The Royal Week 15-21 April 2023

Sunday 16 April

Further details were revealed about the new music that has been commissioned for the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey.

A life-long music enthusiast and champion of the arts, His Majesty has overseen, influenced and been personally involved in the commissioning process and the detail of the music programme, which will showcase and celebrate musical talent from across the United Kingdom and further afield.

Monday 17 April

In celebration of Coronation Big Lunches taking place over the Coronation weekend, Their Majesties shared a recipe for a Coronation Quiche - featuring spinach, broad beans and tarragon.

The Princess Royal attended a Scottish Borders Council Reception for Carers at the at Kelso Racecourse, and later attended Kelso Races Limited's Bicentenary Raceday.

The Duke of Gloucester, Honorary Member, opened the ‘Crowning Glory: A Thousand Years of Coronations’ Exhibition at the Reform Club in Pall Mall.

Tuesday 18 April

The Duke of Edinburgh attended a Coronation Big Lunch at Westminster Abbey. Hosted by the Dean of Westminster, the event brought together faith leaders to share friendship and food.

Sharing things we have in common, especially food, are an important focus of The Big Lunch initiative. His Royal Highness arrived at the event with a spinach, broad bean and tarragon quiche that had been baked in the Buckingham Palace kitchen. 

His Royal Highness had the chance to meet and find out more about what is being planned and how people from different faiths and backgrounds will be coming together.

The Duchess of Edinburgh, as Patron of the National Autistic Society, visited a Cullum Centre at Salesian School in Chertsey.

The Princess Royal, as Chancellor of the University of the Highlands and Islands, opened the University’s Life Sciences Innovation Centre.

Her Royal Highness later visited Lochaber Rural Education Trust and opened Caol Regeneration Company Limited's Thomas Telford Corpach Marina. 

Wednesday 19 April

Further details about the Coronation were revealed, and it was confirmed that the Cross of Wales, a new processional cross presented by His Majesty King Charles III as a centenary gift to the Church in Wales, would lead the Coronation Procession at Westminster Abbey.

In a significant ecumenical gesture, the Cross of Wales will incorporate a relic of the True Cross, the personal gift of Pope Francis to His Majesty The King to mark the Coronation.

The Duchess of Edinburgh, Patron, visited Moor House School and College in Oxted, and later visited Sensory Services by Sight for Surrey in Fetcham.

The Princess Royal, as Patron of the Spinal Injuries Association, attended a Reception in London in support of the charity, and later, in her role as President of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, attended the President’s Lecture and Dinner.

The Duke of Gloucester was in the West Midlands, where he officially opened Stourbridge Glass Museum, visited Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council Coronation Gardens, the Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre,and the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley.

On the Isle of Wight, The Duchess of Gloucester visited West Wight Dementia Friendly Choir at Freshwater Methodist Church, and later officially opened the Isle of Wight Ambulance Station at St. Mary's Hospital.

Her Royal Highness also visited Home-Start Isle of Wight and attended the Isle of Wight Games Association Reception.

Thursday 20 April

The Prince and Princess of Wales spent the day in Birmingham to celebrate the city’s diverse culture and heritage and meet future leaders in the creative industries.

Their Royal Highnesses started the day at by celebrating Birmingham’s rich Asian culture with a visit to the Indian Streatery, an authentic, family run independent Indian restaurant based in the city centre.

The Prince and Princess then hosted future leaders and local business owners from Birmingham’s creative industries sector at an event in The Rectory, a dynamic venue overlooking the city’s historic Jewellery Quarter.

At Buckingham Palace, The Princess Royal hosted an Investiture Ceremony.

The Duchess of Edinburgh, Patron of the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations, visited the School and Country Fair at Trinity Park in Suffolk.

Friday 21 April

On what would have been Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's 97th birthday, a new photo was released of Her Majesty with some of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The photo was taken by The Princess of Wales at Balmoral last summer.

The Princess Royal attended HMS RALEIGH's Phase One Training Passing Out Parade in Torpoint, Cornwall.

The Duke of Kent, Chancellor, presided at the University of Surrey Post-Graduate Degree Ceremony in Guildford.