The coronation of King Charles III is set to take place on May 6, and it is expected to cost around £100 million. This amount is double the cost of the 1953 coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. The British government will foot the bill for the coronation since it is a state affair. This essentially means that the coronation will be funded by British taxpayers’ money.
TV Rights and Boost to Tourism
However, the worldwide TV rights for the event are expected to more than cover the cost, and it will be a massive boost to tourism. The coronation committee, known as Operation Golden Orb, is planning the ceremony, and security is a significant issue. The procession route will be shorter than in 1953, but it is still expected to take 40 minutes to pass. The TV viewing figures for the coronation are anticipated to match the 37 million in the UK who watched the Queen’s funeral coverage.
Unconventional Date and Venue
King Charles III will break with tradition as coronations are not usually held on weekends. However, the date of May 6 was chosen because it does not clash with the FA Cup Final or the Derby. The ceremony will take place at Westminster Abbey, and King Charles III will sit in King Edward’s Chair, which is over 700 years old. He will be anointed with oil from a 900-year-old spoon. Like his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles III will travel to and from Westminster Abbey in the gold state coach.
Significant Historical Moment
King Charles III’s coronation will be a massive boost to tourism, with hotels already being booked out for the coronation weekend. In 1953, three million people lined the specially-extended route to see the new Queen’s procession. Despite the shorter route, King Charles’ procession is also expected to be a similarly grand affair. It will be a historic moment for the British monarchy, and the world will be watching as King Charles III is crowned.
Attendance of Andrew Parker Bowles
Andrew Parker Bowles, the former husband of Camilla, will attend the Coronation service to watch as his ex-wife is crowned alongside King Charles III. Camilla and Andrew were married for 22 years until their divorce in 1995 and had two children and grandchildren together.
What is Coronation?
A coronation is a ceremony that symbolizes the religious and formal recognition of a monarch as the head of state. During the ceremony, the monarch is crowned with a ceremonial crown, which is an act that represents the transfer of power and authority. While a coronation has historically been an important part of a monarch’s ascension to the throne, it is not a legal requirement for a monarch to be crowned in order to assume their role as king or queen. In modern times, some monarchs have chosen to forego a coronation or to have a simpler, more low-key ceremony.
Who will go to the coronation?
The guest list for the coronation is determined by the government, and it typically includes members of the Royal Family, government officials such as the prime minister and members of parliament, as well as representatives from other countries and international organizations.
Prince Harry has confirmed that he will attend the coronation, marking his first public appearance with the Royal Family since the release of his memoir earlier in the year. However, his wife, the Duchess of Sussex, will not be in attendance.
It is expected that the event will draw dignitaries and royals from around the world, but the details of the guest list have not yet been announced.
Notably, the date of the coronation coincides with the fourth birthday of Prince Harry and Meghan’s son, Prince Archie, who will remain in the US with his mother.
Where to watch King Charles’s Coronation
There are several ways to watch the coronation ceremony of King Charles III. The ceremony will be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC radio, and viewers can also watch online via BBC iPlayer and listen via BBC Sounds.
For viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing, a signed version of the program will be shown on BBC Two, and an accessible version for people who are blind or partially sighted will be available on the Red Button.
In addition to the coronation ceremony, a special concert on Sunday night will also be broadcast live. Several BBC programs will feature special episodes related to the coronation, including Countryfile, Songs Of Praise, Bargain Hunt, The One Show, EastEnders, Antiques Roadshow, and Coronation Kitchen. These programs will provide additional coverage and insights into the coronation and its significance.
Crowns to be Worn During King Charles III’s Coronation
During the coronation ceremony of King Charles III, he will be crowned with the St Edward’s Crown, which is a solid gold crown from the 17th century. The crown is exceptionally heavy and is only used for the moment of coronation.
However, there has been controversy surrounding some of the other crowns and royal gemstones, particularly regarding their acquisition by the British empire. The Imperial State Crown, which the King will wear towards the end of the ceremony and on the Buckingham Palace balcony, contains the Cullinan II diamond, a stone gifted to Edward VII by the government of Transvaal, a former British colony in South Africa.
Another controversial stone is the Koh-i-Noor, which is part of the Queen Mother’s coronation crown. The diamond is one of the largest cut diamonds in the world, and India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran have all made claims to it. However, Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the Koh-i-Noor will not feature in the coronation ceremony.
Instead, the Queen Consort will be crowned with Queen Mary’s Crown, which has been taken out of the Tower of London to be resized ahead of the ceremony.