Buckingham Palace has released the date of the King’s coronation; it will be held on Saturday, 6 May 2023, at Westminster Abbey.
Reports from sources close to the palace have stressed that this will be a much smaller event than his mother’s coronation in 1953. Given that society in the UK, the Commonwealth, and the world as a whole is in a rather different place than it was in 1953, this is a smart choice.
While the late Queen’s coronation had over 8,000 guests, King Charles III’s coronation reportedly will have 2,000 guests in attendance. Several traditions are said to be cut from the ceremony in May, including those where the monarch is presented with several gold objects, to bring the ceremony down to roughly an hour. (Queen Elizabeth’s coronation was close to three hours long.)
Many are asking if it is right to make changes to this ceremony with its roots in centuries-old traditions. It only makes sense for the new King to make changes, though.
We have seen society change drastically since the last coronation. The age of deference is long since gone, and the monarchy has been forced to make many changes and concessions over the last seven decades. Charles is making a wise decision to be more proactive in modernising the monarchy.
The Anglican religion also no longer dominates UK society. Given that the new King has long since promoted inter-faith relations, it is more than logical that he would choose to have a more open and accommodating religious ceremony that welcomes those of all faiths. To have all guests (and anyone watching from elsewhere) sit through nearly three hours of an Anglican service when the majority of the UK and the Commonwealth are not Anglican would feel discordant.
Finally, with the United Kingdom in a severe cost-of-living crisis and the world as a whole facing a global recession, it would feel wildly out of touch to hold a massive and opulent coronation when UK citizens are struggling to pay to heat their homes.
Yes, the monarchy will always be an emblem of wealth – the British Royal Family will always have multiple palaces and homes, significant land holdings, countless priceless jewels, and more. However, as Prince of Wales and now King, Charles has sought to downsize and streamline the monarchy and its spending. So a lavish ceremony was never going to be on the cards for him, and it is a wise start to his reign.
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