When and where will the coronation of King Charles III take place? How will it differ from Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation? There are many questions to be answered ahead of this momentous event, marking a significant historical milestone for the British Royal Family.
After the death of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8, 2022, her son, Charles III, immediately became King. Since then, he has delivered his first speech to the nation, had phone calls with world leaders, and begun to stabilize his new role as the head of the Commonwealth.
This coronation will attract the attention of many people worldwide.
During Queen Elizabeth II’s 70-year reign, England did not have any coronation ceremonies. Therefore, this upcoming event will draw significant attention from people around the globe.
Although many traditional rituals will be strictly followed as they were in 1953 when Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne, adjustments will be made to suit the modern context of this important event. All changes aim to reflect the changing times and the sensitivities of the 74-year-old monarch, who is the oldest person to ascend the British throne to date.
Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation was the first to be broadcast live, and undoubtedly, King Charles’s coronation on May 6 will also be televised live. BBC, ITV, and Sky News are expected to broadcast the ceremony live, while other British and American networks have yet to announce their plans.
There is one notable difference: when Queen Elizabeth II ascended at the age of 25, she had no children or grandchildren, whereas King Charles III will have both children and grandchildren in attendance.
Here’s everything you need to know about Charles’s coronation.
When will King Charles’s coronation take place?
The coronation will occur on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at Westminster Abbey in London, United Kingdom. The live television broadcast will begin at 7:30 AM local time, capturing the procession of the King to the Abbey. The actual coronation ceremony will start at 11:00 AM.
What is a coronation?
Don’t confuse the coronation ceremony with the official proclamation of King Charles III that took place when Queen Elizabeth II passed away on September 8. King Charles III’s coronation requires detailed planning, which is why it cannot occur shortly after Queen Elizabeth II’s passing. Previously, her coronation, attended by heads of state from around the world, took place 16 months after she ascended the throne.
According to the Royal Collection Trust, the coronation is “the official crowning of a king”, during which the St. Edward’s Crown, weighing nearly 2.2 kg, will be placed on King Charles’s head for the first and only time, as the crown is not removed from Westminster Abbey.
St. Edward’s Crown was last seen in public when it was placed on Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin in September 2022. This crown is the most notable treasure of the Crown Jewels, a large collection of royal ceremonial objects housed in the Tower of London.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, will bless the new king and anoint him with holy oil from the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. The oil will be poured from the Ampulla, a gold vessel dating back to 1661 adorned with an eagle, into the Coronation Spoon.
What are the Crown Jewels?
The Crown Jewels are a large collection of royal ceremonial objects housed in the Tower of London. The collection sparkles with various crowns and all the coronation regalia, most of which, including the St. Edward’s Crown, were created for King Charles II in 1661. The aforementioned Coronation Spoon, which is 674 years old, is the oldest item in the collection.
Many different items will be presented to the new king, including: A pair of spurs symbolizing “the values and virtues” of knighthood; a sword of state; two scepters, one topped with a cross and the other shaped like a dove; a pair of bracelets (gold cuffs lined with velvet and designed with enamel that were given to his grandfather, King George VI, at the coronation in 1937); a globe set with jewels symbolizing the world; and the Sovereign’s Ring, a sapphire surrounded by diamonds and topped with rubies forming the cross of Saint George.
Where will the Stone of Destiny be located?
The Stone of Destiny (also known as the Stone of Scone) is a 152 kg sandstone block that has been used for centuries in the coronations of Scottish kings. It is considered a sacred object, although its origins are not well known.
By 1296, King Edward I had seized the Stone, along with the Scottish Crown and Sceptre, bringing them to London.
Stone of Destiny.
The stone remained there until Christmas 1950 when, in a daring act, four Scottish students attempted to steal it and bring it back north of the border.
Ultimately, in 1996, the stone was returned to Scotland. Now, secret preparations and security measures are being taken to bring it back to Westminster Abbey in preparation for King Charles’s coronation.
The Stone of Destiny is placed beneath the “throne”.
What will Queen Camilla’s role be in King Charles’s coronation?
Charles’s wife of 18 years, Camilla, will stand alongside him. She will be presented with the Queen Consort’s Ring, a ruby surrounded by diamonds, and two scepters. The crown of Queen Mary, originally made for the wife of King George V in 1911, will be placed on her head.
The Koh-i-Noor diamond will be replaced with the Cullinan III, IV, and V diamonds in memory of Queen Elizabeth II.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
This is the first time a queen consort will not receive a completely newly crafted crown. The palace explained the decision to “recycle” as being for “sustainability and efficiency.”
In February 2021, during the festival marking seven decades of reign, Queen Elizabeth issued a decree calling the Duchess of Cornwall “Queen” instead of “Princess Consort” when Charles ascended the throne.
“Queen” is the common title for the wife of the reigning king. The United Kingdom has not had this title since 1952 when King George VI passed away, and his wife, Queen Elizabeth, became Queen Mother.
All previous wives of English kings were referred to as queens. In the 20th century, two were called thus: Queen Mary, wife of King George V, and Queen Alexandra, wife of King Edward VII (grandmother and great-grandmother of Queen Elizabeth II).
Meanwhile, the title “Queen Regnant” refers exclusively to a woman who inherits the throne through succession. Queen Elizabeth ascended to the throne by inheriting it from her father after King George VI passed away in 1952, while Camilla became queen consort through marriage.
Will King Charles III’s entire family attend the coronation?
All three of Charles’s siblings—Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward—and their children are expected to attend the coronation.
Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton will be present with their children, Prince George, 9, Princess Charlotte, 7, and Prince Louis, who just turned 5 on April 23. On April 12, Buckingham Palace confirmed that Prince Harry would attend his father’s coronation, while Meghan Markle will remain in California with their children.
What will Prince George do at the coronation?
Prince George has been given the traditional role of carrying a sword to protect the King during the coronation on May 6.
Prince George (9 years old) is one of the four page boys for King Charles III at the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey. Traditionally, George will be equipped with a ceremonial sword to protect the King from any potential threats during the coronation.
Alongside George, the three other page boys protecting King Charles III during the coronation ceremony include Oliver Cholmondeley, son of the Marquess Cholmondeley; Nicholas Barclay; and Ralph Tollemache, grandson of Sarah Troughton—King Charles III’s cousin. All four boys will appear in red jackets, white tights, and long socks.
