King Charles Coronation: Australians reflect on seeing Charles crowned as King

The Aussie funnyman explains the awkward way a selfie with Katy Perry came about inside Westminster Abbey. Watch video.

Few people get to snap a selfie with pop star Katy Perry — let alone at the King’s coronation, in a 700-year-old church.

But this image will be a lasting memory for the 14 “outstanding” Australians selected to accompany Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to the ceremony at Westminster Abbey.

Australian ballerina and patron of the Tait Memorial Trust Leanne Benjamin, who was among the cohort, cheekily let slip she was tempted to pull the King’s crown off his head when he filed past her.

“We were just so close, when the King walked past me, I could almost reach out and pull it off his head, I’d have loved to of tried it on,” she said.

Katy Perry, in lavender outfit, poses for selfies with Adam Hills and guests during the coronation. Picture: Getty Images

Comedian Adam Hills reflected on the service at his restaurant in Parsons Green, where he took some of his compatriots — including Merryn Voysey, who helped develop the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine — to celebrate.

Nick Cave with Team Australia at the coronation. Picture: Ella Pellegrini

“My three takeaways from the day are, three to one: I didn’t need the toilet; two, the silence before the crown was lowered onto Charles’s head, I’ve never heard anything like it; three, Katy Perry filming Lionel Richie, while we were all trying to get a selfie with her. What a relatable piece of history it all was,” the host of Channel 4’s The Last Leg said.

Julie Bishop looked stunning as always. Picture: Getty Images

Anthony Albanese and his partner Jodie Haydon. Picture: Getty Images

Richie was also a highlight for former foreign minister Julie Bishop, who was invited to the historic ceremony as chair of the Prince’s Trust Australia.

Not only did they sit next to each other in the second row — his vocals amazed, almost intimidatingly.

“Listening to him sing the hymns was quite something, but I gave it a crack,” he said

From left, David Hurley, Governer General of Australia, Linda Hurley, Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia and Jodie Haydon attend the coronation. Picture: Getty Images

GP Daniel Nour flew back to Sydney on Sunday, after admitting he was “blown away” by the experience.

“I’m so humbled to have been part of history in the making, I almost cannot bring myself to speak,” Dr Nour said.

“All that tradition, almost feudal like, I was blown away.

“It’s going to be hard getting back to real life after the pomp and ceremony of such a historic event.”

Originally published as King Charles Coronation: Australians reflect on seeing Charles crowned as King