A delicate nod? King Charles III‘s coronation ceremony featured a efficiency by members of the identical choir that sang at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s royal wedding ceremony.
Charles, 74, and spouse Queen Camilla have been formally topped throughout a prolonged ceremony at London’s Westminster Abbey on Saturday, Might 6, surrounded by a number of members of the royal household, together with sons Prince William and Harry, 38. The historic event — the primary coronation since that of the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 — was overseen by the Archbishop of Canterbury and tried to place a contemporary spin on the royal custom.
In the course of the service, a gaggle of eight singers handpicked from the Kingdom Choir — dubbed the Ascension Choir — carried out a rousing rendition of “Alleluia (O Sing Praises).” The musicians have been led by Abimbola Amoako-Gyampah and wearing all-white ensembles as they paid homage to the monarch.
Saturday’s efficiency marked the primary time a gospel group has been included in coronation festivities, however the Kingdom Choir has participated in previous royal milestones. When Harry and Meghan, 41, tied the knot in Might 2018, the identical group sang Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me.”
The Sussexes mirrored on their romantic nuptials throughout their 2022 Netflix docuseries, Harry & Meghan. “, the world was watching us,” the prince stated. “However after we have been truly on the altar, so far as I used to be involved it was simply the 2 of us.”
Meghan’s pal Serena Williams, who attended the ceremony at St George’s Chapel, famous the importance of the gospel choir’s efficiency. “To have [Meghan’s] tradition represented in that wedding ceremony, it was superb. I liked it,” the previous tennis professional, 41, instructed the cameras. “I assumed it was actually brave and breaking boundaries however not attempting to.”
Harry and his spouse — who share son Archie, 4, and daughter Lilibet, 23 months — stepped down as senior working royals in 2020 and moved to California. The duo have continued to face ups and downs with the royal household within the years since, however the Spare creator put the drama apart to attend his father’s coronation on Saturday. (The ceremony occurred on the identical day Archie turns 4.)
Meghan, in the meantime, remained on the West Coast. “As a lot as Meghan appreciates the invite to the coronation, she wouldn’t miss her son’s birthday for the world,” a supply solely instructed Us Weekly final month after Buckingham Palace introduced her deliberate absence. “Regardless of being the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan is a mother first.”
A second supply instructed Us on the time that Charles was “unhappy” he wouldn’t have the ability to see his daughter-in-law. “Charles hoped the coronation could be an opportunity to higher join and preserve therapeutic between them,” the insider added.
The previous Prince of Wales, nonetheless, was “thrilled” that his youngest son could be making the journey abroad, per the supply.
Us confirmed on Friday, Might 5, that Harry had touched down within the U.Okay. He arrived at Westminster Abbey the subsequent day alongside his cousins Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice and their respective husbands, Jack Brooksbank and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, and took a seat within the third row of the church. The Archewell cofounder wore a morning go well with as an alternative of his army uniform.
Whereas William, 41, had an official position within the ceremony, Harry didn’t formally take part. Charles and different senior royals returned to Buckingham Palace after the coronation to make their look on the balcony, however Harry wasn’t with them within the automobile procession.
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Royal skilled Nick Bullen beforehand predicted that Harry’s go to overseas could be temporary. “I believe it’s fairly clear that he’s gonna decrease the period of time that he’s in London,” the editor-in-chief of True Royalty TV solely instructed Us in April, noting that the prince wished “to be again for Archie’s birthday” as quickly as attainable.