Katy Perry will perform at King Charles’ coronation concert
In a surprise twist, the headliner for Charles’ coronation is a massive American star.
US singer Katy Perry will star in the Coronation concert at Windsor Castle — with the crowd including the new King and Queen.
Charles and Camilla will be joined by Kate and William for the celebration, which will feature a spectacular drone display, reported The Sun.
Perry — who lives on the same Montecito estate as Harry and Meghan — was announced yesterday along with Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, who will duet with Welsh opera star Sir Bryn Terfel.
The concert, taking place the day after the Westminster Abbey service on May 6, will be screened live by the BBC.
It will also include soul pianist Alexis Ffrench and singer-songwriter Freya Ridings.
The Sun has already revealed Lionel Richie had signed up, as well as Take That’s Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen.
The BBC is promising even more star names will be announced over the next three weeks, despite claims some of the world’s biggest singers had turned them down.
Katy, 38, who has a child with her British actor fiance Orlando Bloom, became an ambassador for Charles’s British Asian Trust three years ago to help child trafficking victims.
Last night, she said she was “excited” to be performing at the coronation concert and to “help shine a further light on the Trust’s Children’s Protection Fund”.
She and Kent-born Orlando bought their place in Montecito months after the Sussexes bought their $US14 million mansion there.
British star Freya, 28 — whose debut album was streamed more than a billion times globally — said: “I feel truly overwhelmed and in awe of the opportunity.
“It feels like a ‘pinch me’ once-in-a-lifetime moment and I’m feeling very honoured to have been asked.”
Andrea Bocelli, 64, said: “I have had the great honour of singing for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on several occasions.
It is now another great honour to be asked to perform at the coronation concert of King Charles III.
“My joy and excitement is multiplied as I have the chance to duet with my dear friend and superb baritone, Sir Bryn Terfel.”
Artists will be backed by musicians including a 70-piece orchestra, and a “house band” comprising the Massed Bands of the Household Division and the Countess of Wessex’s String Orchestra.
Viewers will also get to see the 300-strong Coronation Choir, which was formed from amateurs in BBC reality show Sing For The King.
Celebrity coaches Amanda Holden, Motsi Mabuse and Rose Ayling-Ellis joined choirmaster Gareth Malone to prepare the choir for show.
They are due to perform alongside The Virtual Choir of singers from the Commonwealth.
The drone display follows a similar one at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee — becoming a highlight of the four-day bash after creating pictures of corgis and cups of tea in the sky above Buckingham Palace.
Charlotte Moore, the BBC’s chief content officer, said: “We are bringing the nation together for this once in a generation occasion.
“We have a world-class line-up of performers to look forward to for what promises to be a very special night of celebration and entertainment.”
A ballot was launched to reward 5,000 people from across Britain with tickets for the concert. Another 5,000 will go to charities.
The audience will also include volunteers from The King and The Queen Consort’s charity links.
Kate misses massive Charles moment
Buckingham Palace has rolled out the red carpet for a major reception - but the Princess of Wales was a no-show.
Royal arrested on suspicion of rape
The son of Norway’s Crown Princess has been detained for the third time in just a few months in the latest scandal to rock the palace.
Harry loses title to Camilla in wild reversal
The Queen and the Duke of Sussex have just gone through a truly extraordinary switcheroo.