Disney to Play Key Role in King Charles’s Coronation Festivities on Sunday
The coronation of King Charles III, eldest son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, drew media coverage from around the world on Saturday, but the festivities continue into the weekend, with some of the most exciting entertainment and guests slated to take center stage on Sunday, and Disney is scheduled to be in on the action as well.
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Following the death of his mother, Her Majesty the Queen (Queen Elizabeth II), on September 8, 2022, her eldest son Charles became King, but plans for his coronation had yet to be made, and the coronation wouldn’t take place for months. According to the UK’s Royal Collection Trust, a coronation is “the formal investiture of a monarch with their regal powers.” The trust further describes a coronation as “a grand, celebratory event in which the monarch is presented with royal ceremonial objects, such as the Crown Jewels, where the crown is physically placed on the sovereign’s head, in front of many thousands of very important guests.”
On Saturday, the King’s coronation ceremony and festivities began. The coronation service took place at Westminster Abbey, as Charles III, with Queen Camilla (formerly Queen Consort) by his side, was crowned King Charles III by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Members of the Royal Family were in attendance, including Prince William and Princess Catherine and their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, as well as Prince Harry. Meghan Markle, though, remained at home with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lillibet.
The king’s siblings, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward, were also in attendance.
And the coronation of King Charles III at London’s Westminster Abbey on Saturday was no exception. The celebratory events continue throughout the weekend and include a major Coronation Concert featuring artists and musicians from around the world, including Katy Perry, Nicole Scherzinger, and Lionel Richie.
A “Once-in-a-Lifetime” Event Around the World
“To share the stage with the other performers at The Coronation Concert is a once-in-a-lifetime event,” Richie said in a statement, “and it will be an honor and a celebration.” Richie, who was recently inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, was also named the first global ambassador for The Prince’s Trust, an important charity for King Charles.
Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli and Welsh opera singer Bryn Terfel are also scheduled to perform, as is classical-soul composer Alexis Ffrench. Other performers at the Coronation Concert include Britain’s Take That (featuring three of the original members of the band), Paloma Faith, Olly Murs, Steve Winwood, DJ Pete Tong, Nigerian singer-songwriter Tiwa Savage, and Chinese pianist Lang Lang.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the event will include other performers and performances as well:
In addition, “Sex Education” star and new “Doctor Who” lead Ncuti Gatwa will star in Shakespeare play excerpts featured as part of a multidisciplinary performance that is a collaboration of The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera, The Royal Shakespeare Company, The Royal College of Music and The Royal College of Art.
U.S. music star Bette Midler is reportedly also set to make an appearance during the concert. Video messages by Tom Cruise and Joan Collins will add some Hollywood glamour to the affair, with other video appearances announced for Tom Jones and Bear Grylls.
Disney Plays a Part in the Coronation Festivities
But that’s not all. Disney will also have a part in the coronation activities for King Charles III on Sunday, as a beloved Disney character will also make an appearance at Windsor Castle. Winnie-the-Pooh, the “Silly Old Bear” originally created by British author A. A. Milne for his son, Christopher, is scheduled to play a role in Sunday evening’s festivities, though no other details about his appearance have been made public as of the time of this publication.
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The royal musical event will take place just west of London, on the grounds of Windsor Castle–one of the many places of residence for the British Royal Family and the oldest occupied castle in the world. The Coronation Concert is slated to begin at 8:00 p.m. in London, or 3:00 p.m. Eastern and 12:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.
Residents in and around London can watch the concert on the BBC on television and across the network’s digital platforms. In the United States, the event will be carried by PBS at the aforementioned times. The concert is scheduled to take place over a period of two hours.
