A truly A-list event. Celebrities including Lionel Richie and Jill Biden attended King Charles III‘s coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London on Saturday, May 6.
The “All Night Long” singer, 73, and the first lady, 71, were both present as Charles, 74, was officially crowned king. Other guests included French president Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and actress Emma Thompson, who was made a dame in 2018 for her services to drama.
The new monarch’s coronation was considerably smaller than the 1953 ceremony where his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, was crowned, with the palace sending only 2,000 invitations to his, compared to 8,000 for hers. Despite the more streamlined process, the festivities are still shaping up to be star-studded.
For the coronation concert on Sunday, May 7, the king and Queen Camilla will be honored with performances by Richie, Katy Perry, Andrea Bocelli, Sir Bryn Terfel, Take That, Freya Ridings, and Alexis Ffrench. The event — which will take place on the grounds of Windsor Castle — will be hosted by Hugh Bonneville.
“I’m delighted to be taking part in this unique event, celebrating the best of musical entertainment in honor of His Majesty’s coronation,” the Downton Abbey alum, 59, said in a statement last month. “In true British style, come rain or shine it will be a night to remember.”
Perry, 38, and Richie have known Charles for years because of their work with some of the king’s charities. Since 2020, the “Wide Awake” songstress has been an ambassador of The British Asian Trust, which the former Prince of Wales cofounded to tackle poverty in South Asia.
The “Hello” crooner, meanwhile, was appointed the First Global Ambassador and First Chairman of the Global Ambassador Group for The Prince’s Trust in 2019. Charles founded the organization in 1976 to help underserved youth find the resources to reach their full potential.
“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,” the BBC said in an April statement about the event, which will be broadcast live on the BBC and other networks.
One famous face in attendance at the concert will be Sarah Ferguson, who was not invited to the coronation ceremony. The Duchess of York, 63, was previously married to Charles’ younger brother, Prince Andrew. The former couple divorced in 1996 but remain amicable and live together at the Royal Lodge in Windsor.
“I personally will be having a little tea room and coronation chicken sandwich and putting out the bunting, that’s what I’m going to be doing,” Ferguson said during an April interview on Loose Women, noting that she’d watch the ceremony at home on TV. “I think it’s really great to be supportive big time and then when all the family come home, I know all the ins and outs from commentators on television!”
Keep scrolling for more photos of celebrities at the coronation:
