judge Motsi Mabuse and the show’s first ever deaf contestant Rose Ayling-Ellis.
All three will be mentors for the 300-strong choir set to perform at the ceremony.
The Repair Shop’s Jay Blades MBE has revealed he’s been invited to the King’s coronation (pictured together on the BBC programme in 2022)
Dame Joanna Lumley will present coverage of the celebrations on Sky News after attending the ceremony as a guest of Charles and Camilla (PA)
Amanda Holden will be one of the mentors for the 300-strong choir at the King’s coronation
Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber (pictured) has written one of the 12 new pieces of music commissioned by the King for his coronation and will naturally be among the guests at the service
Britain’s Prince Charles met Andrew Lloyd Webber during a visit to the Royal Albert Hall to discuss the arts and creativity in school, in London on Wednesday, September, 5, 2018
Strictly Come Dancing judge Motsi Mabuse is mentoring the coronation choir
Comedic legend Rowan Atkinson and Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes will also be there.
‘I will definitely be going,’ former athlete Holmes told the Mail earlier this month. ‘I don’t know what I’ll be doing yet, but I’ll be involved somehow.’
Speaking at a red-carpet event in Mayfair, Dame Kelly, who is honorary colonel of the Royal Armoured Corps Training Regiment, added: ‘No one knows who does what at this stage, and I’m also a colonel in the Army.
An anthem written by composer Andrew Lloyd Webber is one of 12 new pieces of music commissioned by the King for his coronation, meaning the legendary songwriter was long guaranteed to be on the list.
Six orchestral commissions, five choral commissions and one organ commission have been created by British composers whose styles include classical, sacred, film, television and musical theatre.
Lord Lloyd-Webber, who is known for hit musicals including The Phantom Of The Opera, Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar, described himself as ‘incredibly honoured’ to have been asked to compose a new anthem.
Strictly winner Rose Ayling- Ellis will be among the mentors of the coronation choir
Comedic legend Rowan Atkinson (pictured with his partner Louise Ford) and Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes will also be at the coronation
He said: ‘My anthem includes words slightly adapted from Psalm 98. ‘I have scored it for the Westminster Abbey choir and organ, the ceremonial brass and orchestra. ‘I hope my anthem reflects this joyful occasion.’
A Coronation March has been created by Patrick Doyle, while a piece by Iain Farrington for the solo organ takes in musical themes from countries across the Commonwealth.
There will also be new works by Sarah Class, Nigel Hess, Paul Mealor, Tarik O’Regan, Roxanna Panufnik, Shirley J Thompson, Judith Weir, Roderick Williams, and Debbie Wiseman.
World of high society
Queen Camilla will be joined by her sister Annabel Elliot and her close friend Lady Lansdowne during the Coronation service next month, it was revealed last week.
The royal, 75, axed the centuries-old tradition of having ladies-in-waiting as part of her retinue last September – instead opting to have a fewer number of ‘Queen’s companions’.
In addition to having eight Pages of Honour, the Queen’s ‘companions’ Mrs Elliot, 74, and Lady Lansdowne, 68, will attend Their Majesties as part of the Coronation Service.
The Queen’s former husband Andrew Parker-Bowles will also be ‘front and centre’ of the congregation to watch his first wife be crowned next to King Charles. Pictured at the Cheltenham Festival in 2020, Andrew and Camilla remain close friends. One friend described them as ‘joined at the hip’
Queen Camilla’s son Tom Parker Bowles recently hit back at Prince Harry for suggesting Her Majesty was ‘dangerous’ and a ‘villain’ who ‘played the long game’ to get her hands on the crown. Pictured: Prince Harry and Tom Parker Bowles in 2008 near Hungerford
Queen Camilla will be joined by her sister Annabel Elliot (pictured together) and her close friend Lady Lansdowne during the Coronation service next month, it was revealed last week
Queen Camilla pictured with her close friend Lady Fiona Lansdowne at her home Bowood House in July 2002
The Queen’s former husband Andrew Parker-Bowles will also be ‘front and centre’ of the congregation to watch his first wife be crowned next to King Charles.
He and Camilla, who married in 1973, have two children, food critic Tom Parker Bowles and art curator Laura Lopes – both of whom will also attend.
Meanwhile, Edward Fitzalan-Howard, the 18th Duke of Norfolk, will naturally be present, given that he planned the King’s coronation.
Joining the ranks of nobility will be David Cholmondeley, the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley and his wife, Rose Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley; while their son, Oliver, will be one of eight pages of honour.
Simon Abney-Hastings, the 15th Earl of Loudoun, will be the Bearer of the Golden Spurs.
The Duke of Norfolk Edward William Fitzalan-Howard in his role as Earl Marshal
Joining the ranks of nobility will be David Cholmondeley, the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley and his wife, Rose Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley (pictured together in 2015)
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip follow David Cholmondeley at the State Opening of Parliament in November 2007
Prince William and Kate with Rose Hanbury and David and Rose Cholmondeley at a charity event in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, in 2016
The 7th Lord Carrington in front of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla at Westminster Hall in London in September 2022
Rounding out the nobles on the list are; Rupert Francis John Carington, the 7th Baron Carrington; Merlin Hay, the 24th Earl of Errol and the Lord High Constable of Scotland; Alexander Henry Scrymgeour, the 12th Earl of Dundee; Joseph Morrow, the current Lord Lyon King of Arms; Delaval Thomas Harold Astley, the 23rd Baron Hastings; Ian Campell, the 11th Duke of Argyll.
Foreign royals
The who’s who of European royalty have already confirmed they will be among the star-studded guestlist.
Among the first to RSVP was Prince Albert II of Monaco, who will be joined by his wife Princess Charlene.
Perhaps the most recognisable will be King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain, who have won international appeal in recent years – particularly Letizia, owing to her high fashion looks.
Queen Letizia of Spain and King Felipe of Spain will be among the foreign royals at the coronation (pictured attending a dinner hosted by Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands)
While Queen Margrethe II of Denmark is unable to make it following ‘extensive’ back surgery, she will send her son and daughter-in-law Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary in her stead. (Pictured: Queen Margrethe of Denmark, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark during the gala banquet on the occasion of The Crown Prince’s 50th birthday in 2018)
King Philippe of Belgium and Queen Mathilde of Belgium (pictured left) have RSVP’d to the coronation. King Carl Gustaf of Sweden (pictured right with Queen Silvia) will bring his daughter Crown Princess Victoria
Confirmed guests: Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg (left), and King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands
Prince Albert of Monaco became the first royal to publicly confirm his attendance at the event in January. Pictured with wife Charlene in June 2010
Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko of Japan have confirmed they will represent Emperor Naruihto at King Charles’ coronation next month
Many of the visiting monarchs will be bringing along their children, including King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, with his daughter Crown Princess Victoria, and King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, along with their daughter Princess Catharina-Amalia – although she will only attend the reception on the eve of the ceremony.
While Queen Margrethe II of Denmark is unable to make it following ‘extensive’ back surgery, she will send her son and daughter-in-law Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary in her stead.
Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway will be returning to the UK for the coronation, having been hosted by the William and Kate in Kensington Palace as recently as much.
Coming from much father afield are the Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko of Japan. They will be representing Emperor Naruhito.
Other confirmed royals from abroad include; Grand-Duke Henri of Luxembourg and Grand-Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg; King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium; Queen Anne-Marie, Crown Prince Pavlos and Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece; Māori King Tūheitia Potatau Te Wherowhero VII and Queen Te Atawhai; Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia and Margareta of Romania.
Politicians from home
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will of course be attending the ceremony on May 6 – although his now ex-deputy Dominic Raab’s attendance may be thrown into question following his recent resignation over a string of bullying claims.
Other top Cabinet Ministers will also be present, including Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and Home Secretary Suella Braverman.
A string of former PMs will also show their faces, including Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Theresa May, David Cameron, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair and John Major.
Rishi Sunak’s wife Akshata Murthy is set to receive an invitation to the ceremony, but the Prime Minister’s top team will have to go without their husbands and wives
Dominic Raab’s attendance may be thrown into question following his recent resignation over a string of bullying claims
Other top Cabinet Ministers will also be present, including Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and Home Secretary Suella Braverman (pictured)
Apart from Cabinet Ministers and other designated post-holders, only 50 MPs and 50 peers will be present.
Cabinet ministers were reportedly upset that they would be denied a ‘plus one’ to the King’s Coronation.
Organisers say space is extremely limited and the guest list will be similar to the Queen’s state funeral where very few politicians were able to take their partners.
Rishi Sunak’s wife Akshata Murthy is set to receive an invitation to the ceremony, but the Prime Minister’s top team will have to go without their husbands and wives.
The others will be compensated with a pre-Coronation visit by the King to the Palace of Westminster.
In the Commons, the ticket allocation for the Abbey was 27 for the Conservatives and about 17 for Labour. One Tory source said disappointed ex-Cabinet Ministers who had expected a seat were ‘particularly vocal’.
MPs and peers – or their spouses and partners – were also able to apply for one of 400 ‘Coronation pavement tickets’ to stand outside Parliament’s Carriage Gates and witness the Royal procession.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and First Minister of Scotland Humza Yousaf will also be there.
Politicians from abroad
President Joe Biden personally called King Charles III on April 3 to say he would not be attending the coronation, and that First Lady Jill Biden would attend on behalf of the United States. Mr Biden said he looked forward to meeting with Charles in the UK ‘at a future date’.
President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that he will attend the coronation, saying that he will make an appearance to show his ‘friendship, respect and esteem’ for the UK. It comes after Mr Macron had to ask the King to cancel the first planned trip of his reign last month over rioting in France due to his pension reforms.
Meanwhile, Germany will send president Frank-Walter Steinmeier instead of Chancellor Olaf Scholz – in a similar move to Italy sending president Sergio Mattarella – according to The Times.
Charles and French President Emmanuel Macron at Cop26 in Glasgow in November 2021
US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at the Queen’s funeral last September
The King with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen at Windsor in February
It comes after a row erupted this week after a Sinn Fein leader and a Chinese official who oversaw a civil liberties crackdown in Hong Kong were invited to the Coronation.
Michelle O’Neill, Sinn Fein’s deputy president and leader in Northern Ireland, was branded a hypocrite for saying she would attend. Her republican party has been accused of preventing Unionists from celebrating the historic occasion in Ulster.
And Tory China hawks led by former party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith branded it ‘outrageous’ that Chinese vice-president Han Zheng is also on the King’s guest list.
Mr Han dealt with Hong Kong affairs on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party and proposed the controversial extradition bill which sparked widespread protests in the territory.
By contrast, Lady Pamela Hicks, a bridesmaid to the late Queen whose father Lord Mountbatten was murdered by the IRA – of which Ms O’Neill’s party was the political wing throughout the Troubles – has been left off the Coronation guest list.
Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed last month that he had accepted an invitation from King Charles III to attend the coronation with the country’s Governor-General David Hurley.
Michelle O’Neill, Sinn Fein’s deputy president and leader in Northern Ireland, was branded a hypocrite for saying she would attend
Chinese vice-president Han Zheng is also on the King’s guest list. Mr Han dealt with Hong Kong affairs on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party and proposed the controversial extradition bill which sparked widespread protests in the territory
David Hurley, Governor-General of Australia, signs a book of condolence in London last year
Charles with Italy President Sergio Mattarella at The Quirinale Palace in Rome in October 2021
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, pictured in Switzerland in January, will attend
President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza in Manila in June last year
Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides, pictured at an EU Summit in Brussels last month
Borjana Kristo, chair of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mr Albanese also met the King last September while in London for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.
Meanwhile Borjana Krišto, the chair of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was confirmed on March 28 as the country’s official representative at the coronation.
Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides has been invited to attend the coronation, with a source telling the Cyprus News Agency this month: ‘Most probably he will attend.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will attend the coronation, it was confirmed on March 31. This is after the King received her at Windsor Castle on March 3. Roberta Metsola, president of the European Parliament; and Charles Michel, president of the European Council, will also attend.
From further afield, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend the coronation after confirmation from the foreign ministry in Islamabad which said he was invited by ‘the British government’.
President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos from the Phillippines have accepted an invitation to attend the coronation Buckingham Palace reception and will attend, the Malacañang Palace confirmed on April 3.
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