Everything You Need To Know About The Coronation Of King Charles III3 min read
As King Charles III’s Coronation happens today, here’s everything that’s been revealed about the historic day so far.
Which members of the royal family will attend the Coronation?
Besides King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla, the entire Wales family is expected to be present at the Coronation, with Prince George due to act as one of the Pages of Honour during the service. Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis’s precise roles in the ceremony – if any – have yet to be announced. Meanwhile, after much back and forth, the Duke of Sussex has confirmed that he will be in attendance at Westminster Abbey on the day, while the Duchess of Sussex will remain at home in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
When will King Charles III’s Coronation take place?
On 11 October, Buckingham Palace confirmed that the ceremony will be held on the morning of 6 May, more than eight months after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. The date falls shortly before the 70th anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation. While the late monarch acceded to the throne on 6 February 1952, she wasn’t crowned until 2 June 1953, after a period of national mourning for her father, King George VI – a tradition that King Charles chose to follow.
Will King Charles III’s Coronation be broadcast live?
Yes, it will be. Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation, the first ceremony of its kind to be shown on TV, drew an estimated 27 million viewers in the UK – a number that could easily be surpassed this time around.
What are the timings for King Charles III’s Coronation?
On Saturday 6 May, guests will begin to arrive at Westminster Abbey from 9am, with King Charles III’s procession setting off from Buckingham Palace at 10.20. The Coronation ceremony will then begin at 11. Afterwards, the King is set to board the Gold Stage Coach at 1pm and return to Buckingham Palace, with the royals expected to appear on the balcony at 2pm.
How can I watch the Coronation?
The Coronation will be broadcast on the BBC, with rolling coverage kicking off at 7.30am and continuing until 3pm. The Coronation concert will also be broadcast on Sunday 7 May, from 8 to 10pm.
Where will King Charles III’s Coronation take place?
Westminster Abbey has been the setting for British Coronations for the past 900 years, and Charles III’s won’t deviate from the established model – at least in this sense.
What will King Charles III’s Coronation look like?
Despite sharing their storied location, King Charles’s Coronation will look markedly different from his mother’s in many ways. Tellingly, in the press release confirming the Coronation date, Buckingham Palace noted that, while the ceremony “has retained a similar structure for over a thousand years” and will “include the same core elements”, it will also recognise “the spirit of our times” and “reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future”.
