Violinist proud to represent Australia – in her own small way – at coronation
Australian violin virtuoso Madeleine Easton is preparing to leave her mark in history when she plays at King Charles’ coronation.
Royals
Don't miss out on the headlines from Royals. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Australian violin virtuoso Madeleine Easton is to play at the Coronation of King Charles III on May 6 in London.
Easton, the founder and director of Bach Akademie Australia, will perform with the English Baroque Soloists and Monteverdi Choir under the direction of Sir John Eliot Gardiner, her long-time mentor and patron.
King Charles, a passionate classical music lover, plays the cello himself.
He has had a long association with Sir John and has been the Royal Patron of the Monteverdi Choir and orchestra for many years.
Sir John and King Charles also share a love of organic farming and have over many years swapped farming techniques and breeding cattle in an effort to maintain the health of the English countryside.
Easton, a Sydneysider, will perform in the pre-service music with Sir John, who will conduct The Monteverdi Choir & English Baroque Soloists in a pre-service program of J.S. Bach & Anton Bruckner.
“I cannot tell you what it means to me personally to be part of this historic moment in time,” Easton said.
“To be a small part of such a great and long-standing tradition, dating back to 1066, is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
“I am also greatly honoured to be representing Australia – in my own small way.”
KING CHARLES IN ‘POLITICAL CONTROVERSY’
The British Government has said there is no room for negotiation to Rishi Sunak’s new Brexit deal amid mounting criticism King Charles was dragged into political matters when meeting the European Commission president the day the agreement was reached.
No10 Downing Street said the Government believes it has “secured the right deal for all parties in Northern Ireland” and it is ready to answer “questions about how it works in practice”.
It comes as criticism grows over the monarch welcoming Ursula von der Leyen for tea at Windsor Castle on Monday prompting the Democratic Unionist party and some Conservative Brexiters to accuse the prime minister of dragging the monarch into politics, calling the moment “crass” and “controversial”.
There was anger among some politicians with former Brexit opportunities minister Jacob Rees-Mogg denouncing the prime minister for involving King Charles in the “immediate political controversy” on the day the new agreement – the Windsor framework – was sealed.
The former Democratic Unionist party (DUP) leader and former first minister of Northern Ireland Arlene Foster said the meeting in Windsor Castle was “crass and will go down very badly”.
DUP’s chief whip Sammy Wilson was scathing of the timing of the meeting, saying it risked “dragging the king into a hugely controversial political issue”.
Foreign secretary, James Cleverly has rejected claims the king was drawn into political matters when meeting the European Commission president after a new Brexit deal was agreed.
He told LBC radio: “Ursula von der Leyen is a very senior international representative. It is therefore not unusual as part of our hospitality to international guests to facilitate a meeting.
“It was our invitation for Ursula von der Leyen to come to the UK to finalise this deal with the prime minister. Of course that was a conversation we had with the palace. The final decision on the availability of his majesty is with the palace.”
Asked who had called the meeting with Von der Leyen and the King, Cleverly told Sky News: “Decisions about the king’s diary are, rightly, for the palace.”
Ahead of ascending the throne last year, the activist king, often criticised for political interventions, said he would refrain from political debate
Mr Sunak suggested on Tuesday that he will soar ahead with the deal even if the DUP rejects it.
The Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman said: “We think we have secured the right deal for all parties in Northern Ireland.
“We stand ready to have further talks with those parties if they have questions about how it works in practice, indeed, we did a great deal of that in the run up to this announcement.”
LANDMARK BREXIT DEAL SEALED
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has sealed a landmark new Brexit deal aimed at facilitating trade with Northern Ireland amid talks with the European Commission president.
Mr Sunak emerged victorious from talks with EU President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday saying they had struck a “new way forward”.
“Today’s agreement delivers smooth-flowing trade within the whole United Kingdom, protects Northern Ireland’s place in our union and safeguards sovereignty for the people of Northern Ireland,” Mr Sunak said.
Ms Von der Leyen left the meeting for an audience with King Charles at Windsor Castle while Mr Sunak briefed cabinet members and the Democratic Union Party on details of the new deal.
The agreement on changing the controversial Northern Ireland Protocol to the fresh “Windsor Framework” was reached after tense negotiations in Berkshire on Monday morning but both parties emerged smiling and shaking hands for waiting press cameras outside.
A Downing Street source said the deal involves changes to the existing Brexit withdrawal treaty with the EU, which Brussels had discounted.
Under the terms of the agreement the EU has agreed to do away with checks and paperwork on most goods and produce sent from Britain to Northern Ireland.
The EU has also agreed to remove more than ninety per cent of single market rules on products made in Northern Ireland on condition they are not exported to the Republic.
Northern Ireland will still have to follow future EU legislation but this will only be imposed after talks with London and Belfast.
At a press conference earlier, Mr Sunak said: “The United Kingdom and European Union may have had our differences in the past.
“But we are allies, trading partners, and friends, something that we’ve seen clearly in the past year as we joined with others to support Ukraine. This is the beginning of a new chapter in our relationship.”
He went on, “For a quarter of a century the Belfast Good Friday Agreement has endured because at its heart is respect for the aspirations and identity of all communities.
“Today’s agreement is about preserving that delicate balance and charting a new way forward for the people of Northern Ireland.
“I am standing here today because I believe we have found ways to end the uncertainty and challenge for the people of Northern Ireland.”
It is understood the deal contains “significant and far reaching” concessions from the European Union that would safeguard Northern Ireland’s place within the United Kingdom and recapture certain powers for Britain.
Until now Northern Ireland was forced to follow certain EU rules rather than those set at Westminster.
Furious members of the Democratic Unionist party and Tory Brexiters have accused the prime minister of pulling the monarch necessarily into politics.
The former DUP first minister Arlene Foster said she “cannot quite believe that No 10 would ask HM the king to become involved in the finalising of a deal as controversial as this one.”
She described the move as “crass” adding it was not the king’s decision but the government’s.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said it was not unusual for the king to meet world leaders and he was “pleased” to greet any visiting Britain on government’s advice.
More Coverage
Originally published as Violinist proud to represent Australia – in her own small way – at coronation
Meghan’s dig at royals amid anniversary of Queen’s death
While the royals attended a church service to mark the second anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s death, Meghan Markle was mingling with celebrities at a book event. See photos.
‘Stressful’: King’s health update ahead of Aussie tour
The health of King Charles is under scrutiny as he marks a poignant milestone after a turbulent year for the royals.