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Indian charity champions to join royals, world leaders at King Charles III’s coronation

Guest list includes an architect working on sustainability, a self-made consultant and a budding chef among community workers associated with the monarch’s charity initiatives over the years as Prince of Wales

Published: Tue 2 May 2023, 12:59 AM

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  • PTI

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The 2,200-strong congregation that will be assembled at Westminster Abbey in London on Saturday, May 6, for King Charles III’s Coronation will include royalty, world leaders and also a number of Indian community workers associated with the monarch’s charity initiatives over the years as Prince of Wales, Buckingham Palace has said.

In a glimpse of the guest list unveiled on Monday evening, it emerged that an architect working on sustainability, a self-made consultant and a budding chef are among the Indians who will be seated in the Abbey alongside heads of state and government.

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar is expected to represent India at the majestic ceremony, complete with gilded carriages and regalia last witnessed 70 years ago when Charles’ late mother was crowned Queen Elizabeth II in June 1953.

“Guests attending will include members of the royal family, as well as international representatives from 203 countries, including approximately 100 Heads of State, alongside community and charity champions,” Buckingham Palace said.

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 — set up in Dumfries House, Scotland, by Charles as the Prince of Wales with a vision to provide holistic solutions to challenges facing the world.

Phadke was part of the cohort of students who completed the “live build” of the summerhouse at the heart of Hillsborough Castle’s walled garden in 2018-19.

“Before arriving to study at Dumfries House, Sourabh, now 37, led a nomadic existence, moving from one community to another to lead education in science and social studies and using his architecture degree and skills in earthbuilding to help communities plan and build housing and school facilities,” the palace said in a statement.

Among the other young people associated with the former Prince of Wales’ charity initiatives invited to his elevation as King include Gulfsha, who was awarded the Prince’s Trust Global Award in 2022 in recognition of her exceptional determination and achievements demonstrated through her participation in the charity’s Get Into programme in India.

“Delivered by The Prince’s Trust International partner Magic Bus India Foundation, Gulfsha completed the Get Into programme she had heard about at college. Learning via an online environment, Gulfsha honed a range of workplace skills and successfully interviewed for her first ever job. She now works for a consultancy firm, providing price estimates for construction projects,” the palace said.

From Canada, Indian-origin Jay Patel is also among the invitees to the Abbey on Saturday for completing the Prince's Trust Canada's Youth Employment programme in May 2022.

“Jay gained valuable skills and secured a job as a cook at Toronto’s iconic CN Tower – one of the city’s most famous landmarks. Now on his way to becoming a Chef, Jay is passionate about inspiring others to find the same kind of support network that helped him achieve success,” the palace revealed.

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 watch 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.

There will also be several celebrities in the congregation including American singer-songwriter Lionel Ritchie as an Ambassador of the Prince’s Trust and Kelly Jones, the lead singer of the band Stereophonics, also for her association with the Trust.

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