The Repair Shop’s Jay Blades reveals he’s been invited to the King’s coronation

The Repair Shop’s Jay Blades MBE has revealed he’s been invited to the King’s coronation – and has asked his fans ‘what they think?’. 

Taking to his Twitter and Instagram accounts today, 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. 

The duo also hit it off after the monarch appeared on The Repair Shop in 2022 as part of a special episode to mark the BBC’s centenary celebrations. After cracking jokes together, excited fans labelled them ‘the double act we didn’t know that we need’.

However, Jay’s inclusion among the 2,000 guests at the slimmed-down ceremony could ruffle some feathers after it emerged that Lady Pamela Hicks — who had been present at two Coronations — was not going to make it a hat-trick.

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)

Taking to his social media account today, Jay tweeted: ‘Look what the postman’s just delivered. Scared to open it. What do you think it could be?,’ alongside an image of an envelope with King Charles’ cypher on it.

Later sharing a snap of the invitation, he added: ‘I am of the opinion that my Life belongs to the Whole Community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. 

‘I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I LIVE. What do you think?,’ he concluded.

Fans rushed to comment on the posts on Instagram and Twitter, with one person writing: ‘The King must have thought a lot about you Jay! You deserve it and enjoy your day.’

Another said: ‘I think whatever your thoughts on the monarchy, this is a once in a lifetime event. 

‘And as well, on The Repair Shop episode with Charles, we saw you had a great exchange. He appreciates craft and craftsmen. I think that is an acknowledgement of the work you are doing. Go, enjoy.’

However, some weren’t so keen on the idea of one of their favourite presenters attending the event, with one writing: ‘Whatever you do Jay, don’t sell your soul,’ while another added: ‘They represent such obscene privilege, but you decide?’

But while Jay may already be picking out his outfit for the big day – Lady Pamela is one of the aristocrats who hasn’t been invited.

However, Jay's inclusion among the 2,000 guests at the slimmed-down ceremony could ruffle some feathers after it emerged that Lady Pamela Hicks (pictured with the bridesmaid dress she wore at Queen Elizabeth's wedding) ¿ who had been present at two Coronations ¿ was not going to make it a hat-trick

However, Jay’s inclusion among the 2,000 guests at the slimmed-down ceremony could ruffle some feathers after it emerged that Lady Pamela Hicks (pictured with the bridesmaid dress she wore at Queen Elizabeth’s wedding) — who had been present at two Coronations — was not going to make it a hat-trick

Taking to his Twitter and Instagram accounts today, 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

Taking to his Twitter and Instagram accounts today, 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

Lady Pamela  – whose father, the 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma was Prince Philip’s uncle – is one of only two surviving bridesmaids from Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip’s wedding in 1947.

She attended the Queen’s funeral in a wheelchair last September. Afterwards, her daughter, India, said her mother hoped to be one of the few people to have attended three coronations.

But on her 94th birthday last week, she received a telephone call from a secretary at Buckingham Palace, informing her that she had not been invited to the Coronation.

‘One of the King’s personal secretaries was passing on a message from the King,’ India Hicks said. ‘The King was sending his great love and apologies, he was offending many family and friends with the reduced [guest] list.’

The palace official ‘explained that this Coronation was to be very different to the Queen’s’ in 1953, when thousands more squeezed into the Abbey. 

‘Eight thousand guests would be whittled down to 1,000, alleviating the burden on the state.’

India, who is a goddaughter of King Charles and was a bridesmaid when he married Lady Diana Spencer, insists: ‘My mother was not offended at all. ”How very, very sensible,” she said. Invitations based on meritocracy not aristocracy. “I am going to follow with great interest the events of this new reign”.’

After Lady Pamela, whose father was assassinated by the IRA in 1979, attended the funeral of her close friend Queen Elizabeth at Westminster Abbey, India said: ‘She might be the only living person to attend three Coronations.’ 

Reaction: Fans rushed to comment on the posts on Instagram and Twitter, with one person writing: 'The King must have thought a lot about you Jay! You deserve it and enjoy your day.'

Reaction: Fans rushed to comment on the posts on Instagram and Twitter, with one person writing: ‘The King must have thought a lot about you Jay! You deserve it and enjoy your day.’

However, some weren't so keen on the idea of one of their favourite presenters attending the event, with one writing: 'Whatever you do Jay, don¿t sell your soul,' while another added: 'They represent such obscene privilege, but you decide?'

However, some weren’t so keen on the idea of one of their favourite presenters attending the event, with one writing: ‘Whatever you do Jay, don’t sell your soul,’ while another added: ‘They represent such obscene privilege, but you decide?’

Lady Pamela was eight when she was taken to see George VI being crowned in 1937.

King Charles’s apparent desire to make his Coronation ‘meritocratic not aristocratic’ has caused anguish in the upper echelons of society, according to The Daily Mail’s Richard Eden

The Duke of Rutland recently voiced his surprise and bafflement that he and most of his fellow dukes had not received invitations.

The Duke, whose father attended two coronations, told the Daily Mail’s Eden Confidential column: ‘I have not been asked.’ 

He said he did ‘not really understand’ why, adding: ‘It has been families like mine that have supported the Royal Family over 1,000 years or thereabouts.’

Financier Ben Goldsmith, whose family have been close to the royals for decades, warned that the King was in danger of giving in to ‘drips and dullards’ by ‘watering down’ his Coronation.

‘No amount of watering down will ever be enough for the drips and dullards who really want this kind of thing abolished altogether,’ said the financier, whose sister, Jemima, was one of Princess Diana’s best friends.

‘They represent a small, chippy minority who, for now, can be easily ignored. For the rest of us who enjoy the beauty of these ancient ceremonies, go big or go home.’

Goldsmith added: ‘Apparently, peers have been told they aren’t allowed to wear their coronation robes at the Coronation next month. Some, including our local one here, the Duke of Somerset, haven’t been invited at all.

‘I really hope it won’t end up being a watered-down affair. Britain does these kinds of celebrations so well, and they matter to a huge number of people, not just here but around the world.’

Pamela was informed on her 94th birthday that she had failed to receive an invitation to the Coronation of King Charles III

India Hicks revealed how her mother was phoned by Buckingham Palace to tell her the news

Lady Pamela Hicks with then-Prince Charles in 2000 in London's Knightsbridge at the unveiling of an Blue Plaque commemorating the Earl and Countess Mountbatten of Burma

Lady Pamela Hicks with then-Prince Charles in 2000 in London’s Knightsbridge at the unveiling of an Blue Plaque commemorating the Earl and Countess Mountbatten of Burma

India Hicks accompanies her mother Lady Pamela Hicks as they arrive at Westminster Abbey ahead of The State funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on September 19, 2022 in London

India Hicks accompanies her mother Lady Pamela Hicks as they arrive at Westminster Abbey ahead of The State funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on September 19, 2022 in London 

At Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation, the senior peer of each ‘degree’ — the duke, marquess, earl, viscount and baron with the oldest titles — ‘paid homage’ to the new monarch. 

And Goldsmith believes it’s a mistake for the King to try to downplay such traditions.

‘There is an ugly kind of self-hatred in calls for the watering down or eradication of the ones which are unique to our society,’ said the son of late tycoon Sir James Goldsmith and Lady Annabel, a marquess’s daughter.

‘Thankfully, it’s only a small, slightly depressing minority, for the time being. Fingers crossed they are completely ignored.’

The other surviving bridesmaid from the Queen’s wedding is the 86-year-old Princess Alexandra of Kent – who was Queen Elizabeth II’s first cousin and daughter of Prince George, Duke of Kent.

Princess Alexandra is a working member of the Royal Family so will have been invited and will be on the Buckingham Palace balcony after the coronation ceremony. 

But Lady Pamela’s lack of invitation to the coronation reflects attempts by Charles to pursue a pared-back service amid his plans for a slimmed-down modern monarchy. 

Prince Andrew’s ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York has also not been invited to the Coronation – but is expected to attend the concert at Windsor Castle one day later.

Buckingham Palace announced recently that Prince Harry will attend the Coronation alone, with his wife Meghan choosing to remain in California with Prince Archie – who turns four that day – and Princess Lilibet, one. 



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