Technically , Prince Charles becameKing Charles IIIthe very moment his mother , Queen Elizabeth II , died on September 8 , 2022 . That change in leadership , known as theaccession , happens mechanically — though a ceremony is hold after the fact .
But in terms of length , oscilloscope , high life , and fundamentally everything else , the accession ceremony has nothing on the coronation , which marks a monarch ’s formal investiture as sovereign . The celebration ofKing Charles III ’s coronationwill take place over three 24-hour interval this May — here ’s everything we know about it so far .
1. King Charles III’s coronation ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, 12 May 2025.
The enthronisation itself comes first , scheduled for the dawn of Saturday , May 6 . King Charles III and Camilla , Queen Consort , will head what ’s known as “ The King ’s Procession ” fromBuckingham PalacetoWestminster Abbey . There , the Archbishop of Canterbury will preside over a spiritual serviceduring whichKing Charles III is look to declaim the coronation cuss , be crown withSt . Edward ’s Crown , and confine theCoronation Regalia(a bejeweled sceptre , orbit , and spoonful ) . Camilla will also be formally top Queen Consort during the proceedings . Afterwards , the pair will leadroyal familymembers and other key figures back to Buckingham in the so - called “ Coronation Procession ” and undulate to the masses below from the palace balcony .
2. King Charles III’s coronation may be shorter and smaller than his mother’s.
ForQueen Elizabeth II ’s coronationin 1953,extra standswere erected inside the abbey so more than 8000 the great unwashed could give ear . Unless King Charles III does the same ( which is n’t potential ) , we ’re looking at a client tilt closer to 2000 . But the ceremonial occasion will almost definitely betelevised — be Elizabeth ’s history - make case law .
Back in October , theDaily Mailclaimedthat Charles ’s enthronization ceremony is expect to last a turn longer than an hour ; his mother ’s pass on for about three . This means certain traditions will belike finish up on the hack stoppage , include , perhaps , bestowing Charles with gold ingots . The clothes code could be less formal , too ; reportssuggestthat Charles may forgo the traditional silk stockings and knickerbockers in favor of his military uniform .
3. A special new commission will decide who gets to perform honorary roles.
Since the 14th hundred , theCourt of Claimshas convened before each coronation to determine who gets to perform honorary duties during the ceremony — such as carrying the Coronation Regalia and various other object . This time , the Cabinet Office has established a special Coronation Claims Office to take its place .
According to apress release , functionary “ will confab with ecclesiastic expert from Lambeth Palace and ceremonial expert from the Royal Household ” to settle which duties to keep and which people will perform them . In decree to be believe for a role , you have to state a claim with evidence that it “ has been perform at previous coronations . ” You also have to “ show your connection to those who have antecedently performed the role . ”
4. An anti-monarchist group is planning a peaceful protest.
The anti - monarchist group Republic is project a peaceable protestation of the enthronement on May 6 . It will take place in Parliament Square near Westminster Abbey . “ The coronation is a celebration of hereditary power and privilege , it has no place in a modern social club , ” Republic CEO Graham Smithtold Reuters . “ At a price of ten of million of pound , this pointless objet d’art of theatre is a smacking in the face for one thousand thousand of people struggling with the cost - of - living crisis . ”
5. Windsor Castle will host a Coronation Concert the following day.
Clarence Day two of coronation weekend — Sunday — will feature a immense concert atWindsor Castle . Though the line - up of “ world-wide euphony icons and contemporary whizz ” has n’t yet been announced , the castle haspromiseda carrying out by a coronation consort comprising diverse Isaac Merrit Singer from “ refugee choir , National Health Service consort , LGBTQ+ telling mathematical group and deaf signing choir . ” There will be a Christ Within show with drones and lasers , too . In addition to broadcasting the entire result , the BBC and BBC Studios will give away several thousand tickets ( though the detail of that process remain unclear ) .
6. Coronation Big Lunches will kick off all over the UK.
Every year since 2009 , education and societal charityThe Eden Projecthosts what it predict The Big Lunch . fundamentally , on one Sunday in June , everyone convenes in their local community spaces to have lunch together . The organization celebrated Queen Elizabeth II’sPlatinum Jubileewith a specialBig Jubilee Lunch , and it ’s planning a alike series for the coronation . If you ’re concerned in hosting a Coronation Big Lunch in your own community — no matter where you live — you could learn how to get startedhere .
7. Monday, May 8, will be a bank holiday.
Monday , May 8 , is confirmed as abank vacation . Anybody who does n’t have to work that day isencouragedto spend the time volunteering in their community . The multi - constitution safari , dub The Big Help Out , is a nod to King Charles III ’s commitment to public service .
8. Camilla, Queen Consort, will wear Queen Mary’s crown—with its controversial diamond removed.
Rather than have a new crown made , Camilla will wear upon onecreated for Queen Mary , George V ’s queen consort , in 1911 . The headpiece wo n’t be exactly the same , though : Some of its arches will be removed , and it will not sport the controversialKoh - i - Noor infield . The historic105.6 - carat gemhad originally been require from a young prince by the East India Company in the 19th century and give to Queen Victoria ; it has since been included in crowns wear down during British enthronement . Camilla ’s crown will instead pay court to Queen Elizabeth II : theCullinan III , IV and V diamonds , which the late monarch wore as brooches , will be set into the headpiece .
9. The holy anointing oil used in King Charles III’s coronation will not contain animal products.
Before Charles is coronate big businessman , he ’ll be anointed with the Chrism oil during the coronation’smost solemnstep . In the past tense , the sacred substance — which was recently consecrated in Jerusalem — contain oilfrom whales and civets . But the oil wo n’t contain any animal inwardness this prison term around . It ’s mainly olive crude ( which , according tothe BBC , was made “ partly using olive grown on the Mount of Olives at the Monastery of Mary Magdalene , which is where the world-beater ’s grandmother , Princess Alice , is buried ” ) anda blendof other substantive oils such as orange blossom , jasmine , rose , cinnamon , and sesame . Whether the anointment will be televised remains unknown ; this outcome was the only part of Queen Elizabeth II ’s coronation that was not broadcast on television .
10. The coronation invitation officially identified Camilla as queen.
Camilla has typically had the titlequeen consortattached to her name . Theofficial coronation invitation , however , plainly identifies her as fag . Though Queen Elizabeth II had previously posit she wish for Camilla to be known as queen consort , it’snot surprisingthat Buckingham Palace is drop the latter part of the title . Camilla ’s not the first royal spouse to go by a short title , either : Prince Philip was technically prince consort as well , and George VI ’s wife was but referred to as Queen Elizabeth ( until her girl Queen Elizabeth II was crown and she take over the title queen female parent ) .
The invitation — which were direct out to around 2000 mass — featurecolorful wildflowers , wildlife , and image from British folklore . There are also quite a few symbols touch to the royal stag themselves . Andrew Jamieson , a heraldic artist and manuscript illuminator , handwriting - painted the picture .
11. Not every royal relative received an invite to the coronation.
Charles III ’s investiture will have a leaner guest list than years past . Prince William and Catherine , Princess of Wales , will attend , along with their fry . Prince Harry will be there as well — though his wife , Meghan Markle , will not ( the enthronisation shares a engagement with their son ’s birthday ) . The king ’s siblings also pick up an official invitation , but not every regal congenator made the cut . Sarah Ferguson , Duchess of York , did n’t receive an invite ; neither didLady Pamela Hicks , Prince Philip ’s cousin and one of Queen Elizabeth II ’s bridesmaid .
politician and heads of province from the UK and beyond were receive to the coronation . First Lady Jill Bidenwill beamong the famous faces in the bunch , though the president himself will not advert .
Not every meeter was invited based on their family ties or political standing : Of the 2000 people who will pay heed Charles III ’s coronation , more than 450 of them will be British Empire Medal recipients;that observe recognizes“remarkable volunteers , brotherly love representatives , and community genius ” for their service .
A version of this article originally ran in January 2023 ; it has been update to let in additional information about King Charles III ’s coronation .
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