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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Jennifer Newton

King Charles' Coronation guestlist - Meghan bombshell, Fergie 'snub' and everyday heroes

Planning for the Coronation is in its final stretch with invitations for the historic event sent to the great and good from around the world.

About 2,000 people are expected to pack into Westminster Abbey on May 6 for the spectacle, and some of the lucky ones who have scored an invite have already confirmed they'll be there.

The guestlist will see King Charles and Queen Camilla share the Abbey with members of their close and immediate families, foreign royals, world leaders, politicians and even ordinary folk.

So who has landed an invitation to the Coronation, who is attending and who won't we see there? Here we take a look...

Royal Family members

With the Coronation set to be one of the biggest royal events for 70 years, nearly all members of the Royal Family will be there to witness it.

Supporting Charles and Queen Camilla will be all of the working royals including the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children Prince George - who will be a page of honour - Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

King Charles' Coronation takes place on May 6 (Getty Images)

Others there will include Prince Edward and Sophie - the new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh - Princess Anne, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of York and Princess Alexandra.

Meanwhile wider family members expected to be there will include the likes of Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and Zara and Mike Tindall - but they won't appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony after the ceremony.

After months of speculation, it has now been confirmed that Prince Harry will also be at the Coronation - although his wife Meghan Markle will stay behind in California with their two children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

The Prince and Princess of Wales with their children George, Charlotte and Louis (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

One royal source with knowledge of the Coronation plans said the King was "likely to be delighted" that Harry would attend - despite his attacks on his relatives in his memoir Spare.

The insider said: "The King has previously spoken of loving both his sons and that remains the case.

"Harry would have deeply regretted not attending the ceremony.

"Archie's birthday has provided the perfect excuse for Meghan to stay behind and, with all things considered, it's probably the right thing to do."

Prince Harry will be at the Coronation - but Meghan will not (Getty Images)

However, it has been reported that one family member not to score an invitation is Sarah Ferguson, the King's former sister-in-law, who used to be married to Prince Andrew.

When it comes to Queen Camilla, her two children Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes will be there, along with her five grandchildren Lola, Freddy, Eliza, Louis and Gus - with her three grandsons announced as being among her pages of honour.

The other pages of honour are Lord Oliver Cholmondeley, 13, Nicholas Barclay, 13, Ralph Tollemache, 12, and 10-year-old Arthur Elliot.

Foreign royals

In what would be a break with tradition, foreign monarchs have also been invited to the Coronation.

It had been convention that no other crowned royals should be at the historic event - but it has been decided that this is a tradition that will not be upheld.

And royal houses from around the world have begun to confirm their attendance at the historic event, which will include various monarchs , prince and princesses.

King Felipe with Queen Letizia of Spain, who will be at the Coronation (Getty Images)

Among them will be King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain, Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco and King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, who will be accompanied by his daughter Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden.

Meanwhile other royals who aren't monarchs who have confirmed their attendance include Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, as well as Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko of Japan.

Politicians and peers

It is likely that some politicians and peers have landed invitations to the Coronation - but not all.

With space in the Abbey at a premium, not all will be able to attend - with The Telegraph reporting just 20 MPs and 20 peers are expected to be invited along with members of the Cabinet.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will be there on the big day (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Also there will be current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and former living PMs - Liz Truss, Boris Johnson, Theresa May, David Cameron, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair and John Major.

Politicians from devolved parliaments and assemblies are also expected there, including new Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf and Mark Drakeford, First Minister of Wales

World leaders

As well as politicians from the UK, a whole host of leaders from around the Commonwealth and the world have also been invited to the Coronation.

However, one big absentee will be the US president Joe Biden, who has already announced he will not be there but his wife and US First Lady Jill Biden will represent him.

US president Joe Biden will not attend but his wife and US First Lady Jill Biden will (PA)

Those definitely attending including the Polish President Andrzej Duda as well as all EU Presidents Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola and Charles Michel. president of the European Council.

Everyday heroes

But it's not just royalty, world leaders and politicians, there will also be more than 850 community and charity representatives from across the UK at ceremony.

Invitations to the May 6 service at Westminster Abbey in central London have been extended to more than 450 British Empire Medal (BEM) recipients in recognition of their contributions.

Among them is record-breaker Max Woosey, 13, dubbed "the boy in the tent", who raised more than £750,000 for North Devon Hospice by camping in his garden for three years.

Max Woosey who raised more than £750,000 for North Devon Hospice by camping in his garden for three years has scored a Coronation invitation (TIM ANDERSON)

Other BEM recipient invitees include Dawn Wood, a constable with Essex Police's marine unit, who became the second fastest woman to row solo across the Atlantic in February 2019, after a 3,000-mile journey from the Canary Islands to Barbados in 51 days.

Grandfather John Anderson, 72, from Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire, who was honoured for his community work throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, has also been invited.

Some 400 young people representing charities will also be able to watch the Coronation service and procession from the adjacent St Margaret's Church. The youngsters were nominated by the King and Queen Consort and the UK Government.

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