A Guide to the Coronation of King Charles III
Copyright House of Lords 2022 / Photography by Annabel Moeller
Preparations are well underway for the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Though the Palace has announced that the coronation will be a “scaled back” ceremony, there will still be no shortage of traditional pomp and pageantry. Many details are yet to be released, but here are the basics of what we know so far:
Date: Saturday, May 6th, 2023 with celebrations continuing throughout the weekend.
Time: 11:00am BST (6:00am EST/5:00am CST)
Location: Westminster Abbey, following the King’s Procession from Buckingham Palace.
Officiant: Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury
Guests: Approximately 2,000 invitations were extended, with guests including members of the Royal Family, members of Camilla’s family, British and world political leaders & dignitaries, foreign royalty, British faith leaders, and members of the citizenry selected for charitable service.
Order of Ceremony: Though the order of ceremony has not been formally released, it has remained largely unchanged over the past 900 years; therefore, we can conclude with a high degree of confidence that it will include the following:
Arrival: Charles & Camilla arrive at Westminster Abbey.
Procession: Charles and Camilla process through the abbey preceded by several pieces of coronation regalia.
Oath: Charles takes an oath to uphold the laws and customs of the realm, and to govern justly and with mercy.
Anointing: Charles is anointed with holy oil on the by the Archbishop of Canterbury. This part of the ceremony is traditionally hidden from view.
Investiture: Charles is presented with various symbols of authority, such as the orb, sceptre, and sword.
Crowning: Charles is crowned with the St. Edward's Crown, the traditional coronation crown of the British monarchy since 1661.
Queen Consort’s ceremony: the Royal Family has announced that this will be a “similar but simpler” ceremony; based on known details will contain key elements similar to that of Charles’, such as the oath, investiture, and crowning. Traditionally this ceremony takes place immediately prior to the homage.
Homage: Traditionally, the peers of the realm pay homage to the new monarch, pledging their loyalty and support; however, it has been rumored that Prince William will be the only person to do this.
Benediction: The Archbishop of Canterbury offers a benediction, or blessing, to the monarch and the people.
Procession out of the abbey: Charles and Camilla process out of the abbey to their waiting carriage, which will carry them back to Buckingham Palace.
Coronation of King George VI (1895-1952); Frank O. Salisbury; Public Domain
The Royal Family has continued to release additional details ongoing, but perhaps the largest outstanding question is “how can I watch?” If you aren’t one of the lucky few invited to attend, never fear, because the coronation will be televised and live-streamed around the world.
BBC, ITV, and Sky in the UK have confirmed televised coverage, as well as BBC America and CNN in the US; however, it’s likely that additional broadcasters will announce as the coronation date draws nearer. Livestreams from these same broadcasters will undoubtedly be offered on platforms such as YouTube and Facebook. Keep an eye on this space in the coming weeks for updated information on how and where to watch!
Copyright House of Lords 2022 / Photography by Annabel Moeller
