King Charles III: the coronation anthem written by a great composer

Only a few weeks separate King Charles III from his coronation ceremony. If the main decisions have already been taken, it has just been revealed the name of the composer who has been chosen by the father of Prince William to realize the anthem of this historical moment.

The coronation of King Charles III is approaching. And many decisions still need to be made for this historic moment to take place perfectly. The eldest child of Queen Elizabeth II has personally chosen the music for the ceremony that will be held at Westminster Abbey on May 6. While it will have a traditional tone with pieces by classical composers such as William Byrd, George Handel and Sir Edward Elgar, there will also be Greek Orthodox music in memory of the King’s father, Prince Philip, and a gospel choir.

Twelve new pieces have also been commissioned for the occasion, including the Coronation Anthem. The latter will be composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, known worldwide for his musicals including Cats and The Phantom of the Opera, revealed the BBC on Sunday, February 19. The composer said he wanted his anthem to reflect a “joyous occasion”. Camilla Parker Bowles, the Queen Consort, will be crowned alongside the King.

Following the wishes of Charles III, only 2,000 people will receive the precious ticket to attend the coronation, which will be broadcast in its entirety on television. Seventy years earlier, more than 8,000 people attended the coronation of Elizabeth II. Another important change is that the ceremony should last no more than one hour, as opposed to three hours on June 2, 1953. In total, the coronation festivities for King Charles III will take place over three days, between May 6 and 8.

The first day of the festivities will be devoted to the inevitable ceremony during which the King and Queen Consort will be crowned in a religious ceremony. On May 7, a big concert at Windsor Castle will be organized and broadcast by the BBC. Monday, May 8 will be a public holiday, as Buckingham Palace wants to raise awareness and encourage people to volunteer. As for whether Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be there, no one can answer the question. One thing is certain though, if they are invited and decide to attend this historic moment, they will not play any particular role.

Photo credits: Julien Burton / Bestimage