The Proclaimers have been removed from the DCMS’ official Coronation playlist.
The Scottish duo – starring Craig and Charlie Reid – originally featured on the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s playlist with their track I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles), celebrating the upcoming coronation of King Charles III.
However, ahead of the event at London’s Westminster Abbey on May 6, the pair’s classic hit has been deleted from the playlist due to their “anti-monarchy views”.
According to the BBC, one example of such was Charlie’s response to an Oxford man’s arrest for asking “Who elected him?” during an event for the King in September.
He stated: “I thought that guy spoke for me, and he speaks for loads of other people. Not just in Scotland, but right around the UK.”
The report also references the duo’s 2007 track, In Recognition, from their seventh album, ‘Life With You’, which deals with “our overwhelming contempt for people on the left in this country who snipe against the royal family and then end up taking honours”.
Craig and Charlie have yet to comment on the situation.
Dizzee Rascal previously had a song taken off playlist due to a conviction last year, which found the UK rapper was guilty of assaulting his former partner.
The Spotify playlist features a variety of top UK artists and is described as a way “to celebrate British and Commonwealth artists ahead of the upcoming coronation” by a DCMS spokesperson.
The Coronation Celebration Playlist is below.
1. Come Together – The Beatles
2. Daddy Cool – Boney M.
3. A Sky Full Of Stars – Coldplay
4. Let’s Dance – David Bowie
5. Celestial – Ed Sheeran
6. One Day Like This – Elbow
7. Mr. Blue Sky – Electric Light Orchestra
8. Starry Eyed – Ellie Goulding
9. Starlight – Emeli Sandé
10. Dance All Over Me – George Ezra
11. Slave To The Rhythm – Hot Blooded Version – Grace Jones
12. Treat People With Kindness – Harry Styles
13. Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) – Kate Bush
14. Our House – Madness
15. It’s A Beautiful Day – Michael Bublé
16. All Over The World – Pet Shop Boys
17. We Are The Champions – Queen
18. People Get Ready – Jeff Beck & Rod Stewart
19. Space Man – Sam Ryder
20. Gold – Spandau Ballet
21. Say You’ll Be There – Spice Girls
22. Shine – Take That
23. Waterloo Sunset – The Kinks
24. Love Reign O’er Me – The Who
25. Green Green Grass Of Home – Tom Jones
26. King – Years & Years
Listen to the Coronation Celebration Playlist below.