Nick Cave Shares Mixed Emotions on Attending King Charles’s Coronation

Australian singer and songwriter Nick Cave recently shared his experience attending the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey.

Cave, who is known as the vocalist for the rock band Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds, was part of a delegation of 14 “outstanding Australians” to represent the country at the event alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

In an interview with Channel 4 News YouTube show and podcast Ways To Change The World With Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Cave spoke about his mixed emotions during the coronation.

He said that he went to the event “entirely out of curiosity” and found the whole thing to be “acutely interesting.” However, he also revealed that he had conflicting feelings throughout the ceremony and felt “extremely bored” and “angered” by some moments while other times he was “completely awestruck.”

Cave also shared how the music moved him, particularly Handel’s Zadok The Priest.

He described the piece as something from outer space and noted that he felt amused by what was going on.

Despite his mixed emotions, the musician emphasized that attending such an “important historical event” was an honor and that he has an “inexplicable emotional attachment” to the royals.

The 65-year-old artist also denied being a “monarchist or a royalist.” He further shared how he was “revered” and influenced by Australian “chao makers” like feminist writer Germaine Greer and Barry Humphries, who died aged 89 last month, both of whom got into trouble for their controversial views.

For Cave, issues concerning free speech are sacred, and he believes they are self-evidently good for the world, although he acknowledged that these ideas sometimes rub people the wrong way in the current climate.

Apart from sharing his experience at the coronation, Cave also revealed that he has been working on a new record since January 1.

The musician’s last studio album with Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds was Ghosteen, which reached number four in the UK charts upon its release in 2019.

Cave, who was named an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2017 for his “distinguished service to the performing arts,” has been a prominent figure in the music industry.

Known for hits such as “Into My Arms” and “One More Time With Feeling,” he is admired for his unique style and contributions to Australian music, culture, and heritage.

The coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla took place earlier this month, with limited guests due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The event marked the ascension of the heir apparent to the British throne, Prince Charles, after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.