Sir Karl Jenkins wants everyone to know he’s no impostor.
The Welsh composer good-naturedly addressed the array of unhinged theories about his appearance at King Charles’ coronation on Saturday ― namely, the allegations that he was actually Meghan Markle in a wild disguise.
“I look this way all the time,” Jenkins said of his prodigious mustache, retro mop and ’70s-chic glasses in a TikTok video on Tuesday.
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“I understand there’s been a lot of interest in me since I appeared at the coronation,” Jenkins said, noting that some of his music was used in the ceremony.
He told viewers he was not there “to steal the Crown Jewels”, as some people online have joked. (Though isn’t that what you’d say if you were there to steal them?)
Jenkins assured viewers there was “nothing sinister” about his style choices or his presence at the coronation. “I’ve had the mustache since I was 18 years old,” he said. “It was very trendy then.”
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Sir Karl Jenkins holds his Insignia of Knighthood award after it was presented at Buckingham Palace on Oct. 6, 2015.
John Stillwell – WPA Pool via Getty Images
You’ve heard Jenkins’ composition Adiemus, at least if you ever saw those commercials for the Pure Moods CDs in the ’90s. (A piano arrangement of the song can be heard in the background of the TikTok video above.)
A government minister has been accused of relying on “imaginary things” while defending the heavily-criticised policing of the coronation.
Neil O’Brien was questioned by Krishnan Guru-Murthy on Channel 4 News after an outcry over the arrest of anti-monarchy campaigners and women’s safety volunteers during the pageantry to mark King Charles officially ascending to the throne. All have been released without charge.
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Facing a backlash over its heavy-handed approach, Metropolitan Police chief Mark Rowley has insisted police had “serious and reliable intelligence” that protesters planned to disrupt the coronation.
He said that suspects were found with bottles of white paint and that there was intelligence to suggest that some may use rape alarms or loud hailers during the coronation procession.
There were concerns among military personnel that loud noises could unsettle horses and cause multiple injuries, he said.
On Channel 4 News, O’Brien said: “On the one hand, obviously, sometimes the police get it wrong and there will be mistakes and it’s right that they apologise when that happens.
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“On the other hand, they did bring off this fantastic national event, in a very smooth way and they were right, I think, to intervene where there are people who want to come and do dangerous things like setting off rape alarms, potentially deliberately startling horses and potentially all kinds of things could happen.”
Guru-Murthy tried to intervene by saying: “But they weren’t … you’re talking about imaginary things.”
O’Brien: “You say this an imaginary thing … if they had been allowed to cause all kinds of chaos, and there’d been all sorts of disruption …”
Guru-Murthy: “You’re imagining something that didn’t happen …”
O’Brien: “You’d then be saying the police should have intervened earlier.”
“Police were right to intervene.”
When questioned about the controversial arrests during the King’s coronation, Health Minister Neil O’Brien MP, defends the laws restricting protests.@krishgm reports. pic.twitter.com/Z2uMjiJg1i
Six campaigners for the group Republic, which had liaised with the Met to organise a coronation day protest in Trafalgar Square, were arrested early on Saturday on suspicion of going equipped to lock-on. They were released 16 hours later.
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Volunteers for charity Night Star, that hands out rape alarms to women on their way home from nights out, were arrested in the early hours of Saturday in Soho in central London.
In the Commons, Home Office minister Chris Philp, referred to “more than one plot to cause severe disruption by placing activated rape alarms in the path of horses to induce a stampede, and a separate plot to douse participants in the procession with paint”.
In total 64 people were arrested over the weekend, 52 over concerns that the coronation may be disrupted.
The Metropolitan Police has expressed “regret” over the arrests of six anti-monarchy protesters ahead of the King’s coronation after deciding no charges will be brought against them.
Scotland Yard issued a lengthy defence of its decision to arrest Graham Smith, chief executive of the campaign group Republic, and five others on Saturday.
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The force said it had arrested the group under new powers after it was believed items found alongside a large number of placards could be used to “lock on” to an object or building, which the new Public Order Act made a jailable offence.
“The investigation team have now fully examined the items seized and reviewed the full circumstances of the arrest,” a statement released on Monday added.
“Those arrested stated the items would be used to secure their placards, and the investigation has been unable to prove intent to use them to lock on and disrupt the event.
“This evening all six have had their bail cancelled and no further action will be taken. We regret that those six people arrested were unable to join the wider group of protesters in Trafalgar Square and elsewhere on the procession route.”
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Smith on Monday demanded a “full inquiry” into who authorised the arrests that prevented the group expressing their dissent during the “disgraceful episode”.
The force made 64 arrests on coronation day, with 46 people bailed after being detained on suspicion of causing a public nuisance or breaching the peace.
Smith, who said the group was are considering legal action against the Met, earlier accused Scotland Yard of having “every intention” of arresting demonstrators and of having “lied” in discussions ahead of the planned protests.
The campaigner said he was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance unloading placards in St Martin’s Lane, Westminster.
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Prime minister Rishi Sunak has backed the Met over the dozens of arrests of protesters amid concerns they were cracking down on dissent on Saturday at the behest of politicians.
The Metropolitan Police Service has faced criticism after more than 50 people were arrested for alleged affray, public nuisance and breach-of-the-peace offences.
The arrests were described by human rights organisations as a “dangerous precedent” for a democratic nation.
In a statement following his release, Smith said: “Yesterday, as we prepared for a peaceful and lawful protest, a number of Republic’s team were arrested and detained for the rest of the day.
“These arrests are a direct attack on our democracy and the fundamental rights of every person in the country.
A policeman is seen carrying a banner taken away from protesters during an Anti-monarchist protest during King Charles III’s Coronation.
SOPA Images via Getty Images
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“Each and every police officer involved on the ground should hang their heads in shame. They showed no judgement, no common sense and no basic decency.
“This was a heavy handed action which had the appearance of a pre-determined arrest that would have occurred regardless of the evidence or our actions.
“The right to protest peacefully in the UK no longer exists. Instead we have a freedom to protest that is contingent on political decisions made by ministers and senior police officers.”
Smith said the arrests had “destroyed” whatever trust might have existed between peaceful protesters and the Met Police.
He questioned what was the point in the protesters being “open and candid with the police, working with their liaison officers and meeting senior commanders” if this is what happens.
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A protester holds a placard which states ‘This country is ours’ during the demonstration.
SOPA Images via Getty Images
The campaigner insisted they would not be deterred from further protest, adding: “We will continue to protest with one simple message: Charles is not our king, it is time to abolish the monarchy.”
However, culture secretary Lucy Frazer insisted the police got the “balance right” and denied that officers had gone too far.
She told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge: “I think, overall, they managed to get that balance right.”
Home secretary Suella Braverman also praised the police for their actions, tweeting: “I’m incredibly grateful to the police for all their hard work at today’s coronation celebration to ensure it was safe and passed without incident.”
Met Police commander Karen Findlay acknowledged concerns about the arrest of protesters but defended Scotland Yard’s actions, saying: “Our duty is to do so in a proportionate manner”.
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Protestors from the group Republic gather in their hundreds in Trafalgar square to say ‘Not My King’ in central London.
Andrew Aitchison via Getty Images
She said: “We absolutely understand public concern following the arrests we made [on Saturday morning].
“Protest is lawful and it can be disruptive. We have policed numerous protests without intervention in the build-up to the coronation, and during it.
“Our duty is to do so in a proportionate manner in line with relevant legislation. We also have a duty to intervene when protest becomes criminal and may cause serious disruption.
“This depends on the context. The coronation is a once in a generation event and that is a key consideration in our assessment.
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“A protest involving large numbers has gone ahead today with police knowledge and no intervention.”
The Met said it received information that protesters were “determined to disrupt” the coronation – including defacing public monuments with paint, breaching barriers and disrupting official movements.
They confirmed 52 people were arrested for affray, public order offences, breach of the peace and conspiracy to cause a public nuisance around the coronation.
Under the controversial new Public Order Act, protesters who have an object with the intention of using it to “lock on” are liable to a fine, with those who block roads facing 12 months in prison.
Twitter users were quick to point out the irony of the hardline MP’s comments given he has previously railed against “cancel culture”.
One person commented: “Telling people who don’t agree with you to leave the country is about as ‘cancel culture’ as it gets.”
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Jonathan Harris, a Lib Dem councillor in West Northamptonshire, tweeted: “30 p Lee – Idiot on display. You took the rights away for British people to live and work across the EU, and forget that great democracies are built on and absolutely allow the right to peaceful protest.”
Another described him as being a “liability” when being “this ludicrous” while one drily commented: “If you are leaving your country because you oppose its political system, Mr Anderson will, I’m sure, follow that logic and be the first to welcome you when you arrive at Dover.”
One pointed out: “Deputy chair of the Conservative party rejects freedom of speech.”
Meanwhile, one Twitter user told him: “I think you’re forgetting that the people protesting are the people of this country, they deserve to be able to freely express what they want for their country without being arrested.”
Ah. So once again you show that free speech is only speech you agree with?
— ((Paul Goldsmith)) (@PaulGoldsmith73) May 6, 2023
However, some did back Anderson’s view including fellow Tory MP Kevin Hollinrake who wrote: “Quite right Lee Anderson – time and a place for everything. Wrong time, wrong place.”
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The Metropolitan Police Service has faced criticism after more than 50 people were arrested for alleged affray, public nuisance and breach-of-the-peace offences.
The arrests were described by human rights organisations as a “dangerous precedent” for a democratic nation.
It is not the first time Anderson has proved controversial, having previously called for the return of the death penalty and claiming people on Universal Credit were not in poverty.
Anderson is a former coal miner who was a Labour councillor in Ashfield before he defected to the Conservative Party in 2018 and went on to serve as a Tory councillor in Mansfield.
He has been dubbed “30p Lee” for claiming that meals could be prepared for that sum and suggesting people using food banks could not budget.
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He recently clashed with Met Police commissioner Mark Rowley over the force’s handling of protests, telling him to “leave his ivory tower” to deal with demonstrators in Westminster.
Under the controversial new Public Order Act, protesters who have an object with the intention of using it to “lock on” are liable to a fine, with those who block roads facing 12 months in prison.
The California Gurls singer was one of several celebrities to attend the momentous occasion at London’s Westminster Abbey but appeared to be the only one unable to find her seat. The endearing moment, captured on live television, has since gone hilariously viral.
“Katy Perry not finding her seat is so me,” tweeted one person, while another wrote: “Katy Perry searching for her seat at the coronation is the perfect US representative” — and another joked that her struggle was “the equivalent vibe of us trying to find our parents in the supermarket.”
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Unlike notable artists who reportedly turned the opportunity down, Perry and Lionel Richie graciously accepted the royal family’s offer to sing at Sunday’s coronation concert. Meanwhile, the speed at which she went viral on Saturday hasn’t escaped the pop star.
Perry arrived entirely in lilac, donning a short-sleeved jacket and gloves that matched her dress. While she wore a rather sizable hat to boot, the accessory didn’t cause any problems or become viral memes — unlike those of some other attendees on Saturday.
“The way she’s trying to look for her seat with that hat, it’s adorable and funny at the same time,” one person tweeted, while another was slightly more vicious: “What on earth is she wearing? God awful, especially the frilled UFO disc on her head!”
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The American Idol judge ultimately managed to find her seat and witnessed the first British coronation since Queen Elizabeth II’s in 1953. As it was also the second televised coronation, however, all eyes were on the attendees — and Perry’s brief disorientation.
Fortunately for Perry — who’ll join British boy band Take That, Italian opera legend Andrea Bocelli and Welsh singer Bryn Terfel on Sunday — she’ll probably be standing during her performance.
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HAS ANYONE HELPED KATY PERRY FIND HER SEAT YET?!?!? WE DON’T NEED THIS TO BECOME AN INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT
— Los Feliz Daycare (@LosFelizDaycare) May 6, 2023
The Prince of Wales, the heir to the throne, dressed in a formal robe and paid homage to his father during the ceremony. He was also a part of the royal family’s procession to Buckingham Palace, where fellow family members appeared on the balcony for a military plane flypast.
By contrast, Harry, who appeared at Westminster Abbey in morning dress by Dior and his military medals, sat two rows behind his brother at Westminster Abbey, as he was not given any role in the ceremony or procession.
WPA Pool via Getty Images
The Duke of Sussex glances in the direction of his brother during the coronation ceremony of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in Westminster Abbey.
Instead, the duke was in the same row as his cousins, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, and their respective husbands, Jack Brooksbank and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. Prince Andrew, who Harry spoke out against in his memoir, “Spare,” was also seated in the same row.
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Harry was not invited to join the royal family for their Buckingham Palace balcony moment. Instead, he is heading back to California today to make it back in time for Prince Archie’s birthday.
Meghan Markle, who was invited to attend the coronation, declined the invite and stayed behind at the couple’s home in Montecito because of Archie’s big day.
ANDY STENNING via Getty Images
Prince Harry wears an Afghanistan service medal, along with Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee medals on his medal bar. The Duke of Sussex is also wearing the KCVO Star decoration around his neck, which he recently wore for Queen Elizabeth’s funeral.
While many still hope for reconciliation between the brothers, the two were last publicly seen together at Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in September.
Since the funeral, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have released their six-part Netflix docuseries, while Harry made bombshell claims about the royal family ― and specifically his relationship with his older brother ― in his bestselling memoir, “Spare.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales stand on the Buckingham Palace balcony following the coronations of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 6.
Kensington and Buckingham Palace did not issue a statement or publicly respond after Harry’s book came out earlier this year or when the Sussex’s Netflix series debuted late last year. William, however, did address one claim from Harry and Meghan’s bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021.
In that interview, the two alleged that an unspecified member of Britain’s royal family had expressed racist concerns about their then-unborn son, Archie, and the color of his skin.
Princes Harry and William attend the unveiling of a statue of their mother, the late Princess Diana, at the Sunken Garden in Kensington Palace on July 1, 2021.
More On King Charles’ Coronation:
Charles’ coronation concert will include some very unexpected guests.
In a video posted Friday by BBC News correspondent Chi Chi Izundu, the Princess of Wales is seen speaking on a phone and asking, “Are you feeling OK?”
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She later adds, “I hope you get better soon.”
Kate was talking to the aunt of a Texas woman named Debbie Hoover, who was in a crowd near Buckingham Palace on Friday. The aunt, who lives in Tennessee, couldn’t fly to the UK for the British monarch’s ceremony Saturday because she broke her leg, according to Izundu.
Here is Princess Kate talking to the aunt of Debbie Hoover. Debbie is from Texas, her aunt is in Tennessee and broke her leg and couldn’t fly with the family for the #Coronationpic.twitter.com/ndtdzX2nwQ
The call took place as Charles, Kate and Prince William held a surprise walkabout to greet supporters gathered by the palace.
Another person in the crowd, Theresa Iredale, told The Associated Press that she trembled when Charles approached her after she yelled to him.
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“I saw his hand coming out to mine and I was like, ‘I can’t believe I’m shaking the king’s hand,’” Iredale said.
Both Charles and Queen Camilla are set to be crowned at Westminster Abbey as part of this weekend’s event. Other coronation festivities include a Sunday concert at Windsor Castle, where Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and others are scheduled to perform.
Richie told Extra last month that the invitation to participate in the show was a “highlight” in his life.
The three new images, all taken in March at Buckingham Palace and snapped by photographer Hugo Burnand, show the couple in a particularly stately-looking room called the Blue Drawing Room.
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So, what’s the big deal?
Well, it seems there are a few hidden symbols in the images which suggest Charles is drawing on the past that comes with his new hereditary role.
In his image, the monarch is sat in a rare chair (one of a suite of 12) which dates back to 1828. It was supplied to King George IV for the furnishing of Windsor Castle who reigned between 1820 and 1830 – making it fancy and particularly old.
The monarch is also sitting in front of a State Portrait of King George V, which was painted after his own coronation. As Charles’s great-grandfather who reigns between 1910 and 1936, the parallels won’t have been lost on the monarch as he took to the throne more than a century later.
George V is also wearing Naval uniform with his Robe of State, or parliamentary Robe. Perhaps that’s a nod to how Charles is expected to don his own Admiral of the Fleet uniform for his coronation, bucking the trend for male monarchs to wear stockings breeches.
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Charles, meanwhile, looks pretty relaxed in the image, smiling casually and looking straight at the camera.
Hugo Burnand/Royal Household 2023/PA Wire
A new photo of King Charles released ahead of his coronation next Saturday
There were two more royal hints in Camilla’s photo as well. She adopted a very similar pose to her husband in her image, but swapped out the chair.
This upholstery has a rich history too, dating back to 1812. According to the Palace, it was probably commissioned by King George IV when he was Prince of Wales – the very same title Charles held for more than 70 years. One of a set of just two, this furniture has only been in the Blue Drawing Room since at least the early 20th Century.
Also sitting in front of George V’s portrait, the Queen Consort was wearing a blue – royal blue, might we add – crepe coat dress, and pearl drop earrings set with a sapphire and ruby which used to belong to the late Queen, but a pearl necklace from her own collection.
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This is perhaps a gentle nod to her mother-in-law, who died in September.
Hugo Burnand/Royal Household 2023/PA Wire
Camilla, Queen Consort, photographed ahead of the coronation
Tom Parker Bowles expertly dodged a question about his stepbrother, Prince Harry, during an appearance on The News Agents podcast with Jon Sopel and Emily Maitlis last week.
The food writer and critic, who is the son of the former Camilla Parker Bowles, was asked by Maitlis if “there’s a panic about whether Harry would come or not” to King Charles and Queen Camilla’s coronation, which takes place on May 6.
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Parker Bowles replied that the decision had “nothing to do with me”, before jokingly saying he and his son were concerned about whether Harry Kane, captain of England’s national team, was coming to the coronation.
The 48-year-old also defended his mother from those that may speculate that she always wanted to be queen.
“I think change happens, but I don’t care what anyone says, this wasn’t any sort of end game,” the writer said. “She married the person she loved and this is what happened.”
Tom Parker Bowles, Laura Parker Bowles, Prince Harry and Prince William following the civil ceremony marriage between HRH Prince of Wales and Mrs. Camilla Parker Bowles on April 9, 2005, in Berkshire, England.
Julian Herbert via Getty Images
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Maitlis ― a journalist who conducted the infamous Prince Andrew interview in 2019 that led to him stepping back as a working royal ― also asked Parker Bowles if it was “weird” to think of his mother as queen.
“Not really because she’s still our mother,” Parker Bowles answered. “I say ‘our’ but not the royal ‘we,’ speaking for my sister [Laura Lopes] and me. She’s our mother.”
And despite his mother’s new title, Parker Bowles insisted he will not be given one of his own.
“I become nothing,” the writer said with a laugh. “There’d be revolution if they started handing it out to people like me… You’re not going to find us with great estates, being called the ‘duke of whatever.’ No, that would be appalling.”
Camilla, then-Duchess of Cornwall, with her son Tom Parker Bowles (left) and daughter Laura Lopes (right) watch the racing as they attend the Cheltenham Festival on March 11, 2015.
Max Mumby/Indigo via Getty Images
He also defended those who may protest at the coronation ― like the anti-monarchy group, Republic ― telling the podcast hosts that “everyone has the right to think what they want”.
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“You know, going back to Extinction Rebellion and Animal Rebellion and Republic and whatever it is, everyone has a right to their say,” he said. “We live in, thankfully, a free country.”
He added that “if people want to protest that’s their right to do so”.
Charles’ coronation will be held at Westminster Abbey next month, though he became king when his mother, Queen Elizabeth, died in September of last year.
Buckingham Palace recently revealed that the Duke of Sussex will be in attendance at the ceremony, while Meghan Markle will remain in California, as it is the couple’s son Archie’s fourth birthday.
