March 8 2023 marks six months since the death of Queen Elizabeth II at Balmoral Castle last year at the age of 96.
Her Late Majesty had been in poor health for some months, however, her death still came as a huge shock, with the monarch of 70 years still working and receiving ministerial correspondence until the final hours of her life.
Six months on from the day that shocked the world, King Charles III is preparing for his own Coronation at Westminster Abbey.
On May 6 2023, almost exactly 70 years on from the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, Charles and Camilla will be formally invested in the symbolic and ancient ceremony.
Part of the reason for the Coronation occurring so many months after the death of the previous monarch is so people can celebrate freely, with the mourning period being over.
What we know about the Coronation so far, by Lydia Starbuck
The Coronation takes place on Saturday May 6th 2023 at Westminster Abbey, London. Charles III and Queen Camilla will ride to the Abbey in the State Gold Coach in The King’s Procession.
Both King Charles and Queen Camilla will be crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury. St. Edward’s Crown will be used for His Majesty’s Coronation while the crown of Queen Mary will be used for Queen Camilla. Both crowns have been removed from the Tower of London for preparation ahead of the May ceremony.
The Archbishop of Canterbury will crown both King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Justin Welby will lead the Coronation service which will follow a traditional pattern laid out in the Liber Regalis, held at Westminster Abbey. The ceremony is based around the Eucharist and The King will be presented to the Abbey first before making and signing his Coronation oath.
One of the most sacred parts of the ceremony is the anointing – it is of such religious significance that it has never even been filmed before. King Charles and Queen Camilla will be anointed with oil of Chrism made from olives grown on the Mount of Olives including trees at the Monastery of St. Mary Magdalene, the final resting place of The King’s grandmother, Princess Alice.
However, there will be one definite break from tradition. The royal dukes will not swear individual allegiance to The King. Instead, The Prince of Wales will pay homage to His Majesty on their behalf.
Following the Coronation, King Charles will change crowns. He will leave Westminster Abbey wearing the Imperial State Crown.
The return to Buckingham Palace will see the newly crowned King and Queen at the head of the Coronation Procession. Their Majesties will once again ride in the Gold State Coach with other members of the Royal Family following them in other ceremonial carriages.
The event ends with a balcony appearance. Exact timings haven’t yet been revealed. Neither has the guest list as invitations haven’t yet been sent out.
The celebrations for the Coronation continue across a long weekend. On Sunday May 7th, there will be a Coronation concert at Windsor Castle. Tickets will be distributed by ballot – the draw has already closed although winners are yet to be notified. The full line up for the concert will be revealed in the coming weeks.
May 7th 2023 is also the main day for the Coronation Big Lunch when communities come together for street parties, shared meals and festivities.
The evening of May 7th 2023 will see the fulfilment of another Coronation tradition as buildings and landmarks across the UK are illuminated in celebrations.
Monday May 8th is a Bank Holiday in the UK in celebration of the Coronation. It has been designated the ‘Big Help Out’. The day will see people celebrate the work of volunteers and help each other. It will also be a day of tribute to King Charles III’s lifetime of service.
