Viewers of King Charles III’s Coronation may have been left scratching their heads as one very famous pop star made an appearance – Katy Perry.
The US star was invited to Westminster Abbey this weekend to celebrate the crowning of the King and Queen Camilla, although appeared to be flying solo for now as husband Orlando Bloom wasn’t with her.
But that didn’t stop Katy, 38 – who’s due to perform at the Coronation Concert tomorrow – from going viral.
Yep, in true Katy style, the California Gurls hitmaker got Twitter talking as she struggled to find her seat inside the historic venue, before almost hitting the deck in her high heels on the way out.
Dressed in all pink, the Roar vocalist caught everyone’s attention, although not all might know why she was there.
Why did Katy Perry attend King Charles’s Coronation?
The singer was dressed in a stunning all-pink ensemble (Picture: PA)
Katy has a long connection with the Royal Family.
She’s an ambassador for The British Asian Trust, a charity founded by the King when he was Prince of Wales, and was given the role due to her work with other global organisations including Unicef and her own Firework Foundation.
Despite receiving criticism when appointed for being neither British nor Asian, the King was in favour of her.
In a speech he gave at the time, he said Katy was selected for her ‘long-standing commitment to charitable causes around the world.’
Also in 2020, The British Asian Trust announced that Katy’s role would be specific.
Katy snapped a few selfies inside Westminster Abbey (Picture: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
For the next five years, she’ll work with the organisation on their Children’s Protection Fund, which will work to fight trafficking and child labour.
The fund is chaired by Natasha Poonawalla, an Indian billionaire and philanthropist.
Katy wrote on Instagram previously: ‘India has always been a place I have a magnetic connection with. Every child matters and has the right to basic human needs.’
So, having met the King before, it’s no surprise that she received an invite to the coronation.
In fact, she recently told Extra that she would be staying at Windsor Castle prior to this weekend’s events, promising to post ‘a lot’ of pics to social media from the castle.
She’ll take to the stage for the Coronation Concert (Picture: Christian Vierig/Getty Images)
And, of course, she’s one of the big headliners for Sunday’s concert.
The I Kissed A Girl songstress said when the line-up was announced: ‘I am excited to be performing at the Coronation Concert, and helping to shine a further light on the British Asian Trust’s Children’s Protection Fund, whose work includes on-ground initiatives to fundraising, with the aim to find solutions to child trafficking.’
Who else is singing at the coronation concert?
Katy is in good company this weekend, as Lionel Richie will also perform at the Coronation Concert, as well as Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, and Howard Donald of Take That.
They’ll be joined by Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli and Welsh bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel, who will do a duet.
Meanwhile, singer-songwriter Freya Ridings was set to duet with classical-soul composer Alexis Ffrench, but she recently pulled out due to illness. As a result, Zak Abel takes her place.
Later announced acts for the concert include Olly Murs and Nicole Scherzinger from Pussycat Dolls.
There’ll also be musical numbers from Paloma Faith, Pete Tong Ibiza Classics, featuring Vula and JERUB, and winner of The Piano, Lucy.
Meanwhile, Tom Cruise, Sir Tom Jones, and Dame Joan Collins will appear via video message.
