Family will come first at the impending coronation of King Charles III, as the five grandchildren from Camilla, the Queen Consort’s first marriage, will make their debut on the world stage.
“This coronation is getting more and more interesting by the minute,” royal historian Hugo Vickers told the Sunday Times of London.
Camilla’s grandchildren, who are not officially members of the royal family, have been deliberately shielded from the public eye by their parents, Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopez.
But in a major break with the previous one, all five — Lola Parker Bowles, 15; Freddy Parker Bowles, 13; Eliza Lopez, 15; and twins Luis and Gus Lopez, 13, will be at their grandmother’s side for the most sacred part of the May 6 coronation ceremony.
The teenagers will hold a canopy over Camilla’s head as they anoint her with holy oil – a role previously played by duchesses, titled members of the British aristocracy.
“The Queen Consort has said she doesn’t want duchesses,” a Buckingham Palace source said. “She would want it to be her grandchildren.”
The featured roles for members of the king and queen’s blended family are part of a ceremony that will “reflect the monarch’s role today and look to the future, while being rooted in long-standing traditions and pageantry,” the palace said .
The teenagers enjoy a close relationship with “GaGa”, their affectionate nickname for the 75-year-old queen consort, and Charles – who married Camilla in 2005 before they were born.
“The King has always been so close to his step-grandchildren and the Queen told me how she would read ‘Harry Potter’ to them and impersonate the different characters,” said a source close to Charles and Camilla.
But apart from 3-year-old Eliza’s appearance as a flower girl at the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, they have kept a low public profile.
In another break with tradition, the coronation may also include a prominent role for 9-year-old Prince George, William’s son, who follows him as next in line to the throne.
Previously, the monarch’s young heirs – including Charles, who was just 4 when his mother Queen Elizabeth was crowned in 1953 – simply watched the ceremony from church.
“It’s a great idea to have their family members involved,” Vickers said. “It’s all part of family involvement and it strengthens their bonds.”
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Royal sources insist Charles’ youngest son Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle will be on the coronation guest list despite their strained relationship with the rest of the royal family – but have yet to confirm the couple and their toddler will be attended by children, Archie and Lilibet.
