The date of King Charles III’s coronation has been announced: 6 May 2023.
The ceremony will take place at Westminster Abbey, where all 38 coronations have been conducted (Edward V and Edward VIII were never crowned), and will be led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, the most senior cleric within the Church. Charles is of course head of the Church of England.
Camilla will be crowned alongside her husband as Queen Consort. The last time a Queen Consort was crowned was back in 1937, during the coronation of George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
Westminster Abbey from the north side. The iconic west doors are located between the towers on the right hand side of this image
The coronation, Buckingham Palace shares, ‘will reflect the Monarch’s role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry’.
As it is a Saturday, it is not expected a Bank Holiday will be created, but will enable people to join the throngs of crowds in the capital to mark the occasion, or watch from home. It is also the date of his grandson, Archie’s birthday.
There had been speculation Charles might choose 3rd June for the occasion, which would have marked 70 years since the crowning of Elizabeth II. However, it seems he is keen to forge his own path and somewhat uncouple himself from his mother’s legacy.
The King will be crowned with St Edward’s Crown, created for Charles II’s restoration in 1666, and be anointed with holy oil, carrying both the orb and the sceptre.
It will be the Imperial State Crown – altered a touch to fit Charles’ head – that The King wears to and from the ceremony.
The Queen at her Coronation on 2nd June 1953 at Westminster Abbey (© Queen Elizabeth II/Royal Collection Trust)
St Edward’s Crown is used at the coronation for the moment of crowning
With Charles’ commitment to inter-faith dialogue, it is expected that the service will be more reflective of today’s Britain than the 1953 coronation of his mother, with other religious leaders and representatives in attendance at the Abbey.
While the late Queen’s coronation was three hours long, attended by 8000 dignitaries, it is also thought the event will be shorter, and more modest, considering the current economic climate in the UK.
The coronation will also make The King the oldest to be crowned in British history; previously, this record was held by William IV – son George III and uncle to Queen Victoria – who was 65 at the time of his coronation. He spent so little on his coronation it that it became known as ‘the penny coronation’.
