ITV’s Ant & Dec are among the celebrities at the King’s Coronation

TV presenters Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly joined other celebrity guests including Dame Emma Thompson, Lord Lloyd Webber, Dame Judi Dench and Stephen Fry.

The TV duo are present as goodwill ambassadors for the Prince’s Trust, a role they took up in 2021 after two decades with the charity.

Also in attendance were American singer Katy Perry, Australian musician Nick Cave, British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful, BBC director-general Tim Davey, actress Joanna Lumley and singer Lionel Richie, who will perform at the coronation concert on Sunday. .

Emma Thompson arrives at the King’s coronation (Image: Jason Dawson/Newsquest)

Before the ceremony, McPartlin and Donnelly told Good Morning Britain that it was an “honour and a privilege” to be invited to the event in central London.

McPartlin added that the prince’s trust was the “best legacy” the king could leave.

“He started the Prince’s Trust from his naval pension back in 1976 and since then the Prince’s Trust has grown every year and now it’s all over the world,” he said.

“We’re just very proud to be a part of this and now to see firsthand how it’s really helping young people in this country and around the world.”

Oscar-winning actress Dame Emma, ​​wearing a red floral jacket, medal and insignia, was accompanied to the ceremony by her husband, actor Greg Wise.

Spice Girl Melanie Brown also spoke to ITV outside the Abbey, talking about the girl group’s famous meeting with Charles in 1997.

She said: “I think because we were all so excited that day, we all just went crazy and broke protocol and I kissed him and then Gerry kissed him and pinched his bum… we were just so excited . I don’t think I would do it again…we were all too excited.”

Fry told BBC News he was grateful to be invited to “a thousand-year-old ceremony rooted in the history of our islands”.

Other celebrities expected to be in the audience include David and Victoria Beckham, Stella McCartney, Rowan Atkinson and Bear Grylls.