King Charles III’s coronation: Who’s going – and who isn’t?

With less than three weeks to go until King Charles III’s coronation, the picture is clearer of who is on the guest list – and who isn’t.

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On Saturday, 6 May the King will be crowned alongside Camilla, the Queen Consort, at Westminster Abbey in London.

The King has opted for a smaller, shorter and more diverse ceremony than the previous coronation held for his mother in 1953.

According to the BBC, invitations have been sent to about 2 000 people.

Here is what we know so far about the guest list.

MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY

As with many events, family often comes first, and many members of King Charles and Camilla’s family are due to attend.

Prince William and Catherine, the Prince and Princess of Wales, will be attending, as will two of the King’s siblings, Anne, Princess Royal and the Edward, Duke of Edinburgh.

After much speculation, Prince Harry confirmed he would attend, but his wife Meghan would not. The coronation coincides with the fourth birthday of the couple’s son, Prince Archie.

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Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, is expected to go – but his ex-wife the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, will not attend.

It’s likely their daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie will attend as ninth and 11th in line to the throne – as well as Princess Anne’s daughter Zara Tindall and her husband Mike Tindall.

Both King Charles and Camilla’s grandchildren will be there, with some of them taking part in the ceremony.

Prince George, the son of Prince William and Catherine and second-in-line to the throne, will be one of several “pages of honour”.

Three of the Queen Consort’s grandsons, Gus and Louis Lopes, Freddy Parker Bowles and her great-nephew Arthur Elliot will take the same role, and be part of the procession through Westminster Abbey.

POLITICIANS, WORLD LEADERS AND FOREIGN ROYALTY

Key political figures and world leaders will also be among the attendees – and it is worth noting that, as a state occasion, the government controls the guest list.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is due to attend, alongside cabinet ministers and peers from the House of Lords.

And according to reports, former UK prime ministers such as Liz Truss and Tony Blair will be there, as well as the new first minister of Scotland Humza Yousaf.

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French President Emmanuel Macron will be there. It comes after King Charles’s state visit to France was postponed in March due to protests, but a source told the Times Macron would attend to show his “friendship, respect and esteem” for the UK.

US President Joe Biden told King Charles he would not be attending during a phone call in April, but confirmed First Lady Jill Biden would take his place.

Polish President Andrzej Duda and Anthony Albanese, the Australian Prime Minister, have both said they are planning to attend – and local news reports say Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Philippines’ President Ferdinand Marcos will be there.

It is also understood that religious leaders and representatives from across the Commonwealth will attend.

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In a break with tradition, members of foreign royal families are reported to be travelling to London for the ceremony.

This includes Monaco’s Prince Albert and Princess Charlene, Japan’s Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko and Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf, who will be accompanied by his daughter Crown Princess Victoria.

It is also understood that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who met the King for tea at Windsor Castle in February, will be there.

VOLUNTEERS, ARMED FORCES AND CHARITY WORKERS

King Charles and Camilla have also invited 850 community representatives to the ceremony in recognition of their charity work.

This includes 450 British Empire Medal (BEM) recipients and 400 young people from groups selected by the Royal Family.

Elsewhere, more than 6,000 members of the armed forces will be taking part in the coronation – making it the largest military ceremonial operation in 70 years.

Thousands of veterans and NHS workers have also been invited to watch the coronation, including the processions and fly past, from a special viewing platform in front of Buckingham Palace.

SPECULATION OVER CELEBRITY APPEARANCES

There has been speculation over whether any of the King and Queen Consort’s famous friends will be invited to the coronation.

Sky News has reported that Dame Joanna Lumley will be attending, before joining the broadcaster’s coverage of the day.

While no other high-profile figures have announced they will be going, celebrities with close connections to the Royal Family could be among those attending.

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The then Prince Charles and Camilla’s wedding blessing at St George’s Chapel in 2005 had plenty of famous faces in the congregation, including the Absolutely Fabulous actress, alongside comics Stephen Fry and Rowan Atkinson and actors Richard E Grant and Prunella Scales.

Rumours have also been circulating that David and Victoria Beckham could be on the guest list.

They both attended Prince William and Catherine’s wedding, as well as Prince Harry and Meghan’s – and the former England footballer queued for 12 hours to see Queen Elizabeth II lying in state.