King Charles‘ coronation took place on May 6, 2023 at Westminster Abbey in London with incredible performances from Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, Andrea Bocelli, and Take That. But, these weren’t necessarily the King’s first choice in performers. As Fox News noted, multiple reports claimed that Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Elton John, Robbie Williams, Adele, Ed Sheeran and the Spice Girls all declined to perform at a concert the following day on the grounds of Windsor Castle. Here’s what we know:
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Multiple Musical Acts Reportedly Turned Down Performing At Charles' Coronation Due To 'Scheduling Conflicts'
Charles, 74, acceded to the throne on September 8, 2022, following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who passed at the age of 96. As for why these notable musical acts are reportedly turning down the chance to help ring in Charles' and his wife Camilla's big day, royal experts are stressing that this is mainly due to "scheduling conflicts."
In Omid Scobie's new bombshell book, Endgame, he reveals that Taylor Swift was one of the many artists that were asked to perform, but had to turn the offer down due to other obligations, namely, The Era's Tour. On May 6th, the day of Charles' coronation, Taylor was performing in Nashville, so it makes sense that she wasn't available for the huge event across the pond.
In an interview with Fox News, Christopher Andersen, royal expert and author of The King said, "People are reading way too much into what really amounts to scheduling conflicts. It's highly doubtful that anyone would turn down the invitation to perform at the coronation." He continued, "It's a singular moment in history, and, frankly, just too massive a gig."
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Fellow royal expert Shannon Felton Spence agreed. "King Charles has a ton of goodwill in the entertainment industry," she said. "The Prince’s Trust supports performers and often engages celebrities in its work. Many musicians have a real affinity for the king, so I am confident this doesn’t reflect anything other than scheduling conflicts."
Some fans on Twitter, however, didn't think it was solely about scheduling issues for Elton John. The classic rock icon, as some on social media are pointing out, was embarking on his "Farewell" tour, but was also a close friend of the late Princess Diana. The "Rocket Man" singer, 75, famously performed at Lady Di's funeral in 1997 and it would be "strange," as one user wrote, for him to play for her "ex-husband and his former mistress'" big occasion.
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As for Harry Styles and Ed Sheeran, they were also on tour and couldn't be in London on Coronation Day. Robbie Williams was touring the globe as well.
While many fans were hoping for a Spice Girls reunion at the coronation, Victoria Beckham notably explained to Andy Cohen last year that it was not in the cards. "I had so much fun being in the Spice Girls," the 48-year-old said on Watch What Happens Live. "But I think now with everything else I’ve got going on – with my fashion, and my beauty line, four children – I couldn’t commit to that."
Regarding Adele, multiple reports alleged that she "turned down the invitation without explanation." The "Easy On Me" singer, 34, wasn't scheduled to perform publicly after March 25th and she told fans during a performance at her Las Vegas residency that she's fighting chronic back pain and sciatica.
What were the coronation performance predictions?
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams predicted that members of the British boy band Take That, Kylie Minogue and Lionel Richie might make an appearance, calling it a "promising" guess. The expert also noted to Fox News that Rod Stewart performed at the late queen’s Platinum Jubilee concert, so he could've been an option. Stevie Wonder memorably played a set at the Diamond Jubilee, adding another option to the list, he said.
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"An unforgettable moment from the queen’s Golden Jubilee was the lead guitarist of Queen, Brian May, playing the national anthem from Buckingham Palace’s rooftop," Fitzwilliams also said. "This was the dramatic opening of the concert, and it was a fantastic idea. During the Diamond Jubilee concert, the English pop band Madness transformed the facade of Buckingham Palace into their own terraced street and sang from its roof. Such moments make indelible memories. King Charles will want a coronation concert at Windsor which is memorable in a very special way, too."
