Some of these traditions are nearly 900 YEARS OLD! You'll never believe some of these facts about King Charles' Coronation
King Charles will be officially crowned with the headpiece named after St Edward the Confessor. The crown has sat on the head of the British monarch since the 1300s.
It takes place on Saturday 6 May, 2023 at 11am. The world’s media will be putting all its attention on the pomp and pageantry on the morning of the big day with telly crews already setting up outside Buckingham Palace.
It will take place in Westminster Abbey. The venue has played host to every coronation in England since 1066 following the defeat of Harold at the hands of William The Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings. In more recent history, it has held many ceremonies like his mother Queen Elizabeth's state funeral, the nuptials of Prince William and Princess Catherine and the funeral of Charles' ex-wife, the late Diana, Princess of Wales.
Coronation live: King Charles III to be crowned in Westminster Abbey alongside Queen Camilla
King Charles on Friday meeting people during a walkabout on the Mall outside Buckingham Palace.
© Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters
Saturday 6 May 2023 - key events and timings:
- 6am BST: Viewing areas open along the 1.3-mile procession route from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey.
- 7.15-8.30am: Guests for Westminster Abbey begin to arrive.
- 9am: Congregation to be seated inside the abbey.
- 9.30-10.45am: Heads of state, overseas government representatives, government ministers, first ministers, former prime ministers, foreign royals and members of the royal family arrive.
- 9.45am: The Sovereign’s Escort of the Household Cavalry begin to gather for the procession from Buckingham Palace.
- 10.20am: The king and queen consort’s procession sets off from the palace.
- 10.53am: The king and queen consort arrive at Westminster Abbey.
- 11am: They enter the Abbey through the Great West Door and the service begins.
- 12pm: The king is crowned. The archbishop of Canterbury places the St Edward’s crown on his head. Trumpets will sound and gun salutes will be fired across the UK.
- 1pm: The service ends and the newly crowned king and queen begin their coronation procession back to Buckingham Palace in the gold state coach.
- 1.33pm: The king and queen consort enter Buckingham Palace through the Centre Arch.
- 1.45pm: The king and queen receive a royal salute from the military in the palace gardens.
- Approximately 2.15pm: The king, queen and members of the royal family appear on the palace balcony to watch the flypast – weather permitting.
King Charles' Coronation: Everything You Need To Know
King Charles III and Queen Camilla pose for a picture, released April 4, in the Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace in London
King Charles’ coronation is just days away, and the U.K. is gearing up for a special ceremony not seen in seven decades. Both Charles and Camilla will be crowned on May 6, making the former Prince of Wales the 40th monarch to be crowned at Westminster.
Though Charles ascended to the throne when his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died on Sept. 8, 2022, his official crowning is set to take place on May 6 at Westminster Abbey.
Coronations have taken place at Westminster since 1066, and the entire event will be steeped in hundreds of years of tradition (think holy oil and pieces of what was once ― allegedly ― Jesus’ cross). The first coronation is to take place in over 70 years.
Singapore President Halimah Yacob to attend King Charles III's coronation in London
Singapore President Halimah Yacob to attend King Charles III's coronation in London
President Halimah Yacob will be attending the coronation of King Charles III in London from Thursday to Sunday (4 to 7 May).
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said in a press statement on Wednesday that Halimah will be accompanied by her husband and officials from the President's Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During her stay, she will hold separate meetings with Vietnam President Vo Van Thuong, and Fiji President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere. She will also attend a reception for Singaporeans living in Britain, according to MFA.
During Halimah's absence, Eddie Teo, chairman of the Council of Presidential Advisers, will perform the duties of the Office of the President.
Britain's royal line of succession
After an historic 70 years on the throne as Britain's longest-serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96, at her home at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, on Sept. 8, 2022.
Immediately upon her passing, her eldest son, Prince Charles, became the new king.
There are detailed protocols governing the line of succession and who would eventually take over after Charles's reign. In January 2019, Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, announced plans to pare back their royal duties. However, those plans do not include an abdication and they remain in the line of succession... as do their two children.
Here's a look at who is in line for the throne after King Charles III:
- Prince William, Duke of Cambridge - Son of Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales
- Prince George - Son of Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
- Princess Charlotte - Daughter of Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
- Prince Louis - Son of Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
- Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex - Son of Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales
- Archie Harrison Mountbatten - Son of Prince Harry; great-grandson of Queen Elizabeth II
- Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor - Daughter of Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
- Prince Andrew, Duke of York - Son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip
- Princess Beatrice of York - Daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York
- Miss Sienna Mapelli Mozzi - Daughter of Princess Beatrice of York
- Princess Eugenie of York - Daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York
- August Philip Hawke Brooksbank - Son of Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank
- Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex - Son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip
- James, Viscount Severn - Son of Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex
- Lady Louise Windsor - Daughter of Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex
- Anne, Princess Royal - Daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip
- Peter Phillips - Son of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips
- Savannah Phillips - Daughter of Peter and Autumn Phillips
- Isla Phillips - Daughter of Peter and Autumn Phillips
- Zara Tindall - Daughter of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips
- Mia Tindall - Daughter of Zara and Mike Tindall
- Lena Elizabeth Tindall - Daughter of Zara Tindall and Mike Tindall
- Lucas Philip Tindall - Son of Zara and Mike Tindall
- David Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley - Son of Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon
- Charles Armstrong-Jones - Grand-nephew of Queen Elizabeth II (son of David Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley and Serena Armstrong-Jones, Viscountess Linley)
- Margarita Armstrong-Jones - Daughter of David Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley, and Serena Armstrong-Jones, Viscountess Linley
- Lady Sarah Chatto - Daughter of Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon
- Samuel Chatto - Grand-nephew of Queen Elizabeth II (son of Lady Sarah Chatto and Daniel Chatto)
- Arthur Chatto - Grand-nephew of Queen Elizabeth II (son of Lady Sarah Chatto and Daniel Chatto)
- Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester - Son of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, and Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester
Camilla becomes officially known as Queen Camilla from coronation day
Happier times for the King, pictured here in 2005 after marrying his long-term partner Camilla who is now the Queen consort of the United Kingdom.
Queen Camilla has completed her transformation from Queen Consort to Queen as her coronation day arrived.
The former Mrs Parker Bowles will be anointed and crowned in Westminster Abbey during a historic ceremony steeped in history and celebrated with great pageantry.
The official invitation to the day, the order of service, the Church of England’s prayers and Royal Collection souvenirs all hailed Camilla as the Queen or Queen Camilla.
Buckingham Palace tweeted late on the eve of the coronation, using “Queen Camilla” for the first time on the monarchy’s official account.
Diana, Princess of Wales
At St Paul's Cathedral in London in 1981, Charles married Lady Diana Spencer, who then became the Princess of Wales. The event was watched by millions of people on television at home and thousands flocked to the streets to cheer for the couple.
Diana, Princess of Wales (born Diana Frances Spencer; 1 July 1961 – 31 August 1997), was a member of the British royal family. She was the first wife of King Charles III (then Prince of Wales) and mother of Prince Prince William and Prince Prince Harry. Her activism and glamour made her an international icon and earned her enduring popularity.
Diana was born into the British nobility and grew up close to the royal family on their Sandringham estate. In 1981, while working as a nursery teacher's assistant, she became engaged to Charles, the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II. Their wedding took place at St Paul's Cathedral in 1981 and made her Princess of Wales, a role in which she was enthusiastically received by the public. The couple had two sons, William and Harry, who were then respectively second and third in the line of succession to the British throne. Diana's marriage to Charles suffered due to their incompatibility and extramarital affairs. They separated in 1992, soon after the breakdown of their relationship became public knowledge. Their marital difficulties were widely publicised, and the couple divorced in 1996.
As Princess of Wales, Diana undertook royal duties on behalf of Elizabeth II and represented her at functions across the Commonwealth realms. She was celebrated in the media for her unconventional approach to charity work. Her patronages were initially centred on children and the elderly, but she later became known for her involvement in two particular campaigns: one involved the social attitudes towards and the acceptance of AIDS patients, and the other for the removal of landmines, promoted through the International Red Cross. She also raised awareness and advocated for ways to help people affected by cancer and mental illness. Diana was initially noted for her shyness, but her charisma and friendliness endeared her to the public and helped her reputation survive the acrimonious collapse of her marriage. Considered photogenic, she was a leader of fashion in the 1980s and 1990s. Diana's death in a car crash in Paris in 1997 led to extensive public mourning and global media attention. An inquest returned a verdict of "unlawful killing" following Operation Paget, an investigation by the London Metropolitan Police. Her legacy has had a deep impact on the royal family and British society.
King Charles III, Britain's new monarch
King Charles III was formally proclaimed as monarch on Saturday hours before Buckingham Palace announced Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral will be held Sept. 19.
The accession ceremony at St James's Palace in London officially marks a new era in British rule following Queen Elizabeth's death Thursday. Though Charles automatically became king after his mother's death, he was officially announced as Britain's new king Saturday in a ceremony steeped in ancient tradition and political symbolism — and, for the first time, broadcast live.
David White, the Garter King of Arms, made the king's proclamation official while flanked by trumpeters in gold-trimmed robes before leading cheers — “hip, hip, hooray!” — for the new king. After the proclamation concluded, Buckingham Palace announced the official date and plan for Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral, which will be preceded by her coffin lying in state for four days for the public to pay respects. On Sunday King Charles III will meet with Britain's secretary general at Buckingham Palace and will later host high commissioners in the palace's Bow Room.
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