The United Kingdom is buzzing with excitement for this monumental event, which marks the highly awaited coronation of King Charles III. Prince Charles, who is next in line to the throne, took the helm after Queen Elizabeth II passed away in September 2022. King Charles III has already begun performing his royal responsibilities, but the ceremonial swearing-in on May 6th will usher in a new period of his reign and commemorate his elevation to the prestigious position of England’s sovereign monarch. In a stunning display of tradition and opulence, King Charles III will be coronated as the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the ceremonial head of the glorious Commonwealth during the coronation ceremony. King Charles III will accept new responsibilities when he dons the crown and raises the sceptre, solidifying his legacy as a royal and honourable king.
In the United Kingdom, a monarch is crowned and solemnly swears in as the supreme head of the Church of England at the coronation, a long-standing religious ceremony. The coronation ceremony is performed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, one of the highest-ranking members of the Church, with great reverence. The United Kingdom is notable for being the only country in all of Europe to organise such a lavish and majestic event, perfectly suiting the grandeur of this momentous occasion.
The extravagant ceremony is scheduled to kick off at 11 a.m. British Standard Time, which is equivalent to 3:30 p.m. in India, and will be covered by prominent British media outlets like the BBC News channel as well as renowned American media giants like CBS News, NBC News, ABC News, Fox News, and CNN, who will begin providing televised coverage at 2.30 p.m. IST.
The regal Diamond Jubilee State Coach, which made its debut in 2014, will transport Charles and Camilla from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. The renowned eight-horse-drawn Gold State Coach, which has been the chosen means of transportation for every coronation event since King William IV’s coronation in 1831, will be used to convey them upon their return. Thus, two processions will parade through London’s bustling avenues as a part of the major celebration. The King and the royal family will then make a grand balcony entrance, where they will be met by a grand flypast of 60 aircraft. The iconic Red Arrows, advanced F-35s and Typhoons, and the Battle of Britain memorial flight will all take part in the six-minute flypast.
Charles will be crowned using the acclaimed and esteemed St. Edward’s Crown, which stands one foot tall and weighs close to five pounds. This exquisite attire, made of 22-carat gold, is embellished with 444 precious and semiprecious stones, including 345 aquamarines in rose cut, 37 white topaz, 27 tourmalines, 12 rubies, seven amethysts, six sapphires, two jargoons, one garnet, one spinel, and one carbuncle.
With 2,200 diamonds and a gold-lined silver frame, Camilla will adorn the crown that belonged to Queen Mary. With diamond weights of 94.4, 63.6, and 18.8 metric carats, respectively, Elizabeth II’s Cullinan III, IV, and V will be displayed in the beautiful crown.
King Charles III’s impending coronation will be the first royal inauguration in the age of social media. The Royal Family has come up with a brand-new emoji that features the St. Edward’s Crown and will appear when the hashtag #coronation is used on Twitter.
King Charles III has chosen to repurpose a number of ancient outfits worn by prior kings during previous coronations in an effort to reduce waste and save resources. In particular, King George VI’s red gown of state and Queen Elizabeth II’s own crimson robe of state, both of which have important historical and symbolic importance, will be worn by the King and Queen Consort Camilla, respectively.
The coronation is expected to have about 2000 distinguished guests in attendance. The invitation list comprises 850 individuals acknowledged for their humanitarian efforts, royal family members, significant foreign dignitaries, and British political leaders.
Prince Harry will be present during the coronation, while Meghan Markle and their kids will stay in California. The occasion will also feature the presence of Prince William and Princess Catherine, whose oldest child, Prince George, will participate in the ceremony as one of his grandfather’s pages of honour. Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward, together with working royal Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, are also anticipated to attend.
The coronation will be attended by a number of world leaders from the U.K., Commonwealth, and other nations. First Lady Jill Biden will attend in President Joe Biden’s place. U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will attend, in addition to past prime ministers Liz Truss and Tony Blair. Scotland’s First Minister, Humza Yousaf, and Wales’s First Minister, Mark Drakeford, as well as Nicholas Lyons, the Lord Mayor of London, will join in. France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Poland’s President Andrzej Duda, Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, New Zealand’s Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Philippines’ President Ferdinand Marcos, Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella, India’s Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and China’s Vice President Han Zheng will also attend.
A huge number of events are expected to be held across the country as part of the “Coronation Big Lunch” post the coronation on May 6. Famous artists and celebrities such as Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Andrea Bocelli, as well as the iconic English musical trio, Take That, will perform at the coronation ceremony on May 7 at Windsor Castle. According to rumours, Sonam Kapoor Ahuja from Bollywood has been invited exclusively to the celebration, making her the only Indian celebrity to perform with Hollywood heavyweights such as Tom Cruise, Joan Collins, and Tom Jones. These celebrities, as well as Bear Grylls and Oti Mabuse, are scheduled to take part in pre-recorded video parts.
