Coronation Festival Gala for BBC

The BBC is to broadcast a highlights programme of the Coronation Festival Gala, on BBC One and BBC Radio 2.

The July event will take place in the garden of Buckingham Palace and form part of the four-day Coronation Festival – a one-off event hosted by the Royal Warrant Holders Association. The unique Gala will take place on three consecutive nights with the first captured for television by the BBC.

Charlotte Moore, Acting for Controller BBC One, says: “BBC One is very proud to be involved in bringing the nation together to enjoy this special concert to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s Coronation.”

The live event will feature performances from a wide range of artists from across the Commonwealth, including Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Katherine Jenkins, Russell Watson, Katie Melua, Laura Wright, pop band The Feeling, the National Youth Orchestra, the English National Ballet and Grammy Award-winning composer Eric Whitacre, in a tribute to Her Majesty The Queen and her 60-year reign.

The Fanfare Trumpeters from the Household Division will open the Gala evening followed by Dame Kiri singing The National Anthem, to begin a musical journey through Britain and the Commonwealth from the last 60 years and tributes to British music, film and television excellence.