Prince William, Princess Catherine, and children attend Coronation rehearsal
Lionel Richie’s warm exchange with King Charles at a Buckingham Palace garden party was overheard ahead of the Coronation concert. Watch video.
Royals
Don't miss out on the headlines from Royals. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Lionel Richie enthusiastically declared “we’re walking in history right now” as he met King Charles and Queen Camilla at a Buckingham Palace garden party.
The Hello and All Night Long hitmaker will entertain guests at the Coronation Concert in Windsor on Sunday.
Richie, 73, joined invited guests with his partner and model Lisa Parigi, 33.
The occasion marked King Charles and Camilla’s first garden party since becoming monarchs.
Wearing a top hat and tails, Richie earlier said the concert was “going to be so much fun”.
“This is a once in a lifetime so to be a part of it is everything. I’ve known His Majesty now for a couple of years,” he said.
“There are few times in life … the ‘84 Olympics [where he performed All Night Long], that was a billion people watching.
“So, I mean, how many in your career, there are Oscars and then there are Grammys and then there’s a Coronation … are you kidding me?!
“I mean, this doesn’t happen every day so am I excited about this? Absolutely!”
Camilla looked effortlessly elegant in a navy-and-white coat dress by British designer Bruce Oldfield – the designer who is reported to be creating her coronation gown.
As they arrived at the party, the King stood with a wooden umbrella to speak with his guests.
The pair then proceeded to work their way through the crowds – who have been specially selected by Palace aides.
As Camilla greeted Richie, she was heard telling the singer: “It’s very nice to see you.”
During their friendly exchange, the singer was seen placing his hand on Camilla’s shoulder as the group shared a laugh.
Many of the 500 Coronation Champions, recognised for their volunteering by the Royal Voluntary Service of which Camilla is patron, have been invited to the garden parties, as well as one of the official coronation festivities.
ROYALS ATTEND CORONATION REHEARSAL
King Charles, Camilla, Queen Consort, the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children have attended a Coronation rehearsal at Westminster Abbey in London.
Three days before the historical event, a relaxed-looking King Charles and Camilla headed to the venue with Prince William, Princess Catherine, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
The royal family was greeted by the Dean of Westminster and shown inside the gothic church, where King Charles and Camilla will be anointed and crowned on Saturday in front of 2300 guests and a global audience of millions.
Future king, nine-year-old Prince George, has the duty of being one of his grandfather’s pages of honour and is expected to be tasked with holding the train of King Charles’s regal robes.
Prince William will kneel before his father and vow to be his “liegeman of life and limb” in the only homage of royal blood of the ceremony.
The Monarch arrives at Westminster Abbey, joined by Prince William, Princess Kate and their children, in preparation for the Coronation as rehearsals get underway. pic.twitter.com/qPG1zNzo70
— The Royal Family Channel (@RoyalFamilyITNP) May 3, 2023
He will also help clothe the King in his golden robe royal, also known as the mantle, ahead of his crowning.
Prince Louis was spotted sitting next to Prince William in the back of a car as they left the rehearsal.
Also there were Camilla’s grandsons, who will act as her pages of honour.
The King’s sister, Princess Anne, also attended after visiting soldiers from The Household Division at Wellington Barracks in the morning as they prepared for their roles in the military processions.
The rehearsal in central London came after a man was arrested when suspected shotgun cartridges were thrown into the grounds of Buckingham Palace on Tuesday night local time.
Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said police and intelligence agencies are mounting a “very complex” security operation around the ceremony – with the eyes of the world set to be on the UK.
“The police are, to put it mildly, all over it and our intelligence and other security forces are extremely aware of the challenges that we face and ready to deal with them – as the police did quite brilliantly yesterday,” he told Times Radio.
Mr Tugendhat said the coronation is “an opportunity to showcase the United Kingdom to the world”.
With last-minute preparations ramping up, early morning rehearsals were staged in London, revealing the first glimpses of the grandeur of the coronation processions.
Hundreds of soldiers, many on horseback, marched from Buckingham Palace past Trafalgar Square and Downing Street to Westminster Abbey shortly after midnight on Wednesday local time.
The diamond jubilee state coach and gold state coach travelled down The Mall as part of the dry-run for the full event.
Royal fans waited for more than three hours for the parade to make a return trip.
Crowds ran through St James’ Park to find the best spots near the palace, with many trying to spot relatives in their military outfits.
Lambeth Palace later confirmed the Right Reverend Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich, and the Bishop of Hereford, the Right Reverend Richard Jackson, will serve as Bishops Assistant to Camilla during the coronation service at Westminster Abbey.
Already announced are King Charles’ Bishops Assistant – the Bishop of Durham, the Right Reverend Paul Butler, and the Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Right Reverend Michael Beasley.
More Coverage
Originally published as Prince William, Princess Catherine, and children attend Coronation rehearsal
Join the conversation
Charles to ‘stay out’ of Republic debate
The King has issued a surprising response to a question about Australia’s future ahead of his five-day tour to the country later this week.
Read more
Charles won’t stop Australia axing monarchy
As King Charles gets set to fly to Australia, a royal spokesman has claimed he won’t stand in the way of Australia dropping the monarchy despite his “deep love and affection” for the country.
Read more