THE royal coronation will be a day to remember for the Edgar family from Newtownards when 10 year-old chorister William hits the high notes of success at Westminster Abbey.
The talented singing sensation is one of just 10 child choristers of His Majesty’s Chapel Royal who will be performing under the world’s glare for the eagerly anticipated coronation ceremony of King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Young William’s dad Andrew grew up in Newtownards and the youngster enjoys regularly returning to the borough to visit his grandparents, Kathryn and Jim, who are thrilled by his royal honour.
William will be performing in front of around 2,000 specially invited coronation guests, with the service conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Their Majesties will then return to Buckingham Palace in ‘The Coronation Procession’ with other members of the royal family.
It has been a busy year for this talented youngster who has already performed at the lying in state and funeral of Queen Elizabeth at the cenotaph on Whitehall on Remembrance Sunday and Maundy Thursday in York as well as regular Sunday services.
With William and the other choristers known as the Children of the Chapel Royal, The Choir of Her Majesty’s Chapel Royal is one of the oldest continuous musical organisations in the world.
The Chapel Royal Choir is based at St James’s Palace and the choristers wear the distinctive state uniform introduced at the Restoration of the Monarchy in England in 1660.
Based at St James’s Palace, the choir’s duties are essentially the same as they have been for over 1,000 years – to sing the regular services in the Chapel of the Monarch’s home, and to attend the Monarch at services and other events elsewhere as commanded.
Young William joins a distinguished list of past choir members with almost all of the principal names in English music members of the Chapel Royal, including Tallis, Byrd, Gibbons, Purcell and Handel.
Dad Andrew explained how his son’s impressive musical journey with the choir began when his talent was spotted by one of his teachers.
“We live in Wimbledon and William attended the local state primary school. The school has a great music teacher who spotted William’s talent in a school play and introduced the world of choirs.
“Many choirs require the child to go to a boarding school but that wasn’t going to work so he auditioned for Chapel Royal and that’s how it started. William spent three years as a pre-probationer and then he joined the choir itself in September 2023.
“William does enjoy it. He is very grateful to have found something he is good at, at such a young age, in such a supportive environment. He enjoys the music but he is also a normal 10 year-old who enjoys all the normal things children enjoy.”
He spoke of his family’s close ties to the Newtownards area., “We visit my parents quite regularly and were over for a week in March and will be back for another week in July.
“Tractor driving on the farm with his papa is always on the agenda as are regular visits to Maud’s and Cafolla’s on the Square. William loves Eden pottery and on his last trip enjoyed a golf lesson at Bradshaw’s Brae. In July he’ll be doing some surfing with his cousins up in Portrush.”
Andrew said William is certainly enjoying the preparations for the historic day.
“William takes it all in his stride, it’s a tremendous experience for him. I believe they are doing a lot of practice at the moment, some of which is with the girls from Methody College in Belfast who are also taking part.
“His main concern when we last spoke was that the girls bring some Tayto cheese and onion over to London with them for the next practice.”
