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Dame Joanna Lumley to join Sky News for coronation coverage

The Absolutely Fabulous actress will be attending the service at Westminster Abbey as a guest of the King and Queen Consort.

Charlotte McLaughlin
Thursday 13 April 2023 10:07 BST
Dame Joanna Lumley (Kirsty Oā€™Connor/PA)
Dame Joanna Lumley (Kirsty Oā€™Connor/PA) (PA Archive)

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Dame Joanna Lumley will be joining Sky News for its coverage of the festivities surrounding the King and Queen Consortā€™s dual coronation.

The Absolutely Fabulous actress, who provided commentary for Sky News for the Queenā€™s Jubilee last year, will be attending the service at Westminster Abbey in May as a guest of Charles and Camilla.

Dame Joanna, 76, will then be joining the broadcasterā€™s coronation line-up, which includes royal events commentator Alastair Bruce and presenters Kay Burley and Anna Botting.

John Ryley, head of Sky News, said: ā€œWhether unifying or polarising, the spectacle of the Kingā€™s coronation is guaranteed to capture the worldā€™s attention.

ā€œWith the ceremonial events never seen in this great a clarity, Sky News will offer audiences the highest quality Ultra HD coverage with the best royal commentator in Alastair Bruce.

ā€œHeā€™ll take viewers through this historical moment with his unmatched knowledge and skill to get the tone just right.ā€

In addition to the live coverage, Sky News will air the documentary My King, My Country on how the public feels about the monarchy and Burley will be speaking to the people who know Camilla well for the podcast Queen Camilla: For The Love Of Charles.

The BBC has already announced Kirsty Young, Huw Edwards and Clare Balding among its presenters providing coverage of the coronation on Saturday May 6.

However, the corporation has not named David Dimbleby, who in 2022 came out of retirement for the Queenā€™s funeral in September and covered the Platinum Jubilee service at St Paulā€™s Cathedral in June.

The former Question Time host has played a central role in the BBCā€™s political and royal coverage for several decades.

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