From members of the Royal Family attending a rehearsal in the capital tomembers of the Armed Forces conducting rehearsal processions under the cover of darkness, the countdown toKing Charles III’s coronation is well and truly underway.
In what will be the first coronation since Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in 1953, thousands of guests will gather at Westminster Abbey on Saturday 6 May to watchKing Charles formallycrowned in a service conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
But ahead of the historic occasion, hear from celebrities close to the monarch who have shared their memories of the King, revealing a dedicated but fun-loving man behind the pomp and ceremony…
Dame Joanna Lumley
On BBC Breakfast in 2020, the Absolutely Fabulous star, 77, who is part of Sky TV’s coronation coverage team, praised the King’s involvement in the arts.
“He has always supported actors and the performing arts and music and culture,” she revealed. “He has always been a great patron. And for him, off his own back, to suddenly think of how he could best help the acting profession and all the backstage and everything that goes on, which has just hit a brick wall and been practically vanquished in this terrible year.”
Carol Vorderman MBE
The presenter, 62, became friends with the King through his Prince’s Trust charity.
“I wish King Charles every element of peace, joy and strength during his reign,” she said. “I believe he will become a great King. He has championed environmental issues and young people.
“One thing I know beyond any doubt is that King Charles believes that no matter your background, no matter your story so far, there is goodness and a hope within us all.”
Lionel Richie
The All Night Long singer, 73, will be performing at the Coronation Concert.
“I know him as a wonderful person,” he said of King Charles. “I never thought performing at the coronation would come up. It’s A, a surprise, B, an honour, and C, the fact of all the names out there, he called my name. This is the grandiose of grandiose right here.”
Jennie Bond
From 1989 to 2003, the journalist, now 72, was the BBC’s royal correspondent.
“My first royal assignment was reporting for the BBC on a tour of Australia in 1988. In the 35 years that have followed, I’ve come to know our new King much better. I know he still has an eye for detail – and particularly for anything mildly quirky,” she said.
“In the 80s, I had a habit of wearing white stilettos wherever I went, even though sometimes my job took me to places where white stilettos simply didn’t belong.
That was how I found myself stumbling uncomfortably through a field of corn stubble in New Zealand as the Prince drove by in a Land Rover. He leant casually out of the window, smiling. ‘Ah,’ he chortled. ‘I see you have the wrong shoes again, Miss Bond!’
“The royal family rarely see life as it is for the rest of us. The old adage about everywhere smelling of fresh paint when a royal visit takes place is true. And it’s not what the family wants.
“On a trip to India in 1992, I was travelling with Prince Charles to a slum on the outskirts of New Delhi. It turned out to be the cleanest, freshest smelling slum you could ever encounter. Afterwards, he turned to me and said he wished he could just stop the car somewhere and march in unannounced.
“Sadly, that is never likely to happen.”
Jay Blades MBE
The 53-year-old furniture restorer and presenter of The Repair Shop met King Charles when he appeared on a special episode of the BBC show.
“It was a real joy and an honour to be working with him,” he said. “We just got on like a house on fire. You’ve got someone from a council estate and someone from a royal estate that have the same interests about apprenticeships and heritage crafts.
“I’m an ambassador for his charity and he’d invited me three times [to his home] to have a look around, spend the night and have a sleepover.”
Naomi Campbell
Catwalk queen Naomi, 52, has met the King many times since they first crossed paths at a Versace fashion gala in 2001.
“Approachable is how I would describe His Majesty King Charles III,” she said. “Meeting him in Lagos was a highlight. I remember him being at his most charming there. I have respect for the fact that he cares to visit Africa and is passionate about what is happening on the continent. I wish him a great reign and all the success.”
Dame Joan Collins
The acting legend, 89, has spent many memorable moments with King Charles.
“His Majesty King Charles has always been charming, with a wonderful voice and a dry, dry sense of humour,” she said. “I met him for the first time at the charity ball that Armand Hammer gave in Palm Beach, Miami, in the 1980s. We had a little dance together. He’s quite a good dancer.
“Another time, we sat together at the Safeway picnic concert in aid of the Prince’s Trust, where Diana Ross and Shirley Bassey performed, of whom he’s a great enthusiast. He loves modern music and was jiving along.”
Bear Grylls OBE
TV adventurer and official Chief Scout, 48.
“The King is an adventurer at heart, he’s a great walker and he’s a great hiker. It’s always a privilege in my work life to introduce amazing people to the outdoors, but he doesn’t need to be introduced to the outdoors,” he said.
Carolyn Robb
Chef to then Prince Charles for 11 years from 1989.
“Charles always had a modest amount of meat in his diet and everything had to be in season – so no imported strawberries in December,” she recalls.
“These are things we now understand as being far better for the environment. I’d prepare home cooking with the freshest ingredients. Leftovers would go into a quiche the next day. Scraps that were safe for chickens to eat went into the ‘chicken bucket’ and every morning he would go out and feed them.
“Charles is going to be amazing as King. He’s a kind, understanding person who also gets things done. I’ve never, met anyone so hard working, yet he’d still find time to write little notes saying ‘Thank you, that was delicious.’”
Luke Evans
As a celebrity ambassador for the Prince’s Trust, the 44-year-old Welsh actor has met the King several times.
“Meeting King Charles has always been a very enjoyable experience. I think that’s one thing you notice when you’re with him: his company. It doesn’t matter what walk of life you’re from, what age you are, he finds a common ground, and makes you feel that you deserve to be there,” he said.
“He’s an honorary Welshman, too, and has been a wonderful representative of our country.”
Sarah, Duchess of York
The King’s former sister-in-law, 63, on his role as the head of the royal family.
“I can think of no better person for the job. I just admire him and everything he does so much,” she said.
“It is a really exciting new chapter and a new way ahead. I think the coronation is going to be a wonderful moment to unite the nation and we will all be out there celebrating.”
Gyles Brandreth
The author and presenter, 75, has known King Charles for several years.
“I think in these troubled times, it’s reassuring to have an older king,” he said. “What’s good about King Charles is that he has been around for as long as most people can remember. He’s part and parcel of the show. People have a good sense of what they’re getting.
“Charles is also a workaholic. He’s a powerhouse of energy."
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