Eight months after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, people worldwide are honoring her son King Charles III as he becomes the next ruler of England. The coronation comes with a number of traditions, many of which were held during the ceremony. But with seriousness comes a little bit of fun, and the weekend festivities will close out by celebrating the new monarch with a Coronation Concert on Sunday night.
Set on the grounds of Windsor Palace, Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville is slated to host the musical event honoring Charles’ ascension to the royal throne. Many famous faces will hit the stage during the event, including American Idol judges Katy Perry and Lionel Richie, British pop group Take That, opera singer Andrea Bocelli and others. What’s more, Buckingham Palace revealed that the centerpiece of the celebration will be called “Lighting Up the Nation,” featuring “iconic locations across the United Kingdom” being lit up “using projections, lasers, drone displays and illuminations.”
Needless to say, Buckingham Palace set up a star-studded event for the royal family, and you’ll likely want to know where to watch or stream it from home. While you won’t necessarily have a seat next to Charles and his wife Queen Camilla, there will be ways you can see it without leaving the couch.
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Will the coronation concert be televised in the U.S.?
Presently, it looks like those living in the United States won’t be able to watch the coronation concert online when it begins at at 7 p.m. local time, which is 2 p.m. ET or 11 a.m. PT in the U.S. According to a report from Town and Country, the event will air on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and BBC Radio 2, which as of now can can only be accessed in the U.K. Folks should still keep an eye out, though, because it’s likely that post-concert clips will surface on social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok.
As far as who will take the concert stage, Katy spoke to Extra about her upcoming performance for Charles. She shared that she’s ecstatic to sing for the royal family.
“I was so grateful to get the honor because actually, I’m an ambassador to one of his foundations, for the British Asian Trust,” she told the outlet. “I’m just going there as an ambassador and [King Charles] asked me to sing and it all aligned … They said I was allowed to stay at Windsor Castle, which I’m really excited for!”
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Lionel also spoke out about his appearance at the festivities after attending the coronation ceremony on May 6. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so to be a part of it is everything,” he told SkyNews on May 3. “I’ve known His Majesty now for a couple of years. So, to celebrate this with him and the Queen is just going to be so much fun.”
“I mean pinch me, somebody!” he continued. “I’m really trying to be, ‘This is a calm moment for me.’ I’m so excited.”
Among some of the many moments that will take place at the coronation concert, one will sure be a standout. Top Gun: Maverick star Tom Cruise is set to have a role in between sets, with Variety confirming that he will be in a sketch featuring the iconic Winnie the Pooh. The Masked Singer judge Nicole Scherzinger will also perform a piece with Chinese pianist Lang Lang.
“I am incredibly honored to be a part of such a historic event,” she told the outlet in April. “The U.K. has been my home away from home for many years now, so this means so much to me to be lending my voice through the gift of song.
Nicole continued: “The piece I will be singing is such a powerful, moving song. And to be sharing the stage with Lang Lang will be a dream come true; a once in a lifetime performance.”
Editorial Assistant
As the entertainment and news editorial assistant for Good Housekeeping, Adrianna (she/her) writes about everything TV, movies, music and pop culture. She graduated from Yeshiva University with a B.A. in journalism and a minor in business management. She covers shows like The Rookie, 9-1-1 and Grey’s Anatomy, though when she’s not watching the latest show on Netflix, she’s taking martial arts or drinking way too much coffee.