Sarah Ferguson ‘will be VIP guest’ at Windsor concert after coronation snub
Sarah Ferguson will be a ‘VIP guest at the Windsor Castle Concert after missing out on the Coronation, it has been claimed.
Fergie, 63, will join her ex-husband Prince Andrew and other royals for the gig inside Windsor Castle, which features Take That and Lionel Richie.
It comes after the Duchess of York did not get an invitation to the coronation at Westminster Abbey on May 6.
She will be joined by other royals believed to include daughters Beatrice, 34, and Eugenie, 33, plus 20,000 lucky ticket holders. The full guest list has not yet been released.
Several big names have been confirmed as performers for the historic bash, including Katy Perry and Lionel Richie.
Richie, 73, who used to be part of the Commodores, became the first Global Ambassador for King Charles’ charity The Prince’s Trust – which was set up when he was The Prince of Wales – back in 2019.
He’s famous for hits including Dancing on the Ceiling and All Night Long.
Katy Perry will be on hand to inject a touch of modern pop royalty to the concert.
Katy is one of the best-selling artists of all time, having scored a history-making five number-one singles from the same album with Teenage Dream back in 2011.
Like Richie, Perry serves as an ambassador for one of the King’s charities, the British Asian Trust.
Completing the bill are classical and operatic legends Andrea Bocelli and Sir Bryn Terfel, plus London pop star Freya Ridings.
The artists will be backed by a 70-piece orchestra and house band comprising the Massed Bands of the Household Division and the Countess of Wessex’s String Orchestra.
Iconic American singer Bette Midler has been reported to be performing at the Windsor Castle.
Royal sources told The Sun that Fergie would ‘never have expected an invitation to the Coronation’.
They added: ‘But she is delighted to be joining the wider family for the Coronation Concert.
‘She cherishes those more relaxed times with the family and, contrary to some reports, is fully accepting of the situation.
‘She did, of course, join the family for the Sandringham Christmas celebrations, so it’s clear there is no ill will in either direction. Quite the contrary.’
Earlier this month, she told ITV1’s Loose Women she always planned to watch the Coronation on TV.
She said: ‘I will be having a little tea room and putting out the bunting. I love to watch it on the telly because the commentators are always good.’
There will also be a drone show, illuminations of UK landmarks, and the Coronation Choir performing.
The Duchess married Andrew in 1986. They separated in 1992 and the couple finally divorced in 1996.
They have nevertheless lived together at Royal Lodge since 2006.
More than 2,000 people are expected to attend Charles III’s coronation, including Prince Andrew and Prince Harry.
A spokesman for Buckingham Palace and for the Duchess of York declined to comment.
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