Coronation news – latest: Public invited to swear allegiance to King as Thomas Markle gives ‘final’ interview about Meghan

With less than one week until the coronation of King Charles III, millions of people around the world have been invited to participate in the ceremony next Saturday 6 May.

Members of the public watching the coronation have been asked to cry out and swear allegiance to the new King, marking the first time they have been given an active role in the ancient ceremony.

During the ceremony, the Archbishop will ask “all persons of goodwill in The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and of the other Realms and the Territories to make their homage, in heart and voice, to their undoubted King, defender of all”.

As preparations for the coronation continue in full swing, a full list of people taking part in ceremonial roles during the ceremony has also been released.

Meanwhile, the Duchess of Sussex’s father Thomas Markle has given an interview in which he declared he would not be “buried” by her, and claimed they had not spoken in four years.

Coronation news – latest updates

  • Thomas Markle says he refuses to be ‘buried’ by Meghan

  • Read our five-star review of The Windsors Coronation Special

  • Everyone we know invited to King Charles’ coronation – from Prince Harry to Princess Charlene of Monaco

  • Meghan and Harry’s relationship is ‘toxic’, duchess’s estranged half-sister claims

  • Coronation Concert stage with Windsor Castle backdrop revealed as 20,000 set to attend

The fascinating history behind the chair King Charles will sit on at his coronation

04:00 , Ellie Muir

On 6 May, King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla will be crowned at Westminster Abbey as the world watches.

The monarch ascended the throne following the death of his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, last September. His coronation takes place more than 70 years after Elizabeth was crowned on 2 June 1953.

Kate Ng reports:

The fascinating history behind the chair King Charles will sit on at his coronation

When is the coronation of King Charles III?

01:40 , Ellie Muir

King Charles III’s coronation will take place on Saturday 6 May, 2023.

In a statement, representatives said: “Buckingham Palace is pleased to announce that the coronation of His Majesty The King will take place on Saturday 6 May 2023.

“The coronation ceremony will take place at Westminster Abbey, London, and will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Read the full story below:

King Charles coronation date, timetable and everything you need to know

Royal photographer explains what we can expect from King Charles’ coronation

Monday 1 May 2023 23:40 , Ellie Muir

A royal photographer has revealed what the British public can expect to see as the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla unfolds on Saturday 6 May.

Tim Rooke, who has photographed the royal family for Shutterstock for the past 30 years, tells The Independent that he believes the coronation will have “all the pomp and significance you’d expect of a royal event” despite being significantly smaller than the 1953 coronation of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Kate Ng reports:

Royal photographer explains what we can expect from King Charles’ coronation

What will Queen Consort Camilla wear to the coronation?

Monday 1 May 2023 23:00 , Ellie Muir

It is understood that the King will opt for a more modern choice of clothing for the ceremony. Instead of the traditional silk stockings and breeches worn in coronations past, it has been reported that the monarch will be crowned in his military uniform.

Therefore, it is expected that Camilla’s coronation dress will also be more modern compared to previous versions, which tend to include ornate designs and lavish materials.

Kate Ng reports:

What will Queen Consort Camilla wear to the coronation?

What happens in sacred anointing ceremony?

Monday 1 May 2023 22:00 , Ellie Muir

The King will not forego the most sacred part of the ceremony: the anointing of the sovereign. This tradition is so sacred that it was hidden from public view during Queen Elizabeth’s own anointing – and it has been revealed that Charles will do the same.

The mysterious anointing ceremony, known as the Act of Consecration, will take place before the investiture and crowning, and is carried out by the Archbishop. At Charles’s coronation, the Archbishop of Canterbury will be the one to anoint the King.

Read the full story below:

What will happen during King Charles’ anointing in coronation ceremony?

What’s the difference between Camilla’s Queen and Queen Consort titles?

Monday 1 May 2023 21:30 , Ellie Muir

Queen Consort Camilla will officially be named Queen Camilla at King Charles III’s coronation on Saturday (6 May).

The invitations for the King’s forthcoming coronation revealed Camilla Parker-Bowles’ new title. She was referred to as Queen Consort following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September last year.

The decision is unprecedented since the late Queen Elizabeth II said in February last year that it was her “sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort”. Buckingham Palace confirmed last month that Camilla will be known as Queen after the coronation.

Read the full report below:

What’s the difference between Camilla’s Queen and Queen Consort titles?

Prince Harry’s waxwork at Madam Tussauds reunited with royal family for coronation

Monday 1 May 2023 20:30 , Ellie Muir

A wax figure of the Duke of Sussex has been reunited with the rest of the royal family figurines at Madame Tussauds London as Harry returns to the UK for the coronation.

The 38-year-old announced, along with the palace, in April that he would be attending the crowning of his father, the King, and his stepmother, the Queen Consort, at Westminster Abbey on Saturday (6 May).

Read the full story below:

Prince Harry’s Madam Tussauds wax figure reunited with royal family for coronation

All the ways the coronation ceremony is expected to break from royal protocol

Monday 1 May 2023 19:30 , Ellie Muir

King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla will be crowned next month during a symbolic coronation ceremony.

Although there are many ways the coronation will be similar to Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 years ago and to her father King George VI’s coronation in 1937, there will also be a few key differences as King Charles announces departures from tradition.

Read the full story below:

All the ways King Charles’ coronation is expected to break from royal protocol

Meet the Pages of Honour and Ladies in Attendance at the coronation

Monday 1 May 2023 18:30 , Ellie Muir

The King and Queen Consort each have four Pages of Honour supporting them on the day of the coronation – schoolboys who are family friends or close relatives.

Prominent among them is Charles’s eldest grandson Prince George, the nine-year-old future monarch, as well as Camilla’s three grandsons.

The Queen Consort will also have two Ladies in Attendance – her sister Annabel Elliot and her trusted friend the Marchioness of Lansdowne – whose roles will be to support her through elements of the service.

Meet the Pages of Honour and Ladies in Attendance at the coronation

New screen will give King Charles privacy during coronation anointing

Monday 1 May 2023 17:30 , Ellie Muir

The King will have greater privacy than afforded previous monarchs during one of the most sacred moments of the coronation.

Charles will be shielded by a new partition, featuring an embroidered design celebrating the Commonwealth, when he is anointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury during his crowning on May 6.

Read the full story below:

New screen will give Charles privacy during coronation anointing

Photo of Charles at start of Cambridge studies released for first time

Monday 1 May 2023 16:30 , Ellie Muir

A photograph taken of the King for his matriculation at the University of Cambridge has been released for the first time.

Trinity College, Cambridge, where Charles studied for three years, shared the picture of the 18-year-old prince taken in October 1967, ahead of the coronation next week.

Photo of Charles at start of Cambridge studies released for first time

Camilla to wear Queen Elizabeth II’s crimson coronation robe for ceremony

Monday 1 May 2023 15:30 , Ellie Muir

Camilla will wear the coronation robes made for Queen Elizabeth II when she is crowned Queen Consort next Saturday 6 May.

Buckingham Palace has released new photographs and details about the coronation robes the King and Queen Consort will wear at the ceremony next weekend.

Read the full story below:

Camilla to wear Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation robe for crowning ceremony

Royal expert says he’s ‘interested’ to hear what William says about King Charles at coronation tribute

Monday 1 May 2023 14:30 , Ellie Muir

A royal expert has said that he is intrigued to hear what William will say about King Charles and Queen Camilla at the coronation tribute.

Prince William is expected to make a “heartfelt and loving” tribute to his father King Charles III and step-mother Queen Camilla after the coronation concert at Windsor Castle on Thursday (7 May).

Read the full story below:

Royal expert predicts what William will say about Charles at coronation tribute

Thomas Markle says he refuses to be ‘buried’ by daughter Meghan

Monday 1 May 2023 13:30 , Ellie Muir

Thomas Markle Sr has said he will not allow his daughter, Meghan Markle, to “bury” him while he is still alive.

The Duchess of Sussex’s father, 78, claimed in the Australian news programme 7News Spotlight that his daughter had not called him in four years.

Read the full story below:

Thomas Markle says he refuses to be ‘buried’ by daughter Meghan

Everyone we know invited to King Charles’ coronation – from Prince Harry to Princess Charlene of Monaco

Monday 1 May 2023 12:30 , Ellie Muir

King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla will be joined by 2,000 guests at Westminster Abbey for their coronation on 6 May.

Among the senior members of the royal family, a number of celebrities, actors, and politicians in attendance. The Archbishop of Canterbury will conduct the ceremony.

Read the full report below:

Everyone we know who’s been invited to King Charles’s coronation

Prince Harry waxwork reunited with royal family

Monday 1 May 2023 11:30 , Roisin O'Connor

A wax figure of the Duke of Sussex has been reunited with the rest of the royal family figurines at Madame Tussauds London as Harry returns to the UK for the coronation.

The 38-year-old announced, along with the palace, in April that he would be attending the crowning of his father, the King, and his stepmother, the Queen Consort, at Westminster Abbey on Saturday (6 May).

The Duchess of Sussex, 41, has decided to remain at home in Los Angeles to be with the couple’s son Prince Archie on his fourth birthday.

To reflect this, Meghan’s figure will remain in the Awards Party Zone – with US-based celebrities – where the couple’s waxworks were moved in 2020 following the Sussexes stepping back from royal duties and moving to California.

Full story:

Prince Harry’s Madam Tussauds wax figure reunited with royal family for coronation

All the foreign royals attending King Charles III’s coronation

Monday 1 May 2023 10:54 , Peony Hirwani

King Charles III’s coronation, which takes place on Saturday 6 May, is set to be attended by 2,000 guests, including foreign monarchs across the world.

Below is a list of all the foreign royals who have confirmed their attendance so far.

All the foreign royals attending King Charles III’s coronation

‘Long live King Charles’ acclamation to welcome monarch to Westminster Abbey

Monday 1 May 2023 10:24 , Peony Hirwani

The words “long live Queen Camilla, long live King Charles” in Latin will greet the royal couple as they enter Westminster Abbey for the coronation.

They are part of the Vivat acclamations which will be sung at the central London ceremony on May 6.

Read more:

‘Long live King Charles’ acclamation to welcome monarch to Westminster Abbey

Bank Holiday Monday: What time do supermarkets open and close today?

Monday 1 May 2023 09:54 , Peony Hirwani

Britons are being treated to two bank holiday weekends in a row, as the early May bank holiday and the coronation weekend of King Charles III arrive one after the other.

Monday 1 May is the early May bank holiday, while Buckingham Palace announced last year that Monday 8 May would also be a bank holiday to give the country an extra day to celebrate the coronation.

With warmer spring weather expected this coming weekend and Big Lunches and street parties planned for the following one, British people have plenty to look forward to in the coming fortnight.

However, it could also mean closures across some supermarkets on more days than usual.

Many people will be looking to stock up for the long weekends and ensure they have plenty of food and drink for gatherings, parties, or just to relax with.

Here are the opening times for Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Morrison, Lidl and more.

What are supermarket bank holiday opening times today?

Thomas Markle says he refuses to be ‘buried’ by daughter Meghan

Monday 1 May 2023 09:18 , Roisin O'Connor

Thomas Markle Sr has said he will not allow his daughter, Meghan Markle, to “bury” him while he is still alive.

The Duchess of Sussex’s father, 78, claimed in the Australian news programme 7News Spotlight that his daughter had not called him in four years.

He said that he suffered a debilitating stroke last year and expressed disappointment that she did not reach out.

“If she doesn’t turn up for a stroke, if that doesn’t move her, what would?” he said.

The Independent has contacted representatives of the Sussexes for comment.

Full story:

Thomas Markle says he refuses to be ‘buried’ by daughter Meghan

Coronation Concert stage with Windsor Castle backdrop revealed as 20,000 set to attend

Monday 1 May 2023 09:14 , Peony Hirwani

The Coronation Concert will feature a Union Flag-shaped stage, first look images show.

The stage will also have a halo-like screen surrounding the roof, which the broadcaster said will “symbolise the Crown protecting the nation”.

Read more:

Coronation Concert stage with Windsor Castle backdrop revealed

When was the Queen’s coronation?

Monday 1 May 2023 08:44 , Peony Hirwani

As the country gears up to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III on Saturday 6 May 2023, many will be remembering the crowning of his late mother 71 years earlier, a defining event in 20th-century British history.

Joanna Whitehead reports.

When was the Queen’s coronation?

The curious culinary history of royal coronation food

Monday 1 May 2023 08:14 , Peony Hirwani

From coronation chicken to King Charles’s veggie quiche, The Independent’s Ben Parker unpacks how different dishes have shaped the monarchy’s image.

The curious culinary history of royal coronation food

The Windsors Coronation Special: Exceptionally witty, uproarious send-up of the royals

Monday 1 May 2023 07:34 , Peony Hirwani

“The brilliant writers once again render our reigning family into a highly amusing gallery of grotesques,” writes The Independent’s Sean O’Grady.

The Windsors Coronation Special is an exceptionally witty, uproarious send-up: review

Brian May, Kermit the Frog and Atomic Kitten… together at last!: Nothing is weirder than the royal pop concert

Monday 1 May 2023 07:04 , Peony Hirwani

As Katy Perry and Take That prepare to perform during Charles’s coronation weekend, The Independent’s Katie Rosseinsky salutes the chaotic and confusing tradition of incredibly divergent celebrities coming together to sing for royalty.

‘The Queen wore earplugs’: Royal pop concerts have always been weird

Everyone we know invited to King Charles’ coronation – from Prince Harry to Princess Charlene of Monaco

Monday 1 May 2023 06:00 , Maanya Sachdeva

King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla will be joined by 2,000 guests at Westminster Abbey for their coronation on 6 May.

Here are all of the royals and celebrities who have confirmed they will be attending the King’s coronation:

Everyone we know who’s been invited to King Charles’s coronation

King Charles’s coronation quiche recipe sparks mixed reaction

Sunday 30 April 2023 22:00 , Maanya Sachdeva

King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla have chosen a quiche as their signature dish for the upcoming coronation, but the decision has received mixed reactions amidst an ongoing egg shortage in the United Kingdom.

Following the announcement, many royal watchers took to social media to share their thoughts about the classic French dish.

Kate Ng reports:

King Charles’s coronation recipe sparks mixed reaction

Tom Cruise and Winnie the Pooh to feature in King Charles’ Coronation Concert

Sunday 30 April 2023 21:00 , Maanya Sachdeva

The unlikely duo of Tom Cruise and Winnie the Pooh have been announced as the latest acts in King Charles III’s Coronation Concert.

Dame Joan Collins, Sir Tom Jones, adventurer Bear Grylls and former Strictly Come Dancing professional Oti Mabuse, will also appear in a series of pre-recorded sketches revealing little-known facts about the monarch.

Tom Murray has the full story:

Tom Cruise and Winnie the Pooh to feature in King Charles’ Coronation Concert

Charles and Camilla: A timeline of their 50-year relationship, from friendship to marriage

Sunday 30 April 2023 20:00 , Maanya Sachdeva

Having first met in 1970, Charles and Camilla were married 17 years ago at Windsor Guildhall in a low-key ceremony.

For most royal fans, the couple’s journey will always be intrinsically linked to the story of Charles and his ex-wife Lady Diana Spencer, the Princess of Wales.

Over the years, the public, and other members of the royal family, became more accepting of the match. Yet for decades the couple were pursued by gossip and scandal following Charles’s fraught marriage to Diana.

Here, we detail Charles and Camilla’s complicated love story:

A timeline of King Charles and Camilla’s 50-year relationship

How Prince Archie ‘will celebrate his fourth birthday’ on Coronation Day

Sunday 30 April 2023 19:00 , Maanya Sachdeva

Earlier this month, Buckingham Palace announced that, while Harry will attend the coronation of King Charles III and Camilla on 6 May, Meghan will remain in Montecito with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

It is believed that Archie’s fourth birthday – which falls on 6 May, the same day as the coronation – was one of the factors that informed the couple’s decision.

Since then, it has been reported that the occasion will be marked with a “low-key” party at Harry and Meghan’s home in California.

How Prince Archie ‘will celebrate his fourth birthday’ on Coronation Day

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