One of the world's biggest events takes place this Saturday, 6^th of May 2023, at Westminster Abbey in London - the Coronation of Their Majesties - King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla. According to tradition, the coronation ceremony is led by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The extraordinary musical events will be conducted by, among others, renowned conductors Sir John Eliot Gardiner and Sir Antonio Pappano.

The musical service is conducted by Andrew Nethsingha, organist and choirmaster of Westminster Abbey, and features the extended choral forces of Westminster Abbey Choir and Her Majesty's Chapel Choir, St James's Palace, girls' choirs from Truro Cathedral and Belfast Methodist College, joined by singers from the Monteverdi Choir. Westminster Abbey's sub-organist Peter Holder and the cathedral's assistant organist Matthew Jorysz will play the organ.

A series of fanfares/marching bands which are marking the ceremonial moments of the service have been specially written for the occasion by Christopher Robinson and will be performed by the trumpet ensemble of the Royal Air Force Band, led by Squadron Leader Piers Morrell. The Ascension Choir will also sing and The King's Scholars of Westminster School will proclaim the traditional 'Vivat' acclamation. At Her Majesty's request and in tribute to her late father, His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Greek Orthodox music will also be featured in the service, performed by the Byzantine chant ensemble.

His Majesty the King personally commissioned the new music and has outlined and selected the musical programme for the service. Paul Mealor's 'Coronation Kyrie' marks the first performance in Welsh at a Coronation and will be sung by bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel and the Westminster Abbey Choir. Newly commissioned music by composers Debbie Wiseman, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Roxanna Panufnik and Tarik O'Regan will also be performed, as well as music that has featured historically in the service over the past four centuries, including music by William Byrd, Georg Friedrich Handel, Sir Edward Elgar, Sir Henry Walford Davies, Sir William Walton, Sir Hubert Parry and Ralph Vaughan Williams.

King Charles III is a great lover of classical music, having studied the piano, trumpet and cello as a child and teenager, and also enjoyed singing in choirs. A constant supporter of the arts and classical music in particular, His Majesty has linked his name, as Prince of Wales, with over 24 musical institutions, including orchestras, opera houses, music schools and ballet companies.

Britain's new sovereign was born at Buckingham Palace on the 14^th of November 1948, the first child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. King Charles III's full name is Charles Philip Arthur George. Aged 73, Charles is the monarch who has waited the longest compared to his predecessors to ascend the throne of Great Britain. King Charles became heir to the throne of Great Britain after his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died on the 8^th of September 2022.