Comeback of a former boy band, Kermit the Frog struggling for the best seat and grooving royals: Around 20,000 people watched the coronation of King Charles III on Sunday evening against the spectacularly illuminated backdrop of Windsor Castle. and his wife Camilla celebrated with a star-studded concert. The day after, many Britons then celebrated the coronation of their monarch with voluntary work.
The concert in the “Garden of the Royal Family”, as the British actor Hugh Bonneville (“Downton Abbey”, “Paddington”) moderated the spectacle in Windsor, was the party highlight of the coronation weekend. With spring-like temperatures and a sunny festival atmosphere, opera greats like Andrea Bocelli performed, but also pop stars like Lionel Richie and Katy Perry as well as a coronation choir consisting of several hundred voices. The 300 performers who sang Emile Sande’s “Brighter Days” together included a fire brigade choir, a deaf choir and a South Asian choir.
Dancers from the Royal Ballet collaborated with the Royal Shakespeare Company and other royal artistic institutions in honor of Charles. They performed a mixture of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” and Leonard Bernstein’s musical “West Side Story”.
Take That rocken die Royals
As rock legend Steve Winwood sang “Higher Love” with the Commonwealth Choir, made up of participants from various British ex-colonies, Charles’ niece Zara Tindall and husband Mike danced in their seats. The finale was an acclaimed performance by the former boy band Take That, during which the other royals could no longer keep their seats. Speculations that not only the three current members of the group could take part in the concert, but also ex-members Robbie Williams and Jason Orange, did not come true.
Heir to the throne Prince William addressed personal words to the newly crowned king from the stage: “We are so proud of you, Pa,” he said towards the covered Royal Box, where Charles and Camilla with many other royals – including Prince Andrew – watched the concert. Again and again heads and camera lenses turned obliquely upwards to the seats of the royal family.
In Windsor there was no sign of opponents of the monarchy, as seen the day before in central London: those who were there probably had nothing against the monarchy – or even tended to like it, as crowns, flags and T-shirts revealed. Half of the approximately 20,000 concert tickets were raffled among interested people from the British population – people who have done something special were also invited. According to the BBC, around 10 million Brits watched the concert in front of their TV sets.
Much criticism of the police operation against critics of the monarchy
The uncompromising actions of the police against the demonstrators on Saturday made headlines two days later. The chair of the responsible committee in the London City Council (London Assembly) announced that the processes would be processed. Police recently arrested 64 people during the ceremony, many on suspicion they might disrupt public order. This was made possible by a new law that gives the police considerable discretion. Critics see the freedom of demonstration in danger.
The big names of British pop stayed away from the festival in Windsor on Sunday: Ed Sheeran, Elton John, Adele and Harry Styles are said to have turned down invitations. “If Harry Styles had come, I would have gone crazy,” said a young woman with a red, white and blue headdress on the way back.
Kermit the Frog in the Royal Box
Instead, the BBC – official organizer of the concert – offered several optical and humorous highlights: Illuminated drones painted flowers and animals in the night sky as a tribute to Charles’ love of nature. The sandstone-colored Windsor Castle shone sometimes in gold, sometimes covered in flowers, then in the colors of the Union Jack. Kermit the Frog was allowed to annoy the presenter from time to time, ultimately even making it into his coveted Royal Box, where he was seen alongside Prince Edward.
“Coronations are an announcement of our hopes for the future,” William quoted his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, as saying at the concert. The core of the British Royals may hope for further stability of the monarchy – at least on this evening their future seemed certain for the time being.
The royal party continued on Monday, albeit much more soberly. On the day, which was specially declared a public holiday, many Britons followed the king’s call to get involved in voluntary activities. The organizers expected several million participants. How many actually rolled up their sleeves could not be estimated at first. According to official figures, voluntary work in British society has been declining for years. Whether the new king can turn that seems questionable.
