On Saturday, May 6, 2023, the coronation of King Charles III took place at Westminster Abbey, London. Charles, 74, and his wife, Camilla, 75, will be officially crowned king and queen consort of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms.
King Charles III, formerly the Duke of Cornwall, then the Prince of Wales, acceded to the British throne eight months ago, on September 8, 2022, following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
He had been first in the line of succession for 70 years and 214 days, making him the longest heir apparent ever. His record-breaking wait for the throne began when he was three, on February 6, 1952, when his mother became queen.
The previous record holder was Charles’ great-great-grandfather Edward VII, who took the throne on January 22, 1901, after his mother, Queen Victoria, passed away after waiting 59 years and 73 days to do so.
As heir-apparent, Charles undertook official duties on behalf of the queen. He completed 10,934 official engagements between 2002 and 2022.
He attended the funerals of foreign dignitaries, officiated at ceremonies and investments, chaired the Royal Collection Trust meetings three times per year, and represented Queen Elizabeth II at several independence celebrations abroad.
Furthermore, he founded The Prince’s Trust, sponsors The Prince’s Charities, and is a patron or member of over 800 other charitable organisations. He is also an avid environmentalist, supporting organic farming and action to prevent global warming.
Charles’s coronation is set to be shorter than his mother’s, which took place in 1953. It has been modified from past coronations to represent the various cultures and communities in the UK today.
A statement from Buckingham Palace said that His Majesty’s coronation will “reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future while being rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry.”
The service will begin secretly with the anointing ceremony, aka the Act of Consecration. This tradition was performed behind closed doors during Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, as will be the case for Charles.
The Archbishop of Canterbury performs the anointing ceremony by pouring holy oil into the Coronation Spoon from the Ampulla, a gold vessel shaped like an eagle, and then anointing the new monarch on the hands, breast, and head. This tradition dates back to the Old Testament.
Afterwards, Charles’s public crowning and enthronement take place, representing his assumption of the powers and responsibilities that come with being king.
The centrepiece of the moment will be St. Edward’s crown, the world’s most valuable crown.
Queen Elizabeth II wore the iconic crown throughout her reign, and on Saturday, it will be placed atop Charles’s head.
Due to its historical significance, the crown is considered priceless and thus cannot be insured. However, in 2019, CashNetUSA calculated the value of each part, estimating its overall worth at £3.5 million ($4.5 million).
The crown is made of 22-carat gold and is encrusted with 444 precious or semi-precious stones. The cap inside is made of velvet and trimmed with ermine fur. In total, it weighs 2.23 kg (4.91 lb).
Camilla will be crowned in a shorter ceremony, whereafter she and Charles will travel to Buckingham Palace in a state procession.
They are expected to appear on the palace’s balcony alongside the rest of the Royal Family, concluding the day’s ceremonial events.
