King Charles III’s Coronation: Prominent Australian attendees named
Football superstar Sam Kerr, arguably the best football player in the world and our leading goal scorer, is one of many prominent Australians invited by King Charles III to his coronation.
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Football superstar Sam Kerr, one of the best football players in the world and Australia’s leading goal scorer, has been invited by the King to attend the coronation among other leading Australians.
The Australian government has revealed the Matilda’s captain and forward for Chelsea football club will be in the pews of Westminster Abbey when King Charles is crowned next Saturday.
Kerr will lead a contingent of prominent Australians at King Charles’s coronation that includes the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, the governor-general, state governors and several other representatives at the event at Westminster Abbey.
Adam Hills Tweeted: “Never thought I’d be attending a Coronation with the Prime Minister and Nick Cave, but here we are.
“I can’t wait to watch the King of England be crowned, while sitting next to the Prince of Darkness”.
“I’m honoured to represent Australia at the coronation of the King and the queen consort, a historic occasion,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, adding, “I am proud to join a group of remarkable Australians who will also attend the coronation, showcasing our truly diverse and dynamic nation.”
In releasing details of the delegation, the government confirmed several events will be held in Australia to mark the coronation. On 6 and 7 May, significant buildings and monuments around Australia will be illuminated in royal purple while a national 21-gun salute will be conducted outside Parliament House in Canberra on 7 May.
Alongside her will also be principal ballet dancer for the Royal Ballet Leanne Benjamin who, in 2015, was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia, singer and writer Nick Cave and Wiradjuri-British artist Jasmine Coe, curator of Coe Gallery – the first and only Aboriginal-owned art gallery in the UK.
Comedian and disability rights advocate Adam Hills, known as host of Spicks and Specks and for his talk show, The Last Leg, will also witness the solemn and testimonial ceremony on May 6, as will GP Dr Daniel Nour, the founder of Street Side Medics, a not-for-profit, GP led mobile medical service for people experiencing homelessness.
Among other Australians invited by the king are public speaker Yasmin Poole, nurse Emily Regan, who worked for the UK’s National Health Service in the emergency department of a major hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic and Minette Salmon, doing a PhD in Genomic Medicine and Statistics at Balliol College, Oxford.
Claire Spencer AM is among the list of invitees and is an arts leader and the inaugural CEO of the Barbican Centre and was previously the COO for the Sydney Opera House and in 2020 she was conferred a Member of the Order of Australia for her outstanding contribution to the performing arts.
Professor Merryn Voysey, Associate Professor of Statistics in Vaccinology at the Oxford Vaccine Group, who helped to develop the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, has been had made the list as has Corporal Daniel Keighran VC, awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia for his actions during the Battle of Derapet in Afghanistan in 2010.
He is the third soldier to be awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia, and is the first member of the Royal Australian Regiment to receive the country’s highest military honour.
Richard Joyes CV was awarded the Cross of Valour in 2003 for his courageous efforts following the 2002 Bali bombing. Along with others, Richard helped to rescue the wounded and carry them to safety. He is the fifth recipient of the Cross of Valour.
Soprano Yvonne Kenny AM who debuted at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden in 1975 where she performed as a member of the company until 1994, had also been invited. She is now mentoring young singers.
More on the King’s Coronation invitees
Ms Sam Kerr OAM is a world-leading Australian athlete and Olympian. Considered one of the best football players in the world and Australia’s leading goal scorer, Sam is currently Captain of the Matildas and a forward for the Chelsea Football Club. In 2022 Sam was awarded an Order of Australia for her service to football.
Ms Leanne Benjamin AM OBE performed as a principal ballet dancer for the Royal Ballet for 21 years. In 2005 Leanne was awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of her services to dance and in 2015 she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia. Ms Benjamin is the Patron of the Tait Memorial Trust, an annual award given in her name to support young Australian and New Zealand dancers to train in the UK.
Mr Nick Cave AO is a singer, songwriter, actor, novelist and screenwriter. In 2017 Nick was named an Officer of the order of Australia for distinguished service to the performing arts, both nationally and internationally, and as a major contributor to Australian music, culture and heritage.
Ms Jasmine Coe is a Wiradjuri-British artist and the creator and curator of Coe Gallery – the first and only Aboriginal-owned art gallery in the UK. Jasmine has exhibited in over 20 exhibitions worldwide and is dedicated to supporting and celebrating Aboriginal artists.
Mr Adam Hills MBE is a comedian, presenter, writer and disability rights advocate. He is known as host of Spicks and Specks and for his talk show, The Last Leg. In 2022 Adam was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his services to Paralympic sport and disability awareness.
Dr Daniel Nour is the founder of Street Side Medics, a not-for-profit, GP led mobile medical service for people experiencing homelessness. Street Side Medics has 300 volunteers and 9 clinics across New South Wales. In 2022 Dr Nour was awarded Young Australian of the Year.
Miss Yasmin Poole is a public speaker, board director and youth advocate. Yasmin is currently a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University and a non-executive Board Director of OzHarvest and YWCA Australia.
Ms Emily Regan is a London-based nurse who worked for the UK’s National Health Service in the emergency department of a major hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ms Minette Salmon is completing a PhD in Genomic Medicine and Statistics at Balliol College, Oxford. Minette is studying at Oxford under the prestigious Wellcome Trust Studentship, and was the 2019 Charles Perkins Scholar. Minette’s research focuses on genetic engineering technologies and immune mediated diseases.
Ms Claire Spencer AM is an arts leader and the inaugural CEO of the Barbican Centre. Ms Spencer is also a passionate advocate for wellbeing and equity and a member of Chief Executive Women. She was formerly the COO for the Sydney Opera House and was conferred a Member of the Order of Australia in 2022 for her outstanding contribution to the performing arts.
Professor Merryn Voysey is Associate Professor of Statistics in Vaccinology at the Oxford Vaccine Group. Professor Voysey helped to develop the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, and was named Australian of the Year in the UK in 2022 in recognition of her brilliant career in medical research.
Corporal Daniel Keighran VC was awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia for his actions during the Battle of Derapet in Afghanistan in 2010. He is the third soldier to be awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia, and is the first member of the Royal Australian Regiment to receive the country’s highest military honour.
Mr Richard Joyes CV was awarded the Cross of Valour in 2003 for his courageous efforts following the 2002 Bali bombing. Along with others, Richard helped to rescue the wounded and carry them to safety. He is the fifth recipient of the Cross of Valour.
Ms Yvonne Kenny AM is one of the most distinguished sopranos of her generation. She debuted at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden in 1975 where she performed as a member of the company until 1994. In 1989 she was made a Member of the Order of Australia for services to opera. Ms Kenny is Chair of the Australia Music Foundation UK and as a Professor of Voice, she is now dedicated to mentoring young singers.
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