King Charles III will have a televised Coronation Concert in the grounds of Windsor Castle on May 7, the day after his official coronation. The concert lineup will include performances by Take That, Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Andrea Bocelli. Other performers include opera star Bryn Terfel, singer-songwriter Freya Ridings, and composer-producer Alexis Ffrench. Some big-name stars like Adele, Elton John, Harry Styles, and the Spice Girls turned down the gig due to scheduling conflicts or touring commitments. Singer Kylie Minogue refused due to increased republican sentiment in her native Australia where Charles is also king. The concert will be attended by 20,000 members of the public and invited guests and will be broadcast on radio and online.
Despite the coronation being the first since 1953, public interest appears lacking. A YouGov poll shows that just over a third of people do not care very much about the event, with apathy greatest among younger age groups. However, 46 percent of Britons said they would likely watch or take part in celebrations on May 8, which has been declared a public holiday.
Preparations are ongoing for the solemn religious ceremony, and the guest list has been finalized. Prince Harry will attend, but Meghan will remain in California with their two young children.
