Anthony Albanese has handpicked a cohort of “outstanding citizens” to represent Australia for the coronation of King Charles III on May 6.
The Prime Minister announced on Thursday that he will attend the historic event in London along with the Governor-General David Hurley and all of the state governors.
The delegation will be joined by a number of other notable Australians, most of which are based in the UK, he said.
“Outstanding citizens have been chosen to show the world the best of our values, caring for others, serving communities and championing progress,” Mr Albanese told parliament.
“And I note that the palace requested in particular that there be significant representation from Indigenous Australians as part of the coronation.”
Australian Defence Force representatives will also be in attendance.
Mr Albanese previously met with King Charles in September last year while he was in London for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
The coronation will take place at Westminster Abbey in London, led by the Archbishop of Canterbury and featuring “longstanding traditions and pageantry”.
The ceremony will symbolise the monarch’s spiritual entry into kingship and formalises his role as the Head of the Church of England.
It is set to be a shorter and smaller in size compared to late-Queen Elizabeth II’s, with a wider range of faiths, cultures and communities represented.
Ancient customs like the monarch being presented with several golden objects including spurs, bracelets and a robe will likely be scrapped, and the guest list will be downsized to just 2,000 people.
Charles will be crowned alongside his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort and the royal family will then travel to Buckingham Palace in a state procession where they will appear on the balcony to celebrate the occasion.
There is still no word if Meghan and Harry will attend the coronation, with the Duke and Duchess reportedly refusing to attend the event until the royal family accepts a list of demands.
They include the formal invitation and acknowledgement of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in the ceremonies and allowing the Sussexes to stand on the Buckingham Palace balcony with senior royal family members.
Source: skynews.com.au
