Charles is crowned in Westminster Abbey by the Archbishop of Canterbury – all the facts about the major event in London.
King Charles III, 74, will be crowned alongside Queen Consort Camilla, 75, in a lavish ceremony at Westminster Abbey on May 6. For the British, there is a long weekend of celebrations surrounding the investiture with street parties and concerts. This is what Royal fans need to know about the event.
When is the coronation?
The coronation service begins on Saturday, May 6th at 11am in Westminster Abbey, which is 12pm in Germany. The ceremony will be followed by a weekend of events including a concert at Windsor Castle.
What happens at the coronation ceremony?
The King and Queen Consort will be in procession, known as “The King’s Procession”., arriving at Westminster Abbey. The starting point is Buckingham Palace. Charles and Camilla will use the State Coach Britannia, a six-horse closed carriage built for the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II (1926-2022) in 2012, according to the Palace.
The coronation service will then take place in Westminster Abbey, led by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Justin Welby, 67, has been the spiritual leader of the Church of England since March 2013.
Buckingham Palace said the ceremony will reflect the monarch’s role in the present day and look to the future, while remaining rooted in long-standing traditions and pageantry. “The ceremony has maintained a similar structure for over a thousand years and this year’s coronation is expected to share the same core elements while acknowledging the spirit of our time,” the royal said.
For the past 900 years, the ceremony has taken place in Westminster Abbey in London. From 1066, worship was almost always conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury. However, Charles’ coronation service is now also intended to be representative of different faiths, in line with the King’s desire to reflect the ethnic diversity of modern Britain.
The coronation will also include many of the ceremonies featured at the late Queen’s coronation service in 1953, such as the anointing with consecrated oil, the presentation of the orb (a golden orb with a cross on it) and the enthronement itself 13th Century. A cloak is also put on Charles, and the Jeweled State Sword and other pieces of the Crown Jewels are presented to him. Among other things, the new monarch receives a coronation ring, bracelet and two scepters, he is also anointed, blessed and consecrated before he is crowned with the Edwardian crown by the archbishop. Then vows are spoken. Camilla is also crowned queen in the ceremony. After the service, Charles will leave Westminster Abbey wearing the lighter Imperial State Crown.
The music at the coronation
According to British media reports, the king is said to have asked for Greek Orthodox music to be played in the service in honor of his late father Prince Philip (1921-2021). Musical superstar Andrew Lloyd-Webber, 75, was also commissioned by Charles to write his coronation anthem, in which the composer hopes “to reflect the joyful occasion”. In total, Charles is said to have selected twelve new pieces of music for the ceremony.
Special task for Prince George
Prince George, 9, will have a special role at his grandfather’s coronation, Buckingham Palace said. The eldest son of Prince William, 40, and Princess Kate, 41, will be one of a total of eight male page honours, serving as the royal couple’s support.
The guests
More than 8,000 guests from 129 nations came to Westminster Abbey for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, and 2,000 for security reasons at the coronation of King Charles. And there will be one more difference: normally no other crowned heads attend the coronation ceremony of a British monarch. But now, among other things, the Swedish King Carl XVI. Gustaf, 76, who is traveling with Crown Princess Victoria, 45. Along with other royals who are on the guest list, Charles has also invited 850 charity workers.
After the coronation
The coronation is to be followed by another procession, which will take the reverse route back to Buckingham Palace – and will include soldiers from the British military and forces from across the Commonwealth. For this purpose, King Charles III. and Queen Camilla board the “Gold State Coach”. The carriage was first used by King George III. (1738-1820) and has been used at every coronation since that of William IV (1765-1837) in 1831. The Earl Marshal, Edward William Fitzalan-Howard, who is in charge of planning the coronation, says in a short clip that this second procession will be “huge”, “with all the pomp that Britain can muster”.
A traditional performance by the royal family is then expected on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. A music concert and light show is scheduled at Windsor Castle on Sunday 7 May. On May 8th, the British have an additional public holiday with events honoring people who do voluntary work.