'She would be a proud mother': Prince William remembers Elizabeth II at concert to celebrate Charles III's coronation

By The Associated Press via NBC News

King Charles III and Queen Camilla put the finishing touch to the celebrations for his coronation with a massive concert at Windsor Castle, in which Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Take That, among others, participated.

The newly crowned monarch and his wife enjoyed the show while Richie performed All Night Long and, at one point, stood up and danced to the music. Almost the entire Royal Family accompanied the new sovereigns at this party. Prince George, 9, and Princess Charlotte, 8, grabbed the spotlight waving Union flags alongside a crowd of about 20,000 people gathered in the castle gardens.

King Charles and Queen Camilla during the concert at Windsor Castle that capped off their coronation celebrations on May 7, 2023.Chris Jackson/Getty Images

The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, and her daughter danced animatedly Roar, one of the hits of singer Katy Perry, who stood out on stage in a voluminous gold dress. Top Gun star actor Tom Cruise appeared in a recorded video message saying, "From pilot to pilot. Your Majesty, you can be my co-pilot whenever you want."

The concert was also attended by the Royal Ballet, Nicole Scherzinger, vocalist of the Pussycat Dolls, the Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli, and even Miss Piggy and the Frog Gustavo, from The Muppet Show, who joked with the presenter Hugh Bonneville.

One of the most important moments of the evening was the speech given by the heir to the throne, Prince William, in which he congratulated the new kings and paid tribute to the late Isabell II.

Princess of Wales Kate Middleton with her children Princess Charlotte and Prince George during the coronation concert for Charles III on May 7, 2023 in Windsor.Leon Neal/Leon Neal/Getty Images

"Dad, we're all so proud of you," he said. "As my grandmother said when she was crowned, coronations are a statement of our hopes for the future. And I know she's up there watching us lovingly, and she would be a very proud mother," the Prince of Wales said to the enthusiasm of the audience.

Concertgoers paid tribute to Charles III by singing God Save the King, while the UK's most iconic landmarks were illuminated with coloured lights.

"It's a new era for the UK"

Sunday was a day of national celebration, with thousands of picnics and street parties across the UK country to commemorate the new monarchs. The community gatherings, part of a British tradition known as "Big Lunch," were the realistic counterpoint to the gilded spectacle of the King's coronation on Saturday.

The events were intended to bring together neighbors to celebrate the coronation, although support for the monarchy is declining. Critics complained about the cost of this event at a time of exorbitant living expenses amid double-digit inflation.

Prince William delivered an emotional speech during the concert, which closed the festivities for the coronation of his father, Charles III, on May 7, 2023 in Windsor.Pool/Getty Images

But many others took the opportunity to enjoy a party with friends and family. In London's Regent's Park, Valent Cheung and his girlfriend came to cheer the new king with the neighbors who welcomed them when they moved from Hong Kong. For the occasion, they adorned Tino, their loyal and "royal" fluffy white dog, with a small purple crown.

"It's a new era for the UK," Cheung said. "In Hong Kong we didn't have these things. Now we are embracing the culture. We want to enjoy it, we want to celebrate it."

Charles and Camilla did not attend any of the picnics, leaving that task to other members of the royal family.

William and Kate surprised people having a snack outside Windsor Castle before the concert. Dressed much more casually than the day before, they shook hands and the Princess of Wales hugged a crying girl.

Lionel Richie was one of the headliners performing at the concert at Windsor Castle, on May 7, 2023.WPA Pool/Getty Images

The King's siblings, Prince Edward and Princess Anne, and their spouses, as well as his nieces Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, daughters of Prince Andrew, also participated in different picnis.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hosted U.S. First Lady Jill Biden and granddaughter Finnegan Biden at the Grand Luncheon held in front of his office. Guests included Ukrainian refugees and community activists.

Sausage and salmon rolls were served along with coronation chicken – a dish cooked for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II 70 years ago – and coronation quiche, which was chosen to the taste of Charles III.

These low-key acts followed the coronation ceremony of the king and queen at Westminster Abbey on Saturday. In the UK, nearly 19 million viewers watched the event on television, according to ratings published by Barb, a research organisation. That's 40% fewer viewers than those who watched the Queen's funeral in September.

Katy Perry had the Princess of Wales and her daughter, Princess Charlotte, dance to the beat of her hit 'Roar', during the concert held at Windsor Castle on May 7, 2023.WPA Pool/Getty Images

Charles and Camilla said in a statement Sunday that they were "deeply moved" by the celebration and "deeply grateful both to all who helped make it such a glorious occasion — and to the many who came to show their support."

But not everyone was there to celebrate, and criticism continued Sunday over the arrests of more than 50 protesters, including members of a Republican group chanting "He's not my king" and environmentalists seeking to end the use of fossil fuels.

The Metropolitan Police said officers arrested 64 people on Saturday, and four suspects were charged with offences, including a religiously aggravated public order offence and drug possession.

Graham Smith, leader of Republic, a group that advocates for the abolition of the monarchy, said he was detained while planning a peaceful protest and spent 16 hours in police custody.

More than 10,000 people gathered in the gardens of Windsor Castle to live the massive concert that closed the celebrations for the enthronement of Charles III.WPA Pool / Getty Images

"These arrests are a direct attack on our democracy and the fundamental rights of all people in the country," Smith said. "Each and every police officer involved on the ground should be shamed on their faces."

The Metropolitan Police acknowledged its concern about the arrests, but defended the actions of the body.

"The coronation is a once-in-a-generation event and that is a key consideration in our assessment," said Commander Karen Findlay.