Footballer Sam Kerr will lead a contingent of prominent Australians at King Charles’s coronation next week after being named as the official flag bearer for the ceremony in London.
The Matildas captain will lead a delegation that includes the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, the governor general, state governors and a number of other representatives at the event at Westminster Abbey.
Singer/songwriter Nick Cave, comedian Adam Hills, artist Jasmine Coe and nurse Emily Regan are among the other “outstanding Australians” chosen to represent the nation along with Kerr.
“I’m honoured to represent Australia at the coronation of the King and the queen consort, a historic occasion,” Albanese said. “I am proud to join a group of remarkable Australians who will also attend the coronation, showcasing our truly diverse and dynamic nation.”
In releasing details of the delegation, the government confirmed several events will be held in Australia to mark the coronation. On 6 and 7 May, significant buildings and monuments around Australia will be illuminated in royal purple while a national 21-gun salute will be conducted outside Parliament House in Canberra on 7 May.
Kerr, who was awarded an Order of Australia for her services to football in 2022, will lead Australia’s charge at the Women’s World Cup on home soil later this year. The 29-year-old striker is widely considered one of the best players in the world, and her form is likely to determine how far the Matildas go at the tournament which starts on 20 July.
She has been regularly nominated for top global awards and is Australia’s all-time leading international goalscorer, in either men’s or women’s football. Her appointment as flag bearer comes soon after her hopes of contesting a Women’s Champions League final were dashed on Friday morning AEST, as her Chelsea side were held to a 1-1 draw by Barcelona, who advanced 2-1 on aggregate.
