After Queen Elizabeth’s coronation in 1953 seventy years ago, King Charles, the new monarch of Britain, will be officially crowned in a traditional ceremony on May 6th, 2023. Scroll to read everything we know about the ceremony.
Coronations are elaborate and ceremonious events that mark the formal investiture of a monarch. They usually involve a religious ceremony, where the monarch is anointed and crowned, as well as a procession through the streets of the capital city. The ceremony is steeped in tradition and symbolism and often draws on historical precedent.
Since the British monarchy often uses code names for events as a security measure to ensure that sensitive information about the event is not leaked to unauthorised individuals or groups, King Charles’s coronation is code-named Operation Golden Orb.
Eight months after his ascension to the throne upon the late Queen Elizabeth II’s passing, King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla will be crowned at Westminster Abbey. The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. British standard time which is 2 p.m. GST. It will be broadcasted live by British media, including BBC News.
The coronation will be the first to take place in the age of the Internet, and many anticipate the reception of the ceremony. With the rise of social media and other digital platforms, it is possible that King Charles’s coronation could be live-streamed or broadcast online, allowing people from around the world to witness the ceremony in real time.
As per custom, King Charles and Camilla will be carried in the six-horse-drawn Diamond Jubilee State Coach from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey in a procession. After the coronation, the eight-horse-drawn Gold State Coach will carry the newly coronated King to Buckingham Palace. This coach was first used during King William IV’s procession in 1831 and has been carrying every monarch since then.Kate Middleton’s State Dinner Ensemble Honoured Both The Queen And Princess Diana
In a British coronation ceremony, the monarch is traditionally crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is the most senior bishop of the Church of England. The Archbishop anoints the monarch with holy oil and places the crown on their head while reciting a specific set of words.
The St. Edward’s Crown is 360 years old, stands a foot tall and weighs nearly five pounds. It is composed of 22-carat gold and a total of 444 precious and semi-precious stones. These stones include 345 rose-cut aquamarines, 37 white topaz, 27 tourmalines, 12 rubies, seven amethysts, six sapphires, two jargons, one garnet, one spinel, and one carbuncle. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors estimated the Crown Jewels are worth approximately Dhs14.68 billion. The Royal Family has launched a St. Edward’s Crown emoji for Twitter’s #coronation hashtag.
Only 2000 attendees, including members of the royal family, foreign heads of state, British political leaders, and people recognized for their charity work, will be present at King Charles’ coronation as per his wishes. Prince Harry will be attending the ceremony but Meghan will remain in the United States with the couple’s children, Prince Archie, and Princess Lilibet. The number of attendees is just a quarter of the size of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation.“The Crown” Shares The First Look At Its Prince William And Kate Middleton
The British government pays for coronation ceremonies, which can be costly. Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation cost around $57 million today, while the cost of King Charles’ upcoming coronation is yet to be announced by the British government.
Lionel Richie, Bette Midler and English Pop group Take That are reportedly performing at the coronation. playlist containing 27 songs for the Coronation Celebration has been released by the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport. The playlist includes popular tracks such as Come Together by The Beatles, Let’s Dance by David Bowie, and Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush. Check out the playlist here.
The coronation for King Charles is a significant event in the history of the United Kingdom. It marks a new era in the monarchy and provide an opportunity for the country to come together and celebrate its traditions and heritage.
