If there is anyone who revels in long standing traditions, it’s the British royal family. The royal coronation ceremony, in particular, is an event that dates back over a thousand years. Over the weekend, Buckingham Palace announced details for King Charles III’s version of the tradition, which will be held on May 6th and followed by two more days of celebration, including a concert at Windsor Castle. Read on for a breakdown of the historic festivities.
Saturday, May 6, 2023
The Archbishop of Canterbury will conduct the “solemn religious service” of King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla’s coronation, which will take place in the morning and will be televised by the BBC. The ceremony will be updated to reflect today’s culture while simultaneously honoring “longstanding traditions and pageantry,” according to a release from Buckingham Palace.
Since 1066, all but two U.K. royals have been coronated at Westminster Abbey (which has its own history dating all the way back to 960). King Charles’s celebration will be no different, albeit perhaps a little more subdued than the over three-hour-long affair that was Queen Elizabeth II’s 1953 coronation, which was attended by 8,000 guests and cost an estimated $53.7 million after calculating for inflation. Insider reports from The Daily Mail allege that Charles’s coronation, in contrast, will last a little over an hour and be attended by 2,000 guests. (We can only guess what the cost for the present-day festivities will be, but anti-monarchists have already announced plans to protest the ceremony, citing its undoubtedly high budget as “a slap in the face for millions of people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.”)
King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla will travel from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey in what’s known as “The King’s Procession” via the famed Gold Stage Coach. Following the ceremony, the royal pair will be joined by more members of the royal family in “The Coronation Procession” back to Buckingham Palace. Finally, the royals will make an appearance on the balcony (the debate rages on regarding Harry and Meghan’s attendance) before the official ceremonies for day one conclude.
Sunday, May 7, 2023
There are two events planned for the following day: “The Coronation Concert” and “The Coronation Big Lunch.” The latter will see groups across the U.K. organizing gatherings to eat together in an effort to foster community.
The concert will take place at Windsor Castle, where the BBC will stage performances from “global music icons and contemporary stars.” (Who will be performing? Your guess is as good as ours. This would be an iconic opportunity for a One Direction reunion.) An orchestra, dancers, and “stars of stage and screen” reciting spoken word will be in attendance, as well as “The Coronation Choir,” which is made up of a diverse group of community choirs across the U.K.
Attendees will include volunteers from charities affiliated with Charles and Camilla, as well as several thousand guests who will win two free tickets via a national drawing. However, people across the U.K. will have the opportunity to witness iconic landmarks overlaid with projections, drone displays, and laser light shows in a Disneyland-esque event known as “Lighting up the Nation.”