UKTV and BBC News unveil programming line-up to mark King Charles III Coronation – Join UKTV and BBC News this May as we celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty the Queen Consort with a special line up of programming.
UKTV
It all starts on Thursday May 4 at 8.30pm with The Queen’s Coronation in Colour. We take a look back at the most lavish ceremony that saw 27-year old Princess Elizabeth crowned Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey. This film takes us behind the scenes of the most elaborate ceremony of the 20th century with the Royal Family, its organisers, and those who made it a unique occasion.
On Saturday May 6th, UKTV will broadcast the Coronation of King Charles III and The Queen Consort with coverage beginning at 4.30pm. The live broadcast will cover all the ceremonial events as they unfold throughout the day, from the early military movements to the formal processions, and will give audiences a look at the ceremonial route from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey.
On the day, Kristy Young will be in a studio at Buckingham Palace and JJ Chalmers will speak to members of the military as they prepare for one of the largest parades in living history. Huw Edwards will provide commentary as the doors of Westminster Abbey open and Sophie Raworth will be outside speaking to guests as they arrive, Clare Balding will provide commentary for the ceremonial route, and Anita Rani will join the gathered crowds.
UKTV will give audiences a front row seat on the ceremonial route from Buckingham Place to Westminster Abbey. Bespoke commentary, starting from the atmosphere on the streets of London as the street-liners take position, will set the scene for the departure of Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort from Buckingham Palace.
In Westminster Abbey, thousands of guests from the UK and around the world will gather, including politicians past and present, faith leaders, The King and Queen Consort’s patronages and members of the Royal Family. With the arrival of Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort, UKTV will capture the unique Coronation Service in all its majesty.
The architectural splendour of The Abbey will be a breath-taking backdrop to the words and music of the Order of the Service. The day will continue with the return procession to Buckingham Palace. As the Royal Family are received at The Mall, UKTV will capture the moment that the nation welcomes its newly crowned monarchs before the events culminate in the balcony appearance.
On Monday the 8th of May at 8.30pm, UKTV will broadcast the unique Coronation Concert that will take place at Windsor Castle to celebrate the Coronation.
The Coronation Concert will bring music icons and contemporary stars together in celebration of this historic occasion. Take That, Lionel Ritchie and Katy Perry will be among the artists performing, along with opera singers Andrea Bocelli and Sir Bryn Terfel. The singer-songwriter Freya Ridings and classical-soul composer and producer Alexis Ffrench will also grace the stage in the grounds of Windsor Castle. The performances will be supported by staging and effects located on the Castle’s East Lawn and will also feature a selection of spoken word sequences delivered by stars of stage and screen.
Alongside the stars of the concert, the show will also see an exclusive appearance from The Coronation Choir. The 300 strong choir will include singing groups ranging from London Cabbies, an all-deaf sign performance group, a Northern Irish farming community and an LGBTQ+ choir; to a Gaelic choir hailing from the Western Isles of Scotland, Hull’s NHS choir, a traditional male voice choir from Caerphilly and a refugee choir, also from Wales.
The concert will be attended by a public audience including volunteers from The King and The Queen Consort’s many charity affiliations. It will see a 74 piece world-class classical orchestra to include the strings of the Countess of Wessex String Orchestra and woodwind, brass and percussion sections from the Bands of the Household Division play interpretations of musical favourites fronted by fantastic entertainers, alongside performers from the world of dance and the arts.
In addition to the weekend coverage, UKTV will continue to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III and the Queen’s Consort, by airing a royal strand of documentaries each Thursday night at 8.30pm, running from Thursday May 4, right through to the end of August.
The series that feature will include, Prince Son and Heir: Charles at 70, The Windsor’s: Inside the Royal Dynasty, Hampton Court – Series 1, Hampton Court: Behind Closed Doors, Fashioning A Monarch, Picturing Elizabeth: Her Life in Images plus more.
BBC News
In the days leading up to the Coronation, BBC News will feature dedicated programming looking at the preparations for the event, examining how the UK, the Commonwealth, monarchy and the new King and Queen are perceived and what’s changed since the last coronation in 1953 – which was ground-breaking for live TV coverage.
BBC News will also be broadcasting the Coronation ceremonial event live from 4.30pm to 8.00pm on Saturday May 6th. This coverage will also include all the ceremonial events as they unfold throughout the day, from the early military movements to the formal processions, and will give audiences a look at the ceremonial route from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. On the day, BBC News will have the same presenter line-up to inform, educate and entertain viewers including Kristy Young, JJ Chalmers, Huw Edwards, Sophie Raworth, Clare Balding and Anita Rani.
With the arrival of Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort, BBC News will capture the Coronation Service in all its majesty.
The architectural splendour of The Abbey will be a breath-taking backdrop to the words and music of the Order of the Service. The day will continue with the return procession to Buckingham Palace. As the Royal Family are received at The Mall, BBC News will too capture the moment that the nation welcomes its newly crowned monarchs before the events culminate in the balcony appearance.
The coverage will also feature reporting from teams around the world and major Commonwealth nations including Australia, who will provide global context and reflect on the legacy of the monarchy.
BBC coverage can be seen on UKTV and BBC news which are available with Foxtel and Fetch subscriptions and online through bbc.com, which will be offering real-time updates, analysis and reactions to the major moments throughout the day.
Media Release – BBC
Link to BBC News HERE
TV Central BBC content HERE
