When Queen Elizabeth IIsadly passed on Sept 8, Prince Charles became King Charles III, the newest monarch of the U.K. Though his new role became his automatically, his coronation as King has yet to take place, even now months after receiving his new role. In fact, Charles’ grand coronation, which goes under the code name of Operation Golden Orb, is still a while away and set for May 6, 2023.
“The Coronation will reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry,” the official announcement wrote, hinting at King Charles III’s interest in modernizing the monarchy.
Though information about the highly-anticipated day is still under wraps, some details are already available to the public including the traditional location, the noticeably smaller size of the guest list, and who is helping the sovereign plan for his big day.
Check out some details of the coronation below as we stay tuned for the big day!
A version of this article was originally published on Dec 2022.
What is the purpose of the coronation?
Given that Charles automatically became monarch after Queen Elizabeth II died, why is there a coronation in the first place? Turns out the coronation is merely a ceremonial event to symbolize the monarch’s new role. Like signing the papers and having a lavish wedding, if you will.
What will the coronation schedule be?
Though Charles has hinted he’ll attempt to slightly modernize the occasion, per BBC, the schedule will most likely stick to tradition.
Per previous coronations, Charles’ coronation will include many phases: the recognition (when the monarch is presented to the attendees), the oath (Charles will take an oath to uphold the law and the Church of England), the anointing (the Archbishop will anoint the King’s hands, breast and head with holy oil), the investiture (Charles will be presented with the the Royal Orb, the Sceptre and the Sovereign’s Sceptre and the Archbishop will place St Edward’s Crown on his head) and the enthronement and homage (when Charles will take the throne and attendees will kneel before him.)
Will Queen Consort Camilla be crowned?
According to BBC, Camilla will be anointed and crowned following Charles’ enthronement. “The Ceremony will see His Majesty King Charles III crowned alongside The Queen Consort,” the official announcement reads.
Where will the coronation be held?
The big day will take place at Westminster Abbey, the traditional location for coronations for over 900 years.
Who will be in attendance?
Attendees for the big event will include the British Royal Family, the British prime minister, representatives from the Houses of Parliament, heads of state, and other royals from around the world.
As an estimate, approximately 8,300 guests attended Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. According to Daily Mail, Charles requested a slimmed-down guest list of “just” 2,000. In addition to those in-person, the event will also be livestreamed around the world.
What crown will King Charles III wear?
Charles will be crowned with St Edward’s 17th Century Crown. According to the BBC, the iconic piece of jewelry is so heavy that Queen Elizabeth II only wore it once during her reign: during her own coronation in 1953.
What crown will Queen Consort Camilla be wearing?
The Palace announced on Feb 14 that Queen Consort Camilla will be wearing Queen Mary’s crown during the coronation. As noted by the palace, this will be the first time in history that a crown is not made for the occasion and is recycled instead “in the interests of sustainability and efficiency.” The crown was first made for Queen Mary’s coronation in 1911, who was the consort of King George V.
How long will the coronation last?
According to the Daily Mail, Charles wants to cut the ceremony’s time much shorter and keep it to one hour. Coronations in the past have lasted up to four hours.
When will the coronation take place?
The coronation will be held on Saturday May 6, 2023. For followers of the royal family, the date is already a special one: it’s Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s son Archie’s birthday! “I think it’s very much a happy coincidence,” royal expert Katie Nicholl told Entertainment Tonight.
Will the day be a national holiday?
No fret about work on Monday May 8th if you’re in the U.K. because the day will be a bank holiday.
How much will the coronation cost?
As this will be a state occasion, the coronation will be paid for entirely by the U.K. government. According to Forbes, Elizabeth II’s coronation cost approximately £46 million. The exact number for this year has not yet been revealed.
Who is helping to plan the event?
According to Daily Mail, Prince William is a part of the Privy Council Coronation Committee, the team that organizes details for the coronation.
Will Meghan Markle & Prince Harry be invited?
According to a royal insider who spoke to the Daily Mail, rising tensions between Meghan Markle and Prince Harry and the rest of the family will not stop Charles from inviting them. “Harry is his son, and His Majesty will always love him,” a royal insider said. “While things are difficult at the moment, the door will always be left ajar.”
How will Queen Elizabeth II be honored?
Among the ways Queen Elizabeth II will be honored at the occasion, the Palace has revealed that changes will be made to Queen Mary’s crown to pay tribute to the late Queen. More specifically, they will be adding “Cullinan III, IV and V diamonds.” The statement explained, “The diamonds were part of Queen Elizabeth II’s personal jewelry collection for many years and were often worn by Her late Majesty as brooches.”
What will Queen Consort Camilla wear?
According to reports from The Sun, Camilla will be wearing a design from her longtime friend Bruce Oldfield. “Camilla has a very close friendship with Bruce spanning many years so in many ways it is the natural and obvious choice,” a source told the outlet. “Camilla trusts Bruce because he has really delivered on dresses for so many important occasions recently for her.”
What coronation oil will be used?
Following the tradition for Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, Charles and Camilla will be anointed with a Chrism oil, per People. According to the outlet, the oil has been consecrated on March 3 at The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
The official oil, which was primarily made from locally-harvested olives, was perfumed with scents of sesame, rose, jasmine, cinnamon, neroli, benzoin, amber and orange blossom.
Will Kate Middleton and Prince William’s children be involved?
As of mid-March, reports show that all three of the Wales children will not only be in attendance, but star in the coronation as well.
Will Princess Eugenie, Prince Andrew, and Princess Beatrice participate?
It seems that Princess Eugenie, Prince Andrew, and Princess Beatrice will not participate in any royal ceremony during the coronation.
Will Meghan Markle & Prince Harry attend the coronation?
Prince Harry will be attending the ceremony, the palace confirmed to People. Markle, on the other hand, will be staying behind in California to take care of their two kids and spend Archie’s fourth birthday with him.
Who will be performing at the Coronation concert?
Along with Katy Perry headlining, her fellow American Idol judge Lionel Richie will perform, along with Andrea Bocelli, Take That, Sir Bryn Terfel, Freya Ridings, and Alexis Ffrench.
Is there a special dish for the Coronation?
On April 17, Charles and Camilla announced the dish they’ve chosen to celebrate the occasion: the Coronation Quiche! The dish, which features spinach, broad beans, cheese and tarragon, is said to “easily adapt to different tastes and preferences.”
What music will play at the Coronation?
Music will be a big part of the monarch’s big day, both before and during the ceremony. “A life-long music enthusiast and champion of the arts, His Majesty has overseen, influenced and been personally involved in the commissioning process and the detail of the music program, which will showcase and celebrate musical talent from across the United Kingdom and further afield,” the Majesties revealed on April 17. Overall, twelve compositions were commissioned, including six composed for orchestra and will be performed before the Service takes place.
What does the Coronation’s program look like?
On April 17, the souvenir program for the Coronation hit newsstands in the U.K. and an interesting detail stood out to royal fans, per People. Among its many pages are biographies of the King and Queen Consort Camilla, details on the big day on May 6, and, of course, family photos. One of the photos, in fact, is from Charles’ 70th birthday and is a charming portrait of Charles, Camilla, William, Middleton, Harry and Markle back in 201. Did someone say a possible olive branch?
What are the guests of the coronation expected to wear?
Previously, British royals and the aristocracy have worn custom-made robes to attend coronations (pictured above). This time, however, King Charles has requested to not wear the robes and guests will be wearing suits, uniforms and dresses instead. “This is a massive change to royal protocol,” Charles’ former butler Grant Harrold told Page Six.
Where will the coronation be live-streamed?
Of course, the entire coronation will be live-streamed for viewers. In the U.S., major television channels including NBC, CNN, ABC, and Fox News are expected to air the coronation although details are yet to be confirmed.
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