The new King and Queen of England aren’t afraid of a little PR.
Viewers of Sunday night’s American Idol episode got a royal surprise when the newly crowned couple appeared in a livestream alongside judges Katy Perry and Lionel Richie, who were in the U.K. to perform at King Charles‘ coronation.
In their Idol debut, the new King and Queen appeared from Windsor Castle. Before their on-screen entrance, Richie, 73, said the coronation was “unbelievable.”
“We’re trying to figure out what we can do to bring something different to the show,” he continued. Dressed in a glittering black jacket, Richie feigned nervousness as he welcomed his “surprise” into the room.
Perry, dressed in a silky green gown and large pearl necklace and teardrop earrings, curtsied as King Charles and Queen Camilla ambled into frame.
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“I just wanted to check, how long you will be using this room for?” King Charles coyly asked the American Idol judges.
He and Queen Camilla thanked Perry, 38, and Richie for their performances.
“Thank you so much. You’re brilliant as always,” he told the singers. “Fantastic, absolutely fantastic.”
Richie joked that King Charles was throwing a party “right next door.”
“Ah, you’ve heard about that,” King Charles replied. “We better take you to that, but you are busy with all these other things.”
Richie promised to join the party as soon as he and Perry were finished with the Idol message.
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Royal Recap: King Charles III crowning moment
Both American singers have ties to the British monarchy. Richie is a global ambassador for the Prince’s Trust, a U.K. youth employment and education charity, while Perry is an ambassador for the King Charles-founded British Asian Trust, which strives to eliminate poverty in South Asia.
While they performed at the coronation, British singer Ed Sheeran, who was in New York for a copyright lawsuit, and Canadian artist Alanis Morissette covered Idol hosting duties.
At the Sunday night coronation concert, Richie played the hit songs Easy (Like Sunday Morning) and All Night Long.
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Perry performed Roar and Firework as part of her own set. She took the stage in a large, gold Vivienne Westwood gown.
King Charles is now officially crowned. London’s coronation, the first in 70 years, saw Charles and his wife, Camilla, take hold of the royal sceptres and crown.
The Royal Family was out in spades, excluding Prince Harry’s wife, Meghan Markle, who did not take part. King Charles and Camilla both donned capes and purple crowns (Charles’ had over 400 jewels) as the ceremony took place in Westminster Abbey.
Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla wave to the crowds from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after their coronation ceremony, in London, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek).
King Charles III wearing the St Edward’s Crown during the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey, in London, Saturday May 6, 2023. (Andrew Matthews/Pool via AP).
King Charles III wearing the St Edward’s Crown and Queen Camilla wearing the Queen Mary’s Crown sit during the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey, in London, Saturday May 6, 2023. (Andrew Matthews/Pool via AP).
Royal dignitaries and heads of state were in attendance, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, as well as celebrities such as Katy Perry.
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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Sophie Trudeau arrive at Westminster Abbey prior to the coronation ceremony of Britain’s King Charles III in London Saturday, May 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung).
Prince Harry leaves Westminster Abbey after the Coronation of King Charles III in London, Saturday, May 6 2023. King Charles III and Queen Camilla, members of the Royal family and VIP’s gathered at Westminster Abbey for the Coronation service. (Dan Charity/pool photo via AP).
Katy Perry leaves Westminster Abbey after the coronation of King Charles III in London, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (Gareth Cattermole/Pool Photo via AP).
After Charles was crowned, the royal procession continued in a parade to Buckingham Palace, complete with golden carriages. A delegation of five Royal Canadian Mounted Police members joined in the parade.
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The carriage carrying King Charles lll and Queen Camilla proceeds during the Royal Procession following the King’s Coronation, in London on Saturday, May 6, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette.
Coldstream Guards stand to attention along The Mall ahead of the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in London, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (Richard Heathcote, Pool via AP).
Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers ride in front of King Charles lll and Queen Camilla’s carriage during the Royal Procession following the King’s Coronation, in London on Saturday, May 6, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette.
Once at Buckingham Palace, King Charles and Queen Camilla waved from the balcony as helicopters and Red Arrows jets flew overhead, the latter pouring out the colours white, blue and red.
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The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team otherwise known as The Red Arrows fly over Buckingham Palace during the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in London, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (Richard Heathcote, Pool via AP).
Britain’s King Charles III receives a royal salute from members of the military in the gardens of Buckingham Place, following the coronation of King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort, in London, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (Andrew Milligan/Pool via AP).
The coronation was only the second to be televised, after Queen Elizabeth II’s in 1953. Queen Elizabeth died Sept. 8, 2022, bringing the 74-year-old Charles to the throne.
King Charles III is the 40th sovereign to be crowned in Westminster Abbey and the oldest. Elizabeth held the longest reign in British history, lasting 70 years. Prince William is next in line for the throne and at the current age of 40, may not have to wait as long as Charles given his father’s age.
Prince William’s children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, ages nine, eight and five, respectively, were along for the ride Saturday. Louis was caught on camera taking a big yawn, adding to a string of antics from the children over the years and ceremonies.
The Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in Westminster Abbey. Photograph by Richard Pohle.
(left to right) the Duke of Edinburgh, the Earl of Wessex, Lady Louise Windsor, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence ,the Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal, Princess Charlotte, the Princess of Wales, Prince Louis, the Prince of Wales on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London, to view a flypast by aircraft. (Photo by Owen Humphreys/PA Images via Getty Images).
Britain’s Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis leave Westminster Abbey after the coronation of King Charles III in London, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (Gareth Cattermole/Pool Photo via AP).
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 06: Prince Louis of Wales smiles through the window as he travels with his family back to Buckingham Palace from Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Adrian Dennis – WPA Pool/Getty Images).
Not all were in favour of the monarchy continuing, though.
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Protesters also showed up to the coronation holding “Not my King” signs.
The leader of anti-monarchy group Republic was reportedly arrested by London police, along with five others.
TOPSHOT – A coach carrying Britain’s Prince William, Catherine, Princess of Wales and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis rides past anti-monarchy protesters following the coronation ceremony for Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 06: Police officers take away protesters near to the ‘King’s Procession’, a journey of two kilometres from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023, in London, England.
Photo by Justin Tallis – WPA Pool/Getty Images
Nevertheless and despite drizzly weather, crowds still showed up complete with umbrellas for the historic event.
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Royal fans watch the Britain’s King Charles III coronation ceremony on a screen in Hyde park, in London, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti).
British police arrested multiple people amid the coronation of King Charles III on Saturday, with anti-monarchy group Republic saying their head Graham Smith was among those detained.
Republic tweeted that Graham Smith was arrested along with five other members of their team and hundreds of placards were seized. It comes as London’s Metropolitan Police also confirmed the arrests of at least seven people, but did not give any names.
This morning, @GrahamSmith_ and 5 members of our team were arrested. Hundreds of placards were seized. Is this democracy? #NotMyKing#Coronation
“Is this democracy?” the tweet from Republic read.
Protesters could be seen Saturday morning carrying signs reading, “Not my King.”
Republic calls for the end of the monarchy.
Protesters hold placards ahead of the coronation of Britain’s King Charles III in London Saturday, May 6, 2023. Saturday, May 6, 2023. (Piroschka van de Wouw/Pool via AP).
London’s Metropolitan Police tweeted that a “significant police operation is under way in central London” around 8:30 a.m. local time.
“We have made a number of arrests in the area of Carlton House Terrace. The individuals have been held on suspicion of breaching the peace,” the police tweeted.
They then detailed that earlier in the day, four others were arrested in the area of St. Martin’s Lane and held on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance. Police said they seized “lock-on devices,” which can be used by protesters to lock themselves to public fixtures.
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Three others were arrested in the area of Wellington Arch, according to police, and held on “suspicion of possessing articles to cause criminal damage.”
Earlier today we arrested four people in the area of St Martin’s Lane.
They were held on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance.
In total, British police said they had arrested 52 people during the coronation for a range of offences, including breach of peace and conspiracy to cause a public nuisance. All those who had been detained remain in custody, London police said in a statement.
The arrests come after the Canadian government earlier in the week warned Canadians to exercise a “high degree of caution in the United Kingdom due to the threat of terrorism.”
“Previous incidents have resulted in casualties. They include random violent incidents in public areas, such as knife and vehicle attacks as well as explosions,” officials said in a May 2 travel advisory.
“These incidents have occurred mainly in the London area but have also happened elsewhere. Further attacks in the United Kingdom are likely.”
Police officers take away a protester close to the ‘King’s Procession’, a journey of two kilometres from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey in central London on May 6, 2023. (Photo by LOIC VENANCE / AFP) (Photo by LOIC VENANCE/AFP via Getty Images).
Police arrest an anti-monarchy demonstrators ahead of the procession of Britain’s King Charles III to Westminster Abbey for his coronation in London Saturday, May 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Scott Garfitt).
In 2019, a man previously convicted of terrorism offences stabbed two people to death and injured three others before being shot dead by police on London Bridge. In 2017, 30 people were injured after a homemade explosive device was partially detonated inside a crowded subway station.
Most recently, British police arrested a man Tuesday and blew up a suspicious bag outside Buckingham Palace.
Metropolitan Police said officers arrested a man in the evening after he approached the palace gates and asked to speak to a soldier. When he was refused, he began to throw shotgun cartridges into the palace grounds, the force said.
The man was searched and a lock knife was found, police said. He was arrested on suspicion of possession of a knife and ammunition, and the man’s backpack was blown up in a controlled explosion after the suspect told officers to handle it with care.
Coronation of King Charles III: A new King is crowned in Westminster Abbey
More than 9,000 officers are on coronation day duty in London as foreign dignitaries and heads of state, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, are in town visiting for the rare event.
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U.K. Security Minister Tom Tugendhat told Times Radio Wednesday that their presence makes the coronation “a very complex policing operation, a very complex intelligence operation.”
“The police are, to put it mildly, all over it, and our intelligence and other security forces are extremely aware of the challenges that we face and ready to deal with them — as the police did quite brilliantly yesterday,” he said.
“This is an enormously important moment for the country.”
— with files from Aaron D’Andrea and The Associated Press.
On Saturday, King Charles III was officially anointed and crowned as the King of the United Kingdom during the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London, England.
During the proceedings, the archbishop placed the St. Edward’s Crown atop of the royal’s head. A tradition since the 17th century, the crown was created for his namesake predecessor, King Charles II, in 1661, and is modelled after the original medieval crown, and features four crosses-pattée, four fleurs-de-lis, and two arches, mounted on a deep purple velvet cap and ermine band. The crown is inlayed with rubies, amethysts, sapphires, garnet, topazes, and tourmalines.
The crowning came while King Charles was seated in the coronation chair after pledging an oath of dedication to his duties as King of the United Kingdom. At the time, he was also vested with various garments and a sword belt worn by monarchs in past coronations.
After he was crowned, Prince William then pledged his allegiance to him before the public was invited to pay homage to his father, now the king.
King Charles III stands after being crowned during his coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey, on May 6, 2023 in London, England.
— Richard Pohle – WPA Pool/Getty Images
King Charles III‘s coronation on Saturday formalized his role as the head of the Church of England and marked the transfer of his title and powers.
His wife, Camilla Parker Bowles, will also be anointed and crowned as queen. Camilla will be the first divorcee to be crowned, and the coronation invitation that was released in April made headlines when it referred to her as Queen Camilla for the first time. Until then, she had been described as queen consort.
Prince Harry attended the coronation despite public family tension, though without his wife, Meghan Markle. Harry and Meghan’s Netflix docuseries, “Harry & Meghan”, which was released in December, and the duke’s bestselling memoir, Spare, which was released in January, were critical of the royal family and shared intimate details from the couple’s perspective.
When Marion Portelance plays in King Charles’s coronation concert on Sunday, she’ll be playing a cello with a special connection to the monarch.
The student from the Royal College of Music, who is originally from Montreal, will be playing on a William Forster cello from 1804 that is believed to the same one once owned and played by King Charles.
The 24-year-old says she’s honoured and excited to play at the concert, which follows Saturday’s coronation ceremony.
“It’s surreal to me to be able to participate in a historic event like this,” she said in an interview.
She said the instrument was played by King Charles during his days as a student. It was later sold to benefit charity, Portelance said, and then donated by the Linbury Trust to the Royal College of Music’s collection.
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“So, a lot of history and a beautiful instrument, and it sounds amazing,” she said.
Portelance is part of a string quartet that will perform a new arrangement of the song “Somewhere” from West Side Story, as part of a collaboration that includes the Royal Opera and the Royal Ballet. The Royal College of Art will provide a visual backdrop.
“It’s just a big collaboration of all sorts of arts and I think it represents really well the fact that King Charles was always a big advocate for the arts and especially for music,” said Portelance, who is a graduate of the Conservatoire de musique de Montreal.
Never-before-seen photos of King Charles
She said she was contacted a few months ago to ask if she was free the first weekend in May, but only later found out why.
Pop stars Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and opera singer Andrea Bocelli are among the headliners that are scheduled to be performing at Sunday’s concert at Windsor Castle.
Portelance got a chance to visit the site for the first time on Thursday for a rehearsal, which made the situation feel even more real.
Portelance said she’s more excited than nervous, but is trying not to think about whether the King will be paying special attention to her performance on the cello he used to play.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be in attendance along with other leaders from the Commonwealth nations.
While the main ceremony and procession are scheduled for Saturday at Westminster Abbey, Canada is also preparing to mark the occasion with a number of events planned over the weekend in Ottawa.
Here is a look at the entertainment for the coronation weekend.
On Sunday, a special coronation concert will be held at Windsor Castle.
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The concert is open to the public and will be broadcast on BBC starting at 8 p.m. BST (3 p.m. ET).
New rendered images have been released ahead of the star-studded concert on Sunday 7 May, produced by BBC Studios. Windsor Castle will host the spectacular live concert, with over 100 countries watching from around the world. pic.twitter.com/7Y75WWWeEx
While the palace has not released an official list of artists, several big names have confirmed they will be performing. Among them is American singer Lionel Richie, who met Charles during a garden party at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters there, Richie said performing at the coronation concert will be a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
“Pinch me somebody,” he said. “I’m so excited, I’m a kid at Christmas time.”
Britain’s King Charles III, left, reacts with U.S. singer Lionel Richie and Lisa Parigi, during a garden party at Buckingham Palace, London, Wednesday, May 3, 2023, in celebration of the coronation on May 6.
(Yui Mok/Pool via AP)
The concert will also feature British boy band Take That which is making a comeback.
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Members of the band – Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald told the BBC: “This will be our first live show since the Odyssey Tour, four years ago in 2019, and what a stage to come back on! A huge live band and orchestra, a choir, military drummers, the backdrop of Windsor Castle and the celebration of a new King. We can’t wait.”
Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli will also take the stage on Sunday, performing a duet alongside Welsh singer Sir Bryan Terfel.
U.S. pop artist Katy Perry is on the lineup reported on last month by the BBC. She is an ambassador of the British Asian Trust which was founded by Charles in 2020.
On Saturday at 10 am E.T. an hour-long event will take place at 144 Wellington Street in Ottawa.
“The celebratory event will bring together artists and speakers who reflect the values that Canada and His Majesty share, such as protecting the environment, service to others, and celebrating our country’s diversity,” says a statement from Canadian Heritage.
Algonquin group Eagle River Singers, slam poet Sabrina Benaim, singer–songwriter Florence K, the Ottawa Regional Youth Choir and traditional music group Inn Echo will be among the performers.
On Saturday and Sunday, Canadians will be able to visit the residence of the Governor General as well as the Rideau Hall grounds, where they can view a recording of the coronation ceremony.
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The Peace Tower and other federal buildings will be lit up in emerald green throughout the weekend.
Canada Post will unveil new stamps featuring the King.
With less than a month to go until King Charles’coronation, more details have been released about how the day will unfold and what he and Camilla, soon to be crowned queen, will wear.
The ceremony, which is set for May 6 at Westminster Abbey, will follow a grand procession that will start from Buckingham Palace, officials announced on Sunday.
King Charles and Camilla will travel to the abbey in the Diamond Jubilee Coach pulled by six Windsor Grey horses, according to the palace press release.
It’s the same carriage that was created for Queen Elizabeth II’s 60th anniversary on the throne in 2012.
The procession will pass by Admiralty Arch and run along Parliament Street before arriving at Westminster Abbey, where the coronation service will kick off at 11 a.m. British time (6 a.m. Eastern).
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After the coronation is complete, another procession will follow the same route back to Buckingham Palace.
For that, a heavier Gold State Coach will be drawn by eight horses. That carriage has been used at every coronation since 1831.
To wrap up the day’s festivities, the couple will be greeted upon their return to Buckingham Palace with a royal salute by members from the British armed forces and representatives from Commonwealth militaries followed by three cheers from the assembled service personnel.
‘Not my King!’: Anti-royal protesters greet Charles and Camilla at York cathedral
What will Charles and Camilla wear?
In addition to the procession routes, the palace also revealed details about the crown jewels that will be on display as the king and queen are crowned.
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King Charles will wear a ring composed of a sapphire with a ruby cross set in diamonds.
His orb will be made of gold and divided into three sections with bands of jewels. He will use two different sceptres.
FILE – The Koh-i-noor, or “mountain of light,” diamond, set in the Maltese Cross at the front of the crown made for Britain’s late Queen Mother Elizabeth, is seen on her coffin, along with her personal standard, a wreath and a note from her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, as it is drawn to London’s Westminster Hall, April 5, 2002.
AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File
As per tradition and as previously announced, the king will wear St Edward’s crown at the coronation service in Westminster Abbey.
It is the same crown his mother wore at her coronation in 1953.
It has a purple velvet cap and an ermine band. The crown’s gold frame is set with rubies, amethysts, sapphires, garnet, topazes and tourmalines.
At the end of the coronation service, Charles will swap that with the Imperial State Crown, which is also fitted with a purple velvet cap and an ermine band and adorned with jewels.
Meanwhile, Camilla’s ring is a ruby in gold setting.
As previously announced, she has chosen to wear Queen Mary’s Crown, which is undergoing some minor changes and additions ahead of the coronation.
A royal source tells ET that William and Kate will be making a decision about whether Louis will be attending his grandfather’s coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey on Saturday, May 6, closer to the time of the service.
During the Platinum Jubilee, Louis was spotted sticking his tongue out, shouting, and making silly faces during multiple public appearances.
He did not attend Queen Elizabeth II’s September funeral, though his older siblings, Prince George, 9, and Princess Charlotte, 7, were present.
However, in December 2022, Louis seemed to be on his best behavior making his royal Christmas debut at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Norfolk, England, with his parents and older siblings.
Though Louis’ exact coronation fate is yet to be determined, the royal source tells ET that the Wales’ children will “have a high-profile role at the coronation.”
Buckingham Palace previously announced that Prince George — the second in line to the British royal throne — will serve as a page of honor and will be joined by several of the Queen Consort, Camilla’s grandchildren during the coronation service.
A Kensington Palace spokesperson told ET, “We’re all very excited about Prince George’s role in the coronation. It will be an incredibly special moment.”
George, Charlotte and Louis are all expected to accompany their parents in a carriage during the coronation and will join their parents on the balcony of Buckingham Palace afterward.
