London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Tuesday, Mar 31, 2026

From Dress Code To Performances: A Guide To King Charles' Coronation

From Dress Code To Performances: A Guide To King Charles' Coronation

The Coronation Concert, an event produced and broadcast by the BBC, is scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 7, at Windsor Castle.
The coronation of Charles III, the former Prince of Wales and the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II, is set to take place on Saturday, May 6. Charles became king of the Britons the moment his mother died last September, but accession to the throne is typically a sombre affair, most often taking place under the shadow of death. A coronation, on the other hand, is pure celebration.

According to The New York Times, a coronation can refer to both the literal act of placing a crown on a monarch's head as well as the religious ceremony during which a sovereign is crowned.

Let's address the common man's queries about this grand affair. Who will come, who won't attend, the dress code, the performances... all are answered below.

Time

King Charles's coronation service is scheduled to begin at 11 am. London time, meaning that it will begin very early in the morning in the United States -- 6 am on the East Coast, 3 am on the West.

Where to watch

If you're in Britain, you won't have to look far. BBC, ITV and Sky News are all expected to televise the ceremony live. Other British and American television networks have yet to announce their plans.

Performance

The Coronation Concert, an event produced and broadcast by the BBC, is scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 7, at Windsor Castle. The concert will be attended by members of the public. 5,000 people were selected; those who were picked are invited to bring along the plus-one they "nominated" during the application process.

Concert

The full lineup has yet to be confirmed, but Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and the Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli would reportedly perform. As per sources, Adele and Elton John have sent their regrets, citing scheduling conflicts, and Harry Styles, Ed Sheeran and the Spice Girls have also declined invitations to perform.

Sonam Kapoor will be joined by actor Tom Cruise and Pooh who will appear alongside "Dynasty" star Joan Collins, singer Tom Jones, adventurer Bear Grylls and dancer Oti Mabuse in a series of pre-recorded VTs in which they will reveal "little-known facts about the King" for the coronation, which will honour King Charles' ascension to the throne.

Meghan

A question mark hovered for months over whether the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would make the journey from California to London for the big day. Finally, Buckingham Palace confirmed in a clipped statement that Prince Harry would attend the coronation -- alone. Meghan will remain in the United States with the couple's children, Prince Archie, who turns 4 the day of the coronation, and Princess Lilibet, 1. It will be the first time Prince Harry will have been seen with the royal family since his bombshell memoir, "Spare," was published in January.

Invite

The coronation is a state ceremony, so the government carefully manages the guest list, and only some 2,000 attendees have been invited. The list consists primarily of members of the royal family, including little ones, like 9-year-old Prince George and his younger siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. There's also a select group of former prime ministers and members of Parliament, world leaders, foreign monarchs and faith leaders.

Code name

Operation Golden Orb, of course.

Crown Weight

Just over two pounds.

Is there a coronation dress code?

Though Queen Elizabeth II's coronation was full of glamour and tiaras, in keeping with King Charles's modernized-monarchy theme, this one will be more like the Casual Friday version of a coronation. Members of the House of Lords have been instructed to swap their special coronation crimson velvet-'n'-ermine robes and coronets (silver circlets with ermine trim and velvet linings) for business attire or the standard robes they wear for the opening of Parliament. Regular guests will wear (if they are women) "day dress" or (if they are men) either a morning coat, a suit or a military uniform. In both cases, "celebratory national dress" is also allowed, as are "decorations" (presumably this means of the military/state sort, not tinsel). Even hats are optional.

Is there an official playlist?

Yes, and "Daddy Cool" by Boney M. is the second song on it. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, an actual department in the real British government, dropped a 27-song Coronation Celebration Playlist -- no skips -- that includes some songs Charles could conceivably belt in the shower ("Come Together" by the Beatles, "Let's Dance" by David Bowie) and some he almost certainly does not ("Running Up That Hill" by Kate Bush). Fingers crossed for a royal cover of the Spice Girls classic "Say You'll Be There."

There could be addition and subtraction to this existing plan in coming days.
Comments

Oh ya 3 year ago
The headlime should be.... 73 year old man gets 1st job.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Russia Expels British Diplomat as UK Pushes Back Against Pressure
White House App Faces Scrutiny After Claims of Continuous User Location Tracking
BBC Faces Scrutiny Over Allegations of Paid Content Linked to Saudi Arabia
UK-France Coastal Patrol Agreement Nears Breakdown Amid Migration Pressures
UK Police Detain Pro-Palestine Activist Again Weeks After Bail Release
FTSE 100 Advances as Energy and Mining Shares Gain Amid Middle East Tensions
Eli Lilly Seeks UK Pricing Deal to Unlock Renewed Pharmaceutical Investment
Three Arrested in UK After Massive Cocaine Haul Discovered Hidden in Banana Shipment
UK Fuel Prices Poised for Further Surge Amid Global Energy Pressures
Apple Subsidiary Penalized by UK Authorities for Breach of Moscow Sanctions
Western Allies Intensify Coordinated Sanctions Strategy Against Russia
UK Lawmakers Face Criticism Over Renewed Push for Social Media Restrictions
Starmer Signals UK Crackdown on Addictive Social Media Features
Rising Costs Push One in Five UK Hospitality Businesses to the Brink of Closure
Man Arrested on Suspicion of Attempted Murder After Car Strikes Pedestrians in UK, Injuring Seven
Escalating Conflict Involving Iran Tightens Fiscal Pressures and Highlights UK Economic Vulnerabilities
UK Moves to Confront Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Operating in Its Waters
UK Housing Divide Deepens as Older Owners Hold Wealth While Under-30s Face Mounting Barriers
London Demonstration Calls on UK to Recognize Iranian Opposition’s Provisional Government
UK Green Party Vote on ‘Zionism is Racism’ Motion Collapses Amid Internal Disputes and Technical Failures
SNL UK Ignites Debate with Sharp Royal Satire Targeting Prince Andrew and Prince William
EU Proposes ‘Emergency Brake’ to Resolve Deadlock in UK Youth Mobility Talks
Thousands Rally in London to Oppose Rise of Far-Right Movements
Hong Kong Official Rejects Allegations of Surveillance Orders Targeting UK-Based Dissidents
PayPal Expands Cryptocurrency Services to Allow UK Users to Buy and Sell Bitcoin
UK Minister Challenges Reform Party’s ‘Pro-Family’ Agenda as Debate Intensifies
Concerns Grow Over Meningitis Risk Among UK Students Amid Warning Signs of New Outbreaks
Japanese Grand Prix 2026: Schedule, UK Start Times and Full Broadcast Details
Electric Vehicles Seen as Strategic Solution to UK Fuel Reserve Concerns
Rise of Lone-Actor Threats and Online Radicalisation Drives New Wave of Antisemitic Attacks in the UK
Canada Advances Plan to Ban Cryptocurrency Donations in Election Campaigns
UK Faces Looming Medicine Shortages as Iran Conflict Threatens Supply Chains
Deadly Meningitis Outbreak in the U.K. Highlights Urgent Need for Vaccination
Fresh Claims Emerge Over Harry and Meghan’s Australia Visit as Insider Speaks Out
NATO Assessment Indicates UK Defence Spending Has Fallen Below Alliance Average
FTSE 100 Slips as Middle East Tensions Weigh on Investor Sentiment
UK Economy Begins to Feel Early Impact of Iran Conflict as Policy Challenges Intensify
Russian National Jailed in UK After Assault Case Linked to Barron Trump’s Alert
Energy Price Surge Accelerates Shift Away from Fossil Fuels in UK Homes
UK Museums House More Than 260,000 Human Remains, New Report Reveals
Surging UK Gilt Yields Reflect Inflation Pressures and Fiscal Uncertainty
UK Issues Updated Guidance on Children’s Screen Time with Focus on Balance and Wellbeing
UK Migration Figures Show Shifting Trends Across Asylum, Visas and Channel Crossings
UK Watchdog Launches Probe into Five Firms Over Alleged Fake Reviews and Ratings
Jaguar Land Rover Halts Production at UK Plant Amid Supplier Disruption
UK Police Reverse Position, Confirm Arrests Will Resume for Palestine Action Protests
UK Small Businesses Face Europe’s Steepest Cost Pressures, New Survey Reveals
US Envoy Urges UK to Proceed with King’s Visit Amid Diplomatic Sensitivities
FTSE 100 Drops Over One Percent as Middle East Tensions Weigh on Markets
UK CO2 Plant Set to Reopen as Authorities Move to Safeguard Supplies Amid Middle East Tensions
×