King’s and Queen enjoy star-studded concert at Windsor Castle to celebrate coronation
The star-studded concert for King’s Coronation has kicked off in the grounds of Windsor Castle.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla have joined around 20,000 people for the musical extravaganza, which included performances from Take That, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie.
The couple have joined Prince William and Kate to watch the show in viewing area alongside their young children Prince George and Princess Charlotte, who have Union Jack flags in their hands.
The concert launched about 8.30pm with DJ Pete Tong performing Rudimental’s Feel The Love with guest vocalists JERUB and Vula.
Tong told the crowd that the King specifically asked for Ibiza Classics be part of the concert.
He said: “They asked us to suggest a couple of songs so we suggested three or four, and he came back with one of them and that’s the one that’s starting the show . . . Maybe there’s a few relapsed ravers in the royal household, we don’t know.”
Among the artist to perform so far Olly Muirs, who has entertained crowds with his 2011 hit Dance With Me Tonight.
A coronation choir, made up of more than 300 singers, including members from diverse backgrounds, has also belted out Emeli Sande’s hit Brighter Days.
In a moving speech Prince William also paid tribute to his father and told how his family were all ”so proud” of him, adding: ”I also want to express my pride and gratitude for all the people that serve, in the forces, in classrooms and the local communities.”
He praised the King’s decades of service, his campaigning on green issues, Prince’s Trust charity and celebration of diversity and support for people of all backgrounds, communities and faiths.
He also said his late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II was ”fondly keeping an eye on” the family and she would be a “very proud” mother.
Puppets Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog also appeared on the stage with host Hugh Bonneville.
After Miss Piggy propositioned Hugh Bonneville – telling him she wanted to marry him – the King and the Prince of Wales were seen giggling.
But one of those who appeared to enjoy that part of the show the most was Princess Charlotte, who chuckled with joy.
The King also appeared to laugh after Miss Piggy described Hugh Bonneville as a “real Lord” – mistaking the actor for the character he plays in Downton Abbey, the Earl of Grantham.
Blind pianist Lucy Illingworth, 13, winner of Channel 4’s talent show The Piano, also performed with her mother Candiceby her side.
In a heartwarming segment about the King serving in the RAF, Hollywood actor Tom Cruise and star of 1986 movie Top Gun – was seeing flying a plane.
The actor was seen flying a plane, before turning to the camera and saying the monarch could be his “wingman anytime” saluting and banking off.
As part of the show in Windsor, hosted by Paddington and Downton Abbey actor Hugh Bonneville, a series of pre-recorded sketches are set to reveal little-known facts about the monarch.
Organisers say one scene will include Winnie the Pooh – echoing a sketch created for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in which Paddington Bear drank tea with the Queen.
Dynasty actress Dame Joan Collins, adventurer Bear Grylls and singer Sir Tom Jones are set to recite little known facts about the monarch via video message.
Fashion designer Stella McCartney is also to perform a speech with a conservation theme to reflect her and the King’s “shared passion for environmental sustainability”.
Crowds will also be entertained by performances by Paloma Faith, Olly Murs, veteran rock guitarist Steve Winwood, a community choir with 300 singers and Nicole Scherzinger of The Pussycat Dolls.
Also singing for the King will be classical acts including Andrea Bocelli, Welsh bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel and Chinese pianist Lang Lang.
The concert features a stage shaped like the Union flag lit in red, white, and blue, which fans out into the audience.
There is also a halo-like screen surrounding the roof, which “symbolises the crown protecting the nation”.
Former Desert Island Discs and Crimewatch presenter Kirsty Young is anchoring the special live broadcast of the concert on the BBC after reporting from a studio at Buckingham Palace on Saturday’s coronation day.
As part of the concert celebrations, choreographed lasers, projections and drone displays will radiate over historic bridges and buildings in 10 locations across the UK.]
The locations include Blackpool seafront in Lancashire, where people can join a viewing party from Blackpool Tower.
Sheffield Town Hall is also showcasing a display in the Peace Gardens, while Newcastle’s Tyne Bridge and Gateshead’s Millennium Bridge lights will cast riverside reflections for an audience stretching between the quays.
A drone show will light up the sky above the Eden Project in Cornwall, and its biomes will become multicoloured for spectators invited from the local volunteer community.
Ahead of the show on Sunday evening, thousands of street parties have been held across the UK.
This story is being updated.
