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Prince William planning a ‘very different’ coronation to Charles after ‘talks with close advisers’

Prince William's coronation will be nothing like his father King Charles, after the Prince of Wales held talks with advisers.

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Prince William is said to be already planning a “very different” coronation to King Charles after holding talks with close advisers.

The Prince of Wales wants to “evolve” the ceremony so that it is “modern” and “relevant”, according to The Sun.

He apparently wants to scrap the controversial “homage of the people” which Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby led at King Charles III’ Coronation on May 6.

Prince William, Prince of Wales speaks on stage inside Windsor Castle grounds at the Coronation Concert, in Windsor, west of London. Picture: AFP
Prince William, Prince of Wales speaks on stage inside Windsor Castle grounds at the Coronation Concert, in Windsor, west of London. Picture: AFP

A source close to Prince William told The Sunday Times: “There is no way he will go down that route or anything like it.

“He is really thinking, how do we make his coronation feel most relevant in the future?

“He is mindful of the fact that in 20 years’ time, or whenever his time comes, how can the coronation be modern but also unifying to the nation and the Commonwealth? I think his coronation will look and feel quite different.”

King Charles III, Prince William, and Prince George of Wales posing in the Throne Room of Buckingham Palace in London. Picture: AFP
King Charles III, Prince William, and Prince George of Wales posing in the Throne Room of Buckingham Palace in London. Picture: AFP

Prince William, 40, paid “homage of the blood” to his father King Charles during the coronation – swearing to be his “liegeman of life and limb”.

It is believed he was not closely involved in planning for the ceremony last week, and passed up the opportunity to have his own investiture ceremony as Prince of Wales.

The prince is understood to still want a coronation in Westminster Abbey like his father’s.

Prince William, Prince of Wales says he thinks a lot about the challenge of keeping the royal family “relevant.” Picture: AFP
Prince William, Prince of Wales says he thinks a lot about the challenge of keeping the royal family “relevant.” Picture: AFP

King Charles coronation itself broke with tradition by including leaders from other religions and Christian denominations – and by limiting the guest list to 2300 people, down from the 8000 who attended the Queen’s coronation in 1953.

In a 2016 interview with the BBC, Prince William said: “It occupies a lot of my thinking space as to how on earth you’d develop into something modern in today’s world.

“I think the royal family has to modernise and develop as it goes along, and it has to stay relevant.

“That’s the challenge for me, how do I make the royal family relevant in the next 20 years’ time?”

Originally published as Prince William planning a ‘very different’ coronation to Charles after ‘talks with close advisers’

Read related topics:King Charles IIIThe Royals

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/royals/prince-william-planning-a-very-different-coronation-to-charles-after-talks-with-close-advisers/news-story/05f7b846774f2f00a35cf5efbc0207f1