Not many dukes at the King’s Coronation as swathes of aristocrats are snubbed… but plenty of selfie-taking celebrities including Katy Perry, Dame Emma Thompson and Ant and Dec
- Royal fans were left scratching their heads at some of the lesser-known guests
The list of snubbed aristocrats was longer than the King’s sweeping Coronation robes – so eyebrows were raised at the ‘stars’ who did manage to bag invitations.
While dukes, peers and huge swathes of the great and good were denied a seat in Westminster Abbey, a parade of celebrities – including singer Katy Perry, actress Dame Emma Thompson and TV favourites Ant and Dec – flaunted their hottest tickets in town.
But Royal fans were left scratching their heads at some of the lesser-known guests – such as Stereophonics singer Kelly Jones and rocker Nick Cave, known as the ‘dark lord’ of goth music.
Many queried why magician Dynamo, real name Steven Frayne, was there, along with TV presenter Jay Blades, known for his role in the furniture restoring show Repair Shop.
Social media was ablaze, with one Twitter user joking: ‘Heavy that Charles doesn’t have enough mates so had to invite Kelly Jones and Dynamo.’
Katy Perry took selfies with fellow guests at the Coronation
The Oscar-winning actress, 64, could barely contain her glee as she gave a cheesy thumbs-up to photographers outside the cathedral
Ant and Dec – Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly – were so surprised to be asked along they feared their invitation was someone getting their own back for their TV pranks, where the pair have wound up a host of celebrities for the cameras
It is understood Dynamo owed his invitation to his role as an ambassador with The Prince’s Trust, Charles’s charity.
In the upper echelons of British high society, there have been bruised egos aplenty as the guest count was cut from the 8,000 invitees who attended Queen Elizabeth’s service at Westminster Abbey in 1953 to just 2,300 yesterday.
The Lord Chamberlain’s office at Buckingham Palace, responsible for organising the occasion, weeded out dukes, peers, MPs and anyone deemed surplus to requirements.
Then they went for the ‘plus ones’. In aristocratic circles, the cull was referred to as the ‘slash the spouses’, with even the wider Royal Family affected.
Lord Freddie Windsor’s actress wife lost out when one of the invitations dropped through their letterbox – with only his name on it.
So there was bafflement at some of the guests – including Dame Emma Thompson’s husband Greg Wise – who did receive invitations.
The Oscar-winning actress, 64, could barely contain her glee as she gave a cheesy thumbs-up to photographers outside the cathedral.
Pop star Katy Perry, who will perform at the Coronation concert tonight, captivated spectators as she wandered the Abbey looking like a lost lamb as she struggled to locate her seat.
The star wore a magnificent wide-brimmed fascinator, which some suggested had impaired her ability to navigate through the aisles.
Repair Shop star Jay Blades was seen outside the Abbey ahead of the King’s Coronation
Absolutely Fabulous star Dame Joanna Lumley, 77, arrived wearing a navy gown with white lapels
Celebrated musician Nick Cave and former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, arrived at the Abbey together
Ant and Dec – Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly – were so surprised to be asked along they feared their invitation was someone getting their own back for their TV pranks, where the pair have wound up a host of celebrities for the cameras.
Dec said yesterday: ‘It comes through the door and you think, ‘Hang on a minute, is it finally our time to get wound up?’ ‘
Lionel Richie, 73, was in the Abbey explaining how he got the call-up for tonight’s Coronation concert from his friend King Charles, a professional lip reader claimed.
The Dancing On The Ceiling singer was all smiles, chatting to guests including London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
Dame Judi Dench, Stephen Fry, BBC director-general Tim Davie, comedian Andy Hill and Andrew Lloyd Webber also attended.
Absolutely Fabulous star Dame Joanna Lumley, 77, arrived wearing a navy gown with white lapels.
She said afterwards it had been an ‘extraordinary’ occasion, telling Sky News: ‘It was a bit like a cocktail party because you seem to know everybody who’s coming in.’
Stephen Fry (left) as well as Magician Dynamo and Kelly Jones (right) were also in attendance at the ceremony
Lionel Richie is seen taking his seat in the Abbey, where he chatted to Mayor of London Sadiq Khan
There was speculation when two of the best known first ladies in the world – America’s Jill Biden (middle) and Ukraine’s Olena Zelenska (right) – were seated at the back of the Abbey, behind lesser-known representatives from countries including Serbia, Slovakia and Macedonia
The King and Queen’s Gold State Coach, surrounded by the Coronation Procession of troops taken from across the Commonwealth, returns to Buckingham Palace via The Mall
There was speculation when two of the best known first ladies in the world – America’s Jill Biden and Ukraine’s Olena Zelenska – were seated at the back of the Abbey, behind lesser-known representatives from countries including Serbia, Slovakia and Macedonia.
However, it is understood that the seating plan was alphabetical, meaning the USA and Ukraine were placed together, behind countries beginning with letters at the start of the alphabet.
The incendiary guest list included Chinese vice-president Han Zheng, blamed for overseeing a crackdown on freedoms in Hong Kong, and Sinn Fein leader Michelle O’Neill.
Meanwhile, there was no sign of some expected celebrities, such as David and Victoria Beckham.
The Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, who was also not there, tweeted that she had ‘the bunting out’.
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