Stella McCartney to give spoken word performance on environment at King’s coronation concert
Stella McCartney will perform a speech on “environmental sustainability” and conservation issues at the King’s Coronation Concert on Sunday (6 May).
The BBC, which is producing the star-studded event in the grounds of Windsor Castle, said the speech will reflect her and the King’s “shared passion for environmental sustainability”.
Like her famous parents Paul and Linda McCartney, the fashion designer, 51, champions a vegetarian lifestyle and sustainable design. She was made a CBE earlier this year for her services to fashion and sustainability, while Britain’s new monarch has been an outspoken campaigner for the environment for more than 50 years.
McCartney’s performance will be part of a broader nature-themed section of the concert, which is being held in the grounds of Windsor Castle.
Classical-soul composer Alexis Ffrench and London-based singer-songwriter Zak Abel will also be part of the segment as they perform a rendition of an 1980s hit alongside a house orchestra, band and choir.
A visual display will accompany the performance, with images spanning across the large screen at the top of the stage as well as being projected onto the facade of the castle.
The performance will also be interspersed with footage of drone displays taking place above the Eden Project in Cornwall, an eco-visitor attraction, and the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff.
The section is due to end with a ‘Did You Know?’ video, which will reveal “little-known information” about Charles’ relationship with the natural world, the BBC has said.
The broadcaster added that the stage has also been designed and built almost entirely of rental stock to make it as sustainable as possible, with the majority of the lighting being LED to improve energy saving.
McCartney’s Beatles star dad Paul McCarty is also an environmental activist, as was her late mum Linda, now famous for her vegetarian food brand.
Take That, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie are also among the star-studded line-up as well as Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli and Welsh bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel.
The BBC promised “global music icons and contemporary stars,” and has delivered a truly eclectic line-up for the concert.
Take That, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie will form part of the line-up of musical stars at the event.
The show will also feature a special performance from the Coronation Choir, which will be created with community choirs and amateur singers from across the UK.
They will appear alongside the Virtual Choir which will be made up of singers from across the Commonwealth for a special performance on the night.
It has also been announced that performers from the Royal Ballet, the Royal Opera, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal College of Music and the Royal College of Art will come together for the first time
The concert, produced by BBC Studios Productions, will be broadcast live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds from 8pm on Sunday.
Additional reporting by Press Association.
