The Coronation of King Charles is nearing and is set to be one of the biggest historical events people - both in the UK and worldwide - have seen in 70 years.
The late Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in June 1953, with her eldest son King Charles III ascending the throne following her death in September 2022. The Monarch will be officially crowned at Westminster Abbey on May 6 with final preparations and plans being made to ensure the historic event runs smoothly.
Key members of the royal family are set to have big parts to play across the Coronation celebrations, but not all roles have been announced yet, writes the Mirror. While exact roles and duties haven't been confirmed by Buckingham Palace, there have been numerous reports on what we can expect to see - and here we take a look at them...
Queen Camilla
It won't just be King Charles being crowned at the Coronation, Queen Camilla is also part of the ceremony. Camilla will go through the same service as her husband and will eventually be crowned using Queen Mary’s Crown on the day.
This marks the first time that an already existing crown will be used during the Coronation of a Queen Consort instead of a new one being made. The Palace said this decision was "in the interests of sustainability and efficiency".
The Palace added that changes will be made to it by the Crown Jeweller "in keeping with the longstanding tradition that the insertion of jewels is unique to the occasion, and reflects the Consort’s individual style".
This update will see the crown reset with the Cullinan III, IV and V diamonds, which were part of Queen Elizabeth's personal jewellery collection for many years and often worn by her as brooches.
It's also been reported that Camilla's children and grandchildren will have a part to play in the Coronation proceedings. The Sunday Times reported that Camilla has asked her grandchildren to hold a canopy over her as she is anointed with holy oil during a part of the ceremony.
Her son Tom Parker Bowles has two children Lola, 15, and Freddy, 13, and her daughter Laura Lopes has Eliza, 15, and twins Louis and Gus, 13.
Prince William
Prince William is expected to play a large part in the Coronation as the future heir to the throne and next King.
According to the Sunday Times, William will pay tribute to his father during the ceremony, which will see him kneel and pledge allegiance to Charles as well as touching the crown and kissing the monarch's right cheek. The Prince of Wales will also reportedly take part in the huge procession after the service from Westminster Abbey back to Buckingham Palace before taking part in a balcony appearance.
Kate Middleton
According to rehearsal documents seen by The Times, the Princess of Wales will be joining other working royals taking part in the carriage procession and balcony appearance with her husband.
Dr Tessa Dunlop previously told the Mirror: "History suggests working royals will stand out. In 1953 the Queen’s sister Princess Margaret had her own coronation gown designed by Norman Hartnell, embroidered with roses and daisies and offset with a stunning Cartier tiara.
"She travelled to the Abbey with the Queen Mother and they sat in a box overlooking proceedings with a four-year-old Prince Charles squashed between them.
She continued: "A similar scenario for the Princess of Wales and her three children is likely – William and his offspring are next in line to the throne and coronations deliberately emphasise the order of precedence and succession. Like it or not this state occasion is all about royal hierarchy. Visual messaging through both costume and carriage will remind us who the future King and Queen are (whether the Sussexes like it or not!)"
Prince George
Prince George is one of the youngsters taking a key role on Coronation day, which is especially important to him as the future King. The eldest son of the Prince and Princess of Wales will be among the group of royals taking part in the procession from the Abbey - joining his parents in a carriage behind the King and Queen, who will be in the gold state coach.
However, as the young royal is now second-in-line to the throne it's been reported George might have his own stand alone role during the ceremony.
Sunday Times royal editor Roya Nikkhah previously told True Royalty TV's The Royal Beat: "They are very keen, but if George does have an official role, it will be quite low-key. They are very conscious that he will return to school on the Tuesday [after the Coronation], and they do not want him to be overwhelmed by the attention. But he may play a smaller official role."
Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis
Along with their older brother George, Princess Charlotte, who will be eight at the time of the Coronation, and Prince Louis, who will have turned five, are expected in the procession.
They will join the royals as they leave the Abbey and head back to Buckingham Palace in a huge procession. Princess Charlotte attended her great-grandmother the Queens funeral last September alongside big brother George, but Louis was deemed too young to attend the service.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have revealed they have been invited to King Charles' Coronation, but haven't announced whether or not they will attend.
A spokesperson for the couple confirmed they had been in contact with the Palace over the Coronation and would make a decision in due course.
As reported in The Times, if Harry and Meghan accept the invitation and attend as working royals, they could find themselves without official roles in the procession.
Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet
The Duke and Duchess of Sussexes two children recently revealed their royal titles after Princess Lilibet was christened in an intimate ceremony in the US. Archie and Lilibet are the two youngest grandchildren of the Monarch, with Archie turning four on the day of the Coronation and Lilibet almost two.
However, one royal historian says Archie should be invited to the Coronation if King Charles wants Meghan there.
Speaking on True Royalty TV's The Royal Beat, Dr Tessa Dunlop said: "It's his fourth birthday on the day of the Coronation... If you look at the footage of the 1953 Coronation, who was very prominent, albeit briefly? Prince Charles. He was four.
She added: "Archie on his fourth birthday is definitely not too young to attend the coronation. And if you want Meghan there, you need to invite her son."
Prince Andrew
It is unclear whether disgraced Prince Andrew will attend the Coronation in May, but it has been reported if he attends he won't have an official role in the celebrations.
The Mirror previously reported that the Duke of York is furious after being kept in the dark over a decision on whether he can dress in the grand velvet robes and glistening insignia denoting his position as a Knight of the Garter.
Charles is undecided whether to allow his brother to wear the theatrical regalia after Andrew was forced to step back from royal duties.
The King’s coronation will be a designated “Collar Day” meaning members of the Order of the Garter, the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry in Britain, may wear the regalia and collar that signifies the British orders of knighthood they belong to.
Andrew now faces being ordered to wear a lounge suit after he was stripped of his military appointment Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, although he remains a Vice Admiral because of his service in the Royal Navy.
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are not working members of the Royal Family - and hold down jobs outside the Firm. According to The Times, this will mean they will not play a role or be in the procession - similar to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle if they attend.
Other royals
Other than the King, Queen Consort, Prince and Princess and Wales and their family, there will some more members of The Firm with parts to play in the proceedings. According to The Times, these will include Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.
As well as Prince Edward and wife Sophie, who were recently granted the new titles of Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. Others are believed to include the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester as well as the Duke of Kent and his sister Princess Alexandra.
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