| Concert Name: | Coronation Concert |
| Artist: | various artists |
| Type: | Commemoration |
| Venue: | Windsor Castle |
| Duration: | 124 minutes (televised programme)[1] |
| Attendance: | 20,000 |
| Producer: | BBC Studios Events Productions |
The Coronation Concert was a British music concert, held outside Windsor Castle on 7 May 2023, in celebration of the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The concert, which was attended by 20,000 members of the public, took place between 20:30 and 22:04 (BST) and was hosted by actor Hugh Bonneville.[2] [3] The Prince of Wales paid tribute to his father in a short speech.[4]
The "Coronation Concert" was held at Windsor Castle's East Lawn.[5] [6] The BBC produced, staged, and broadcast the event. A national ballot was held between 10 and 28 February to distribute 5,000 pairs of free tickets for the public based on the geographical spread of the UK population.[5] [7] Volunteers from the King and Queen's charities were also among the audience.[5]
The event was broadcast in over 100 countries.[8] The stage enveloped the castle's parapet wall and featured multiple levels and four catwalks.[8] The overall shape resembled that of an abstracted Union Jack.[8] A halo-like screen was placed above the main stage, enveloping the roof, which symbolised the Crown protecting the nation.[8]
It was reported that all the acts performed "for free". BBC studios provided a hair and make-up team, but those artists who wanted to bring their own had to fund them themselves. Both Katy Perry and Lionel Richie were believed to have travelled to the UK by private jet.[9]
The concert featured performances from artists including a British Army orchestra, Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, Andrea Bocelli, Sir Bryn Terfel, Alexis Ffrench, Zak Abel, Take That featuring Robin Schulz and Calum Scott, Paloma Faith, Tiwa Savage, Steve Winwood, Lang Lang, Nicole Scherzinger, Olly Murs, Pete Tong, and Sonam Kapoor.[10] [11]
Tom Cruise, Dame Joan Collins, Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Sir Tom Jones, Hugh Jackman, Alan Titchmarsh, Richard E. Grant, Pierce Brosnan, Bear Grylls, Dynamo, Tracey Emin, Giovanna Fletcher, and Oti Mabuse appeared in a series of pre-recorded sketches and segments. In addition to performances by singers, musicians, and stage and screen actors, the show also featured the 300-voice "Coronation Choir", mentored by Gareth Malone, composed of community choirs and amateur singers such as refugee choirs, NHS choirs, LGBTQ+ singing groups, and deaf signing choirs.[5] [6] [12]
The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal College of Music and the Royal College of Art also performed together with actors Ncuti Gatwa and Mei Mac and ballet dancers Francesca Hayward and Marcelino Sambé.[8] [13]
Spoken word performances on the night were delivered by designer Stella McCartney and actor James Nesbitt, the latter reading a spoken word piece written for the occasion by Daljit Nagra, Chair of the Royal Society of Literature.[14]
Several musical performers – including Sir Elton John, Adele, Harry Styles, Robbie Williams, and the Spice Girls – reportedly turned down the palace's invitation to perform, citing scheduling conflicts.[15] Freya Ridings pulled out of the concert due to illness and was replaced by Zak Abel.[16]
During the performance of the Simple Minds song "Don't You (Forget About Me)", by Alexis Ffrench and Zak Abel, colourful drone displays took place above the stage at Windsor and at other venues across the country. The drones formed together to create different animals and moments in nature, including a blue whale, a bumblebee, a butterfly, a heron and a rabbit.[17]
The concert performances, in order, were:
Overnight viewing figures indicated the concert had an average audience of 10.1 million, peaking at 12.3 million.[22]