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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Katie Weston

Fears over 'watering down' coronation as Charles bans robes - and leaves some uninvited

King Charles has been warned against "watering down" his coronation after banning robes and reportedly culling some non-royal dukes from the guest list.

The monarch has strayed away from over 500 years of tradition by telling peers to come dressed in what amounts to a business suit.

He told them to leave behind their robes and coronets, which denote rankings in the British peerage and date back to the 15th century, before they were standardised in the 17th century.

It comes as part of his plans for a slimmed-down coronation, where only working royals will be on the balcony to watch the flypast over Buckingham Palace - leaving out Prince Harry and Andrew.

The palace has yet to confirm the official guestlist for the historic event, but some of the non-royal dukes who haven't been given an invitation include the Duke of Rutland, according to reports.

Financier Ben Goldsmith has warned Charles against "watering down" his coronation (Alan Davidson/REX/Shutterstock)

Ben Goldsmith, a financier who was friends with Prince William at school, has also claimed that the Duke of Somerset was left out from the guest list.

He told the Daily Mail: "Apparently, peers have been told they aren't allowed to wear their coronation robes at the Coronation next month.

"Some, including our local one here, the Duke of Somerset, haven't been invited at all."

The millionaire, whose wife was friends with Princess Diana, also warned that Charles risks diminishing celebrations for his big day.

He said: "No amount of watering down will ever be enough for the drips and dullards who really want this kind of thing abolished altogether."

Mr Goldsmith pictured with Charles and Camilla in 2011 (Alan Davidson/REX/Shutterstock)

The comments follow the release of an 84-page coronation souvenir programme, which went on sale yesterday for £20.

It features a full page photo of Prince Harry and Meghan with Charles, Camilla, the now-Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children.

The Duke of Sussex is due to appear alongside his family in public at the coronation for the first time since he lambasted Charles, Camilla, William and Kate in his autobiography Spare.

With just over two weeks to go until the May 6 ceremony, it was revealed that the King and Queen Consort have personally chosen Coronation Quiche as their celebratory recipe.

Seventy years after Coronation Chicken was created for Elizabeth II's coronation, Charles and Camilla selected a personal favourite as their recommended dish for Coronation Big Lunches.

An 84-page coronation souvenir programme went on sale yesterday for £20 (PA)
Only working royals will be on the balcony to watch the flypast over Buckingham Palace (UK Press via Getty Images)

The recipe is by royal head chef Mark Flanagan and features spinach, broad beans and tarragon.

Further details also emerged about the celebrations, with the eve of the coronation set to be marked by a glittering Buckingham Palace reception attended by foreign royalty.

Princess Beatrix, the former queen of the Netherlands, has confirmed her attendance at the event, expected to be hosted by Charles, alongside her granddaughter and heir to the Dutch throne Catharina-Amalia, the Princess of Orange.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands will not be among the guests, who are likely to include British royalty and presidents and prime ministers from across the globe, but will be at Westminster Abbey to see Charles and Camilla crowned.

The King's anointing is the only part of the ceremony the public will not see and will be a "private moment between a new King and the King of Kings", the Archbishop said.

The programme features a full page photo of Prince Harry and Meghan with other members of the royal family (AFP/Getty Images)

Elizabeth II was also anointed in private as is the tradition, wearing a plain pleated linen dress over her coronation gown, as she sat beneath a golden canopy.

The Archbishop said, the King, dressed in the simple white garment, will come before God as a servant "in the full knowledge that the task is difficult and he needs help".

He added: "In the full knowledge that even as a King, he is one of the people and that even if he has a particular role to fulfil, he shares in our human frailties and vulnerabilities".

The service will move to the moment of crowning as the mood turns to one of celebration, he added.

The Archbishop described how coronations "often carry with them the hopes and prayers of nations for peace, justice and the common good".

A percentage of the sales of the souvenir programme will be split between two charities - the Royal Collection Trust and SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.

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