King Charles to pay touching tribute to father Philip during coronation

The Greek Choir will sing during Charles’ coronation, to commemorate Prince Philip who was born Prince of Greece and Denmark (Picture: WPA Pool)

The King will pay moving tribute to his dad through a very significant musical choice at his coronation on Saturday.

The Greek Choir will sing a psalm during the service to commemorate Prince Philip, who was born the Prince of Greece and Denmark on the island of Corfu in 1921.

Lambeth Palace said the psalm had been commissioned in order to pay tribute to the King’s late father, who died at the age of 99 two years ago this month. 

At just 18 months old, Philip and his family were exiled from Greece after his uncle King Constatine I, was ousted by a military coup.

During a visit to Athens in 2021, just two weeks before Philip’s death, Charles said Greece had ‘long held the most special place in my heart’.

Regarding the decision to invite the choir to perform the psalm during the coronation liturgy, a spokesperson for Lambeth palace said: ‘This moment has been specially commissioned to reflect His Majesty’s paternal heritage.

‘His late Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh was born a prince of Greece, and as such, in a service so deeply reminiscent and steeped in the memories of His Majesty’s late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, the Greek Choir were invited to remind His Majesty of his father’s influence, and dedicated service to the late Queen, his family, the United Kingdom, the Realms and the Commonwealth.’

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Psalm 71 will be performed by the choir during the ‘exchange of swords’ in the investiture. The words will be printed in both Greek and English. 

The UK’s longest-serving consort, Philip was often commended for his straightforward approach to royal duties.

Queen Elizabeth II described him as her ‘strength and stay’, and said he left a ‘huge void’ when he died on April 9 2021.

The previous February, Charles had been the only member of the Royal Family to visit his father during a four-day visit in hospital.

Earlier this year, the King’s brother Prince Edward was given the title of Duke of Edinburgh to mark his 59th birthday, only the fourth time it has been used since since it was first created almost 300 years ago.

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The Greek Choir has been invited to sing a psalm at the service, in honour of the former Prince of Greece and Denmark.