Windsor Castle to host star-studded concert during coronation weekend

A star-studded concert will take place at Windsor Castle as part of the coronation weekend in May.

The coronation of the King and the Queen Consort will be taking place at Westminster Abbey on Saturday May 6.

Buckingham Palace said ‘the service will reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry..

There are also plans for the coronation weekend – which will include a bank holiday in on Monday, May 8 – to bring lots of opportunities ‘for people to come together in celebration of the historic occasion’.

On Saturday, May 7 there will be a special coronation concert which will take place at Windsor Castle.

Produced, staged and broadcast live by the BBC and BBC Studios, the concert will ‘bring global music icons and contemporary stars together in celebration of the historic occasion’.

Attended by a public audience including volunteers from The King and The Queen Consort’s charity affiliations, the concert will see a ‘world-class orchestra play interpretations of musical favourites fronted by some of the world’s biggest entertainers, alongside performers from the world of dance’.

The performances will be supported by staging and effects located on the Castle’s East Lawn and the event will also feature a selection of spoken word sequences delivered by stars of stage and screen.

Through a national ballot held by the BBC, several thousand members of the public will be selected to receive a pair of free tickets for the concert.

The show will also see an exclusive appearance from The Coronation Choir.

This diverse group will be created from the nation’s keenest community choirs and amateur singers from across the United Kingdom, such as refugee choirs, NHS choirs, LGBTQ+ singing groups and deaf signing choirs.

The Coronation Choir will appear alongside The Virtual Choir, made up of singers from across the Commonwealth, for a special performance on the night.

The centrepiece of the coronation concert, ‘Lighting up the Nation’, will see the country join together in celebration as iconic locations across the United Kingdom are lit up using projections, lasers, drone displays and illuminations.

On the same day (Sunday, May 7), neighbours and communities are invited ‘to share food and fun together” in an event called the Coronation Big Lunch.

Thousands of events are expected to take place across the UK, including in streets, gardens, parks and community spaces.

Furthermore, on Monday, May 8, The Big Help Out is being organised by The Together Coalition and a wide range of partners such as The Scouts, the Royal Voluntary Service and faith groups from across the United Kingdom.

The Big Help Out will highlight the positive impact volunteering has on communities across the nation.

It will encourage people to try volunteering for themselves and join the work being undertaken to support their local areas.