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Meanwhile, Prince George is set to become the youngest future king to play an official role at a coronation, having been named one of his grandfather’s four Pages of Honour.
The nine-year-old will be tasked with carrying the King’s robes alongside three other Pages of Honour – schoolboys Lord Oliver Cholmondeley, 13, Nicholas Barclay, 13, and Ralph Tollemache, 12. All three are the sons of His Majesty’s friends.
The Queen has also chosen to include as her own Pages of Honour her three grandsons, twins Gus and Louis Lopes, 13, and Freddy Parker Bowles, 13, as well as her great-nephew, Arthur Elliot, 10.
Music commissioned for the ceremony includes a piece by Professor Paul Mealor, from the University of Aberdeen, an anthem written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and a Coronation march created by Patrick Doyle.
Prof Mealor admitted it is “rather daunting” to be one of 12 people selected to create new pieces of music for the ceremony.
The Ascension Choir, a group of eight “hand-picked” singers from the choir that performed at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding, have also been chosen for the King’s ceremony on May 6.
Led by Abimbola Amoako-Gyampah, the Ascension Choir will sing ‘Alleluia (O Sing Praises)’ at the ceremony on May 6, becoming the first gospel group to perform in Westminster Abbey for a Coronation.
The group will sing during the main service as part of a two-part composition that was commissioned from award-winning TV and film composer Debbie Wiseman.
Another first at the King’s Coronation ceremony will be the Welsh language performance in Paul Mealor’s ‘Coronation Kyrie’.
The song will be sung by bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel and the Choir of Westminster Abbey in the main part of the service.
The Palace said that six of the new songs have been composed for orchestra and will be performed before the service begins, prior to the King and Queen Consort’s arrival at the Abbey.
Following the service, the King and Queen Consort, accompanied by senior members of the Royal family, will appear on the balcony to conclude the day’s ceremonial events.
It has already been indicated that during King Charles’s reign there is likely to be less of a focus on the extended Royal family, with only the King’s sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren taking up public roles.
Sunday, May 7
Coronation Big Lunch
In keeping with King Charles’s concern for strengthening local communities, hundreds of events will be held across the country as part of the Coronation Big Lunch.
Community groups, neighbours and residents are being invited to share food and fun together in a nationwide act of celebration and friendship.
The event will be led by the Eden Project, whose Big Lunch every year brings millions of people together to boost community spirit, reduce loneliness and support charities and good causes.
Her Majesty The Queen Consort has been Patron of the Big Lunch since 2013.
The palace predicts that thousands of events will take place in every corner of the United Kingdom as people take to their streets, gardens, parks and community spaces to join the coronation celebrations.
Peter Stewart LVO, chief purpose officer at the Eden Project, said: “Sharing friendship, food and fun together gives people more than just a good time – people feel less lonely, make friends and go on to get more involved with their community, all as a result of sharing a sarnie and a chat in their neighbourhood.”
Last year’s Big Jubilee Lunch event saw 17 million people take part. More than £22 million was raised for good causes with 75 per cent of the money staying local.
A survey found that 11.7 million people reported they had made new friends at the event and reported feeling less lonely after attending.
Sunday, May 7
Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle
After the pageantry of the Coronation ceremony, a special concert will take place at Windsor Castle the following day in celebration of the new reign.
The show on Windsor Castle’s East Lawn will feature musical stars from around the world, who will perform “musical favourites” and a selection of spoken word sequences.
The BBC is currently finalising a line-up of top musicians, stars of stage and screen, and dancers for the event, which will go on late into the night.
The format of the concert will echo the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, which saw a concert staged outside Buckingham Palace, with performances by Queen, Diana Ross, Craig David and Duran Duran.
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