On 17th May 2023, HM King Charles III and HM Queen Camilla visited St Paul's Covent Garden. It was their first joint public appearance after the Coronation on 6th May 2023.
Rev. Simon Grigg, Rector of St Paul's, was HM The King's Host and Mr Paul Haugen was HM The Queen's Host. They met the King and Queen at the gates before escorting them up the path, lined with school children from St Clement Danes Church of England school. The King and Queen met church staff, the churchwardens and PCC, actors and Covent Garden community members, and members of the Drama for Healing group.
The Duke and Duchess of Bedford also attended; the Duke's ancestor commissioned the church in the 17th century.
The King and Queen signed a visitor record, designed and created for the visit.
The King and Queen then went out into Covent Garden piazza where they met the public and market traders. They finished their visit at the Royal Opera House.
The King and Queen arrived The King and Queen met their hosts, Rev. Simon Grigg and Mr Paul Haugen The school children of St Clement Danes Church of England school lined the path up to the church The King and Queen met the churchwardens The King and Queen headed into the church and were met by church staff The King and Queen signed a commemorative page of their visit The King and Queen met the PCC, actors and other theatre industry members, and members of the local Covent Garden community The King and Queen left the church via the vestry where they met the Headteacher of St Clement Danes and were presented with painting of St Paul's The signed visitor record by HM The King and HM The Queen