King Charles III's Coronation to welcome Indian charity champions as guests

The upcoming Coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey in London on Saturday (06) will host a congregation of 2,200 attendees, including royal figures, global leaders, and several Indian community workers who have been involved with the monarch's charitable initiatives during his tenure as the Prince of Wales, Buckingham Palace has said.

The guest list, which was released on Monday evening (01), revealed that Indian attendees will also include a sustainability architect, a self-made consultant, and an up-and-coming chef, who will join Heads of State and Government in the Abbey.

The upcoming coronation ceremony of King Charles III, complete with gilded carriages and regalia not seen in 70 years since his late mother's coronation, is set to welcome Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar as India's representative.

Buckingham Palace has announced that the event will feature guests from around the world (representatives from 203 countries) including members of the royal family, around 100 Heads of State, and notable community and charity champions.

Among them will be Sourabh Phadke, a graduate of the Prince's Foundation's Building Craft Programme and the Prince's Foundation School of Traditional Arts.

Phadke was part of the student cohort that built the summerhouse at the heart of Hillsborough Castle's walled garden in 2018-19. The Prince's Foundation was established by Charles, as the Prince of Wales, with a vision to provide holistic solutions to global challenges.

According to a statement by the palace, Sourabh, now 37, led a nomadic lifestyle before coming to study at Dumfries House. He moved from one community to another, teaching science and social studies and utilising his architecture degree and earthbuilding skills to help build housing and school facilities.

Sourabh is among several young individuals who have been associated with the Prince of Wales' charity initiatives, and who have been invited to his coronation as King Charles III.

Another notable attendee is Gulfsha, who received the Prince's Trust Global Award in 2022, recognising her exceptional determination and achievements through her participation in the charity's Get Into programme in India.

The Prince's Trust International partner Magic Bus India Foundation provided Gulfsha with the Get Into programme, which she completed successfully, a statement from the palace said.

Gulfsha learned various workplace skills through an online platform and secured her first job after a successful interview. She now works for a consultancy firm, providing price estimates for construction projects.

Indian-origin Jay Patel, who completed the Prince's Trust Canada's Youth Employment programme in May 2022, is also among the invitees to the coronation ceremony.

The palace disclosed that Jay gained valuable skills from the programme and secured a job as a cook at Toronto's CN Tower, one of the city's most famous landmarks. He is now on his way to becoming a chef and is passionate about inspiring others to seek the same kind of support network that helped him achieve success.

In addition to the guests seated in the Abbey, 400 young people representing charitable organisations nominated by the King and Queen Camilla and the UK government will be watching the Coronation Service and Processions from inside St. Margaret's Church at Westminster Abbey.

The overall guest list will also include members of Parliament, former British Prime Ministers, representatives from the church and other faiths, representatives from the country's defence services, Nobel Prize Winners, and British Empire Medal (BEM) recipients.

The congregation will also feature several celebrities, including American singer-songwriter Lionel Ritchie, who is an Ambassador of the Prince's Trust, and Kelly Jones, the lead singer of the band Stereophonics, for her association with the Trust.

(With inputs from PTI)