Marie Claire UK Marie Claire UK
  • Fashion Fashion
      • Fashion
        • View all Fashion
        • Fashion Trends
        • Shopping
        • Watches and Jewellery
        • Fashion News
  • Beauty Beauty
      • Beauty
        • View all Beauty
        • Fragrance
        • Hair
        • Make Up
        • Skincare
        • Nails
        • Marie Claire Beauty Awards
  • Health Health
      • Health
        • View all Health
        • Fitness
        • Nutrition
        • Female Health
        • Wellbeing
  • Life Life
      • Life
        • View all Life
        • Opinions
        • Travel
        • Sustainability
        • Weddings
        • Money & Work
        • Competitions
  • Culture Culture
      • Culture
        • View all Culture
        • TV and Film
        • Celebrity News
        • Books
        • Royal News
  • Vouchers Vouchers
      • Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Mint Velvet
        • Karen Millen
        • H&M
        • nobody's child
        • ASOS
        • ARKET
        • MANGO
      • Designer Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Reiss
        • THE OUTNET
        • SSENSE
        • Mytheresa
        • Liberty London
        • Selfridges
        • Farfetch
      • Accessories
        • View all Vouchers
        • AllSaints
        • Aspinal of London
        • Charles & Keith
        • River Island
        • FitFlop
        • Kate Spade
        • Vagabond
      • Jewellery
        • View all Vouchers
        • Pandora
        • Abbott Lyon
        • Goldsmiths
        • Beaverbrooks
        • Astrid & Miyu
        • Swarovski
        • Angara Jewellery
      • Beauty
        • View all Vouchers
        • Sephora
        • Cult Beauty
        • Space NK
        • Dyson
        • Clarins
        • Look Fantastic
        • Clinique
      • Activewear
        • View all Vouchers
        • Lululemon
        • Gymshark
        • Sweaty Betty
        • Nike
        • adidas
        • New Balance
        • Helly Hansen
  • NEWSLETTER Signup to our newsletter
  • logoCreated with Sketch.
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Women in Sport 2026
    • Marie Claire Masters
    • Spring Summer 2026
    • Nail Trends 2026
    • Best Investment Bags
    • Best Perfumes
    • Digital Issues
    • Women Who Win
    1. Culture
    2. Celebrity News
    3. Royal News

    Andrew Lloyd Webber responds to bizarre theory he was sat with Meghan Markle in disguise at the Coronation

    Spoiler alert: he wasn't

    Iris Goldsztajn's avatar
    By Iris Goldsztajn
    Published 11 May 2023 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Andrew Lloyd Webber, winner of the award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, poses in the 72nd Annual Tony Awards Media Room at 3 West Club on June 10, 2018 in New York City
    (Image credit: Photo by Getty)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    Today in bananas news, Andrew Lloyd Webber was not in fact sat next to Meghan Markle in disguise at the Coronation of King Charles III.

    If you're wondering, as we're sure you are, why this statement even has to be made, it's because Webber found himself next to a distinctive-looking figure in Westminster Abbey: a man with a grey mullet, an impressive moustache, tinted aviator sunglasses, and a medal. People were quick to observe that his look made him seem like he was in disguise.

    Some felt that this mysterious man was out to get some precious bounty, with one Twitter user writing: "I don't know much about the #Coronation but I do know this is obviously a disguise and 100% they're going to try and steal the crown jewels"

    I don't know much about the #Coronation but I do know this is obviously a disguise and 100% they're going to try and steal the crown jewels pic.twitter.com/uuchDtfi2SMay 6, 2023

    Still others thought that perhaps this figure was none other than Meghan Markle in disguise — since the Duchess of Sussex declined to attend the event alongside her husband Prince Harry.

    "Megan [sic], you’re not fooling us…" tweeted someone else alongside a photo of the man.

    You may like
    • Andy Burnham and Marie-France van Heel entering 10 Downing Street “Are We Just Jealous?” Victoria Moss Unpacks the Sexist, Ageist Commentary Around Marie-France van Heel’s Victoria Beckham Dress
    • Cece Jewellery A Day in the Life of Cece Fein-Hughes, the Jewellery Designer Loved by Celebrities
    • Madonna's Confessions II: Madonna performs at TSX Stage in Times Square on June 4, 2026 in New York City. Madonna's Confessions II Deserves to Be the Album of the Summer, But the Response Proves We Still Punish Women for Ageing

    Megan, you’re not fooling us… pic.twitter.com/Ni5wh27keTMay 6, 2023

    Andrew himself took to Twitter to (kind of) refute these allegations (which we're assuming were made in jest, but who knows these days?).

    Quote-tweeting one of the original theories, the legendary composer tweeted: "I can confirm it probably wasn’t MM and had no jewels on his person as far as I could see - ALW"

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    It's very possible we may have entered a parallel universe.

    I can confirm it probably wasn’t MM and had no jewels on his person as far as I could see - ALW https://t.co/kBtHmn8BhLMay 9, 2023

    Anyway, don't worry, we do actually know who this mystery man was: he was none other than Sir Karl Jenkins, a Welsh composer who was awarded a knighthood by the late Queen in 2015.

    For the avoidance of doubt, Sir Karl took to TikTok to clear up the misunderstanding once and for all.

    What to read next
    • Celine Style Briefing: Michael Rider’s Celine Is Already Defining a New Fashion Era— Here's How He Did It
    • Beauty Dupes People Are Obsessed With Beauty Dupes Being Made in the "Same Factory" As Premium Counterparts—That Myth Doesn't Hold Up
    • AI Edited My Face Without Asking: Side by side comparison of my face before and after inputting into AI I Asked AI to Add a Dog to My Photo. What It Did to My Face Left Me Unsettled

    "I was quite surprised that some people thought I was Meghan Markle in disguise," he said in the video.

    "Someone wrote I was there to steal the crown jewels.

    "I look this way all the time."

    Sir Karl continued: "The moustache was referred to in The Times as well. I've had the moustache since I was 18 years old. It was very trendy then. So that’s me. Nothing sinister about it or surprising at all!"

    Perhaps nothing sinister, but we reckon one could probably call this situation surprising...

    @karljenkinsofficial

    ♬ Jenkins: Adiemus - Karl Jenkins
    Iris Goldsztajn
    Iris Goldsztajn
    Social Links Navigation
    Freelance News Writer

    Iris Goldsztajn is a freelance news writer for Marie Claire UK. She covers celebrity and royal news, and has previously written for titles including Marie Claire US, InStlyle, Women's Health, Bustle, Stylist and Red.

    Aside from her quasi-personal investment in celebs' comings and goings, she is especially interested in debunking diet culture and de-stigmatising mental health struggles.

    Read more
    Andy Burnham and Marie-France van Heel entering 10 Downing Street
    Fashion “Are We Just Jealous?” Victoria Moss Unpacks the Sexist, Ageist Commentary Around Marie-France van Heel’s Victoria Beckham Dress
    Cece Jewellery
    Watches and Jewellery A Day in the Life of Cece Fein-Hughes, the Jewellery Designer Loved by Celebrities
     
     
    Madonna's Confessions II: Madonna performs at TSX Stage in Times Square on June 4, 2026 in New York City.
    Culture Madonna's Confessions II Deserves to Be the Album of the Summer, But the Response Proves We Still Punish Women for Ageing
    Celine
    Fashion Style Briefing: Michael Rider’s Celine Is Already Defining a New Fashion Era— Here's How He Did It
     
     
    Latest in Royal News
    The Prince and Princess of Wales visit the Isles of Mull and Iona
    Royal News Royal Experts Predict a Major Milestone From Princess Kate This Autumn
    The Duke and Duchess of Sussex in Colombia
    Royal News Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Had a Secret UK Home in the First Year of Their Marriage
     
     
    The Prince and Princess of Wales visit Southport
    Royal News Prince William Has Given an Emotional Update on Princess Kate
    The Prince and Princess of Wales attend a state visit by the President of the French Republic in 2025
    Royal News Why Prince William and Princess Kate ‘Won’t Change" Their Minds on the Buckingham Palace Situation
     
     
    Latest in News
    The Beauty Digest: New Products to Know
    Beauty The Beauty Digest: A Foundation With Infinite Shades, Diptyque Does Bodycare, and the Exhibition Every Beauty Lover Should See
    Eva Omaghomi
    Fashion After 17 years in the Royal Household, Eva Omaghomi Talks Bringing African Design Talent to Harrods
     
     
    New Beauty Products: The Beauty Digest
    Beauty The Beauty Digest: Dyson Does Teeth, Fenty Rips Up the Rulebook (Again) and a Surprisingly Fragrant Week for Dogs
    Jodie Comer
    Shopping Jodie Comer Just Announced the Start of Knee-High Boots Season
     
     
    logoCreated with Sketch.
    • Site Archive
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Terms and conditions
    • Advertise with us
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • About us
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire UK is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.