King Charles III’s coronation: key events, ceremony details, and how to watch it
The day has arrived that King Charles III will be crowned alongside his wife, Camilla, who will become Queen Consort.
Although Charles became king the moment his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died, monarchs traditionally wait months following the death of their predecessor to be crowned.
Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953, for example, took place 16 months after she became monarch.
Rehearsals for the big day have been under way for weeks, with with guardsmen, troopers, and musicians all preparing for their crucial role in the big day.
The first portrait of King Charles was released last month ahead of the Coronation. The monarch is wearing a suit rather than ceremonial robes. He also has a bracelet that was gifted to him by Amazonian indigenous leader Domingo Peas, in this first commissioned portrait, which was painted by Alastair Barford.
Find out below when King Charles’ coronation will take place and what we can expect from the day.
When is King Charles III’s coronation?
King Charles III’s coronation will take place on Saturday, May 6, 2023, eight months after the Queen’s death.
The Archbishop of Canterbury will conduct the ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
It is expected that it will last around an hour, unlike the Queen’s coronation, which lasted nearly three hours.
The ceremony is expected to mostly be traditional, although it will probably be more low-key than previous coronations.
For example, it is thought 2,000 guests will attend the ceremony rather than the 8,000 who attended the Queen’s coronation.
The peers who attend are also expected to wear suits and dresses rather than ceremonial robes.
The announcement from the royal family says: “The Coronation will reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in long-standing traditions and pageantry.”
The cost of living crisis that is impacting millions of UK households may be a factor in the Government and palace’s decision to scale back the ceremony.
There will also be a bank holiday to celebrate the coronation, on Monday, May 8, 2023, two days after the ceremony.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed the bank holiday and said it would be a chance to “come together and celebrate” and would mark “a unique moment for our country”.
He said: “I look forward to seeing people come together to celebrate and pay tribute to King Charles III by taking part in local and national events across the country in his honour.”
History of the Crown Jewels
With a new exhibition in the year of the coronation, the Tower of London will delve more deeply than ever into the history of the Crown Jewels.
The exhibition in the Jewel House, where the irreplaceable collection is housed under armed guard, will look into the history of some of the priceless items for the first time. These include the contentious Koh-i-Noor diamond.
In May, only a few weeks after the King and the Queen Consort are crowned in Westminster Abbey, the public will be able to visit the home of the Crown Jewels for the first time in more than 10 years.
Many have also wondered whether King Charles will receive a coronation medal, which is awarded to the monarch when they are crowned.
A medal was made for Queen Elizabeth II when she was crowned in 1952. It featured a portrait of the queen on one side and her royal cypher on the other.
The medal’s ribbon was dark red with blue and white stripes.
The Queen’s medal was given to members of the royal family, government officials, and members of the armed forces.
Coronation medals have been issued for each British monarch since the coronation of King George IV in 1821.
The Big Help Out during the coronation
The Big Help Out is a philanthropic initiative, with people encouraged to either lend a helping hand on the May 8 bank holiday or volunteer their time or skills on another day.
More than 1,500 charities are involved and opportunities are offered to members of the public via the organisation’s app. This includes options to help the elderly, the environment, support animal welfare, and work within their communities.
Pubs to open for longer during the coronation weekend
Throughout the weekend of the coronation, pubs, clubs, and bars will stay open until the small hours.
From Friday, May 5 through Sunday, May 7, venues in England and Wales will stay open for an additional two hours.
To allow people to “enjoy an additional pint or two”, Home Secretary Suella Braverman will extend licence hours from the customary 11pm to 1am.
“[This is] a momentous occasion deserving of special celebration,” she said.
The public have also been urged to make the event memorable by creating their own events, such as watch parties and community get-togethers. A Coronation Quiche recipe has even been released, which we put to the test here.
Who is performing at the coronation?
World-famous conductor Sir John Eliot Gardiner, who is also a Dorset farmer, will perform the first 20 minutes of music at the coronation.
King Charles and Fontmell Magna resident Sir Gardiner became friends when they met at a Sandringham celebration.
The pair share an interest in classical music and sustainable agriculture. Sir John also gave the King two heifers for his 60th birthday.
Who is performing at the Coronation Concert?
Katy Perry will join Take That, Lionel Richie and Andrea Bocelli in the line-up for the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle at 8pm on Sunday May 7. The Standard confirmed this on April 17 here.
The concert is expected to last approximately two to three hours. It will feature music, dance, and spoken word performances.
The BBC confirmed the line-up that will also include Sir Bryn Terfel, singer-songwriter Freya Ridings and composer and pianist Alexis Ffrench. The concert will be held in front of a live audience of 20,000, while millions will watch and listen to it at home.
Aside from the headliners, there is also set to be a classical orchestra performance and an appearance from the Coronation Choir, comprising different groups of singers from across the UK.
Who has reportedly turned down offers to perform at the Coronation Concert?
It seems as though Buckingham Palace has struggled to recruit performers for the concert, however, as some A-list stars have reportedly turned down the offer.
Harry Styles, Elton John, Adele, Ed Sheeran, Robbie Williams, and The Spice Girls are all said to have been approached.
The Mirror reports that organisers of the coronation had thought the Windsor Castle concert would be a “very easy sell”, but have been “met by a number of rejections” from the talent they’ve contacted.
According to the Sun, some artists have turned down the offers due to their busy schedules.
French, Swedes, and Australians are eager to watch the coronation
The historic moment in British history is proving a magnet globally, figures from leading online travel agency Opodo have revealed. These have shown a 121 per cent increase in searches for trips to the capital for the bank holiday weekend compared with the same period last year.
The country with the highest increase in interest is France, where searches for flights to London are up by 354 per cent year over year and reservations are up by more than 200 per cent.
Coronation memorabilia expected to be popular
The Royal Mint has released a commemorative coin collection before the coronation. It features the first official coinage portrait of King Charles III with a crown, designed by Martin Jennings and personally approved by His Majesty.
The collection includes a number of denominations, including a 50p coin and a £5 coin. The 50p coin features a drawing of Westminster Abbey, where the coronation service will take place. The £5 coin features a drawing of the crown, as well as the coronation date. To find out how to get your hands on one, click here.
Baker Ross is also doing an entire range on the coronation including teddy bears, wrist bands and paint your own plates.
Visitors to walk on coronation floor in socks
Visitors are welcome to Westminster Abbey, provided they remove their shoes to walk on the original ancient flooring, where King Charles will be crowned.
The public will be able to cross the “Cosmati pavement” for the first time in recent memory, Abbey officials say.
One of Britain's most important medieval relics, according to some, is the mosaic.
