King’s Coronation: Express speak to royalists at The Mall
King Charles remains “relaxed and very gracious” despite the “huge burden” of the Coronation, the Dean of Westminster revealed.
The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle said rehearsals had gone well and the event itself will be “jaw-dropping” on Saturday.
Replica crowns have been used for the dry runs, and the young royal children, including Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, have been “watching with huge interest”, the Dean said.
Speaking at Westminster Abbey, which will be the focus of the eyes of the world during the ceremony, he said: “The King was relaxed and very gracious. He took time to thank all the people around him who are making this happen. So whilst he has a huge burden on him, there’s a lot for him to do, he doesn’t give the sense of being a man who’s really anxious about this, not at all.”
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King Charles is ‘very gracious’ (Image: Getty)
The Dean – who will take part in the ceremony, which is conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby – admitted: “I’m the Dean of Westminster. I’m used to ceremony on a national level. Even I think this is pretty jaw-dropping.”
He described the ceremonial dress and Crown Jewels being used as “extraordinary” and the music as “spine-tingling”.
The Dean will also face his own challenges on Saturday: St Edward’s Crown, used for the moment of crowning, has been put on the monarch’s head back to front at some coronations.
George VI used to recount in great detail all the mishaps that occurred at his ceremony in 1937 – including his crown being put on the wrong way round after a piece of red cotton indicating the front had been removed.
The Dean, who will have to handle the crown, said he has been practising to ensure that it is placed on the King’s head in the correct way.
Excitement and anticipation continued to build on yesterday as hundreds of thousands of visitors from Britain and around the world poured into London, filling hotels, pubs and restaurants.
Royal Family fans bedecked in Union Flags are already camped out on the procession route.
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UK hospitality estimates the Coronation weekend will contribute to a £1billion boost to the industry (Image: Getty)
Buckingham Palace aides confirmed that 203 countries will be represented at the Coronation itself and “approximately 100 heads of state” will be attending, with other dignitaries present.
Hospitality sector leaders expect the Coronation weekend will contribute £1billion to the industry in May – £350million on the Bank Holiday weekend alone.
A global live TV audience of around 300 million is expected to tune in to watch the pageantry.
Kate Nicholls, the chief executive of the UK Hospitality trade organisation, commented: “May has the potential to be a historic month for the hospitality sector, which is set for one of its busiest times in recent memory.
“The British public turn out in their droves for big events and we expect the Coronation to be no different. We anticipate…a huge uplift in sales for the sector.
“Bank holidays alone are always popular for eating and drinking out and staycations and this…historic occasion is incredibly exciting for hospitality.”
Four more London landmarks have been added to the list of buildings which will be lit up across the nation in celebration.
Tower Bridge, London Bridge, Guildhall and Mansion House will be illuminated in red, white and blue to mark the crowning of King Charles and Queen Camilla. The colourful displays will be switched on Saturday evening after the Coronation ceremony, and stay on from 8pm until midnight.
A global audience of around 300 million is expected to tune in (Image: Getty)
The illuminations will be repeated at the same slot on Sunday to coincide with the BBC’s Lighting Up The Nation event. Big Ben was earlier announced as another London favourite which will be picked out with a series of projections of national flowers from all four UK home nations – an English rose, a Scottish thistle, a Welsh daffodil and a Northern Irish shamrock.
The words of national anthem God Save The King will also appear on the clock tower before the projection culminates with the Coronation emblem – the work of Sir Jony Ive, British designer of the iPhone and iPad and also chancellor of the Royal College of Art.
Guildhall, Mansion House, Tower Bridge and the Central Criminal Court will fly the Union Flag during the Coronation weekend.
Nicholas Lyons, Lord Mayor of the City of London, whose official residence is Mansion House, said yesterday: “The Coronation is a day of national celebration and marks the beginning of a new era for the country and the Commonwealth. It’s only right that we should honour this momentous occasion by lighting up some of the UK’s best-known landmarks.”
Chris Hayward, the policy chairman of the City of London Corporation which has its headquarters in the capital’s Guildhall, said: “The first coronation of a new monarch in 70 years will be a truly momentous event for
our country.”
He added: “Bathing the city’s iconic landmarks in red, white and blue is a highly visible way of celebrating the crowning of our new King and demonstrating the city’s long-standing support for, and loyalty to the monarchy.”
Medals for heroes of the big day
More than 400,000 people including members of the Armed Forces and emergency services will receive a medal for their Coronation efforts, writes Ted Hennessey.
It is a gift from the nation to commemorate the event for those making the big day happen, said the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Everyone actively involved will be recognised, including police, choristers, military personnel and ambulance workers. The medals are made of nickel silver and feature a portrait of the King and Queen on one side and the royal cypher, a laurel wreath and the date of the Coronation on the other.
Its ribbon is made up of red, white and blue vertical stripes.
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said: “I’m delighted we can mark their contribution.”
Living recipients of the George and Victoria Crosses will also be honoured.
The first Coronation medal was awarded in 1603 with the crowning of King James I.
Connolly is seen amongst the Coronation blooms (Image: Getty)
Flowers for the Coronation will be ”incredibly personal” to the King
Bright blooms with special connections to the King and Queen will fill Westminster Abbey during the Coronation, writes Emily Ferguson, Royal Editor.
Shane Connolly, who created the floral arrangements at Charles and Camilla’s 2005 wedding, aims to make the flowers “incredibly personal” to the couple.
More than 120 flower varieties will be used, including lily of the valley which featured in Camilla’s wedding bouquet, and hellebore, one of the King’s favourites. Mr Connolly is leading six people tasked with filling the church with UK-grown flowers and foliage.
The striking bright yellows, reds and purples of the flowers will take centre stage, showing the very best of Britain.
Mr Connolly said: “Flowers are one of the things that can reflect the real characters of the King and Queen. They’re simple garden flowers that are British, seasonal, like they might cut themselves from their own gardens.”
Boughs from the five Royal Horticultural Society gardens will adorn the High Altar, including branches from both of the Dawyck beech trees planted by the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at RHS Wisley in 1978.
Joe Biden (Image: Getty)
Biden’s staff ”don’t want him travelling”
President Joe Biden was advised not to attend King Charles’s Coronation over concerns about his health, a Pentagon insider has revealed to the Daily Express.
It comes just weeks after voters expressed their concerns that Mr Biden, 80, may be too old to run for re-election as he announced his 2024 campaign.
The insider, who worked in several senior positions at the US Department of Defence, said of the President’s decision to skip the Coronation: “I just don’t think he’s in a state to be travelling as much as he may have done so previously.
“I wouldn’t say he is being kept in the basement but they’re certainly making sure he has a modest schedule. I don’t think they want him travelling overseas very often because of his age.
“They want to keep him fit and healthy for his upcoming presidential campaign.
“I think Biden and the administration don’t understand the importance of the US relationship with the UK.
“They were never supportive of Brexit and, in some way, I think Biden not attending the Coronation is throwing shade at the UK,
and I think that’s a mistake.”
First Lady Jill Biden will represent the US at the ceremony in Westminster Abbey on Satursday, the White House had confirmed last month.
