King Charles' coronation is in crisis as several A-list celebrities have snubbed his invitations to perform at the ceremony in May. Read on to find out the artists' reasons for declining the invites.
King Charles III, along with his wife Camilla, will be officially crowned as King and Queen Consort at His Majesty's Coronation on May 6. The ceremony, which will be held at Westminster Abbey in London, is one of the most symbolically monumental rituals in the UK's history. The last time it took place dates back to 1953 when Princess Elizabeth II ascended the throne and became Queen Elizabeth II.
As a national royal celebration, the Coronation is expected to feature a constellation of big stars in the UK. According to the Rolling Stones, at the last major royal celebration in June 2022 to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, A-list celebrities, including Queen + Adam Lambert, Diana Ross, Alicia Keys, Elton John, Craig David, Elbow, Sir Rod Stewart, and Celeste, were all performing.
Traditionally, the day after the big event there will be an evening Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle, which would draw the biggest names in the British entertainment industry. But this time, despite the splendor of King Charles' upcoming Coronation, it looks like many A-list entertainers are not interested in performing.
Embarrassing snubs from megastars
The Sun previously reports that King Charles has suggested a number of entertainers he would love to have at his Coronation. Among these names are Adele and Ed Sheeran, two of the most popular British singers of the century.
Despite being top of the King's wish list, both the Hello singer and the Shape Of You star have declined to perform. While Ed cited logistics and previous touring commitments, Adele wouldn't make it due to her current residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
A royal source told OK! that it was such a 'disappointment':
'There is a team set up to get the talent signed up so they approached the two of them, but got replies saying that they were unavailable, which was a massive disappointment. They are titans of the showbiz industry and are quintessentially British but also known across the globe. It’s such a shame.'
Latest stars to decline the invites
According to Forbes, Harry Styles was also invited but the former One Direction star has also snubbed the offer as he will be headlining his Love On Tour for Coventry in May.
Despite organizers' attempts to secure world-class artists for the event, the majority have declined the invitation, leaving a huge hole in the lineup. Even those who initially showed interest, such as Sir Elton John and the Spice Girls, have had to cancel due to prior commitments.
The 90s British girl band will not be reuniting due to a lack of rehearsal time for its five original members, especially the singer-turned-fashion icon Victoria Beckham.
Meanwhile, Elton John's snub is rather surprising as the Rocket Man star was a lifelong friend of the late Princess Diana. According to Time, he will be performing on a European tour and won't have enough time to rehearse for the King's concert.
Another significant absence is Robbie Williams, a former member of Take That. However, the band's other members including Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, and Mark Owen are set to headline the concert.
According to sources, the latest celebrity to decline the invitation is Kylie Minogue. The Australian pop star is said to have refused to perform at the coronation concert due to the growing Republican sentiment in her home country. She was reportedly advised that the gig would not go down well with her Australian fans, given the recent discussions around constitutional reform that have taken place since the death of Queen Elizabeth II last September.
Who is set to perform at the Coronation?
The Mirror reports that US soul legend Lionel Richie is said to be opening the concert, along with a possible performance from Beatles legend Paul McCartney.
British musician and The X Factor alumnus Olly Murs is also expected to join the lineup but this is yet to be confirmed.
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⋙ A-list British artists decline King Charles' invitation to perform at Coronation
