As King Charles III’s coronation draws to a close, Vogue recaps the ceremony.
Which members of the royal family attended the coronation?
Besides King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla, the entire Wales family was present at the Coronation, with Prince George acting as one of the Pages of Honour during the service. Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis were also in attendance, traveling with Kate, William, and George in the carriage procession back to Buckingham Palace after the ceremony. The Duke of Sussex was among the congregation, too, although he kept a low profile, while the Duchess of Sussex remained at home in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
What time was King Charles III’s coronation?
The ceremony was held on May 6—more than eight months after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and shortly before the 70th anniversary of the Queen’s coronation. While the late monarch acceded to the throne on 6 February 1952, she wasn’t crowned until 2 June 1953, after a period of national mourning for her father, King George VI—a tradition that King Charles chose to follow. Guests began to arrive at Westminster Abbey from 9 a.m., with King Charles III’s procession setting off from Buckingham Palace at 10.20 a.m. The coronation ceremony then began at 11 a.m.—going off without a hitch. Afterwards, the King boarded the Gold Stage Coach at 1 p.m. and returned to Buckingham Palace to appear with the other royals on the balcony before cheering crowds.
How can I watch the coronation?
If you missed the live broadcast, you can watch a recap on BBC iPlayer or find highlights on YouTube via various news outlets. The coronation concert will also be televised on Sunday, 7 May, from 8 to 10 p.m. local time.
Where did King Charles III’s coronation take place?
Westminster Abbey has been the setting for British coronations for the past 900 years, and Charles III’s didn’t deviate from the established model—at least in that sense.
Was Queen Consort Camilla crowned alongside King Charles III?
Yes, following Queen Elizabeth II’s declaration in 2022 that it was her “sincere wish” that the former Duchess of Cornwall take the title of Queen Consort when Charles acceded to the throne, Camilla was crowned alongside her husband. She is the first Consort to be crowned since the Queen Mother in 1937. (As a man, Prince Philip was not entitled to a similar honor.)
What are the coronation regalia exactly?
The coronation regalia are the precious objects which symbolize the service and responsibilities of the monarch, and featured prominently in the coronation service. (They form the heart of the Crown Jewels and are usually on display in the Tower of London.) They include ceremonial swords, scepters, orbs, the golden St Edward’s staff, and the silver-gilt coronation spoon, as well as St Edward’s Crown, which was placed on the newly anointed monarch’s head by the Archbishop of Canterbury on May 6.
Who was invited to King Charles III’s coronation?
More than 2,000 guests were invited to Westminster Abbey on May 6. Among them were members of the royal family (and other members of royal families around the world), representatives from the Houses of Parliament and the Church, and prominent politicians from the Commonwealth and beyond. The number of coronation invitees is actually relatively small, given that more than 8,000 people attended the Queen’s service in 1953.
Who performed at King Charles III’s coronation?
The King personally commissioned 12 new pieces for the day, including a coronation anthem by Andrew Lloyd Webber and a coronation march by Patrick Doyle. Andrew Nethsingha—organist and master of the choristers at Westminster Abbey—directed the music throughout the ceremony, with the Royal Opera House’s Antonio Pappano conducting a coronation orchestra. The Ascension Choir, comprised of “handpicked” gospel singers, also performed, while Greek Orthodox music was sung by the Byzantine Chant Ensemble in a tribute to the late Prince Philip.
Is there a bank holiday for the coronation?
Yes, there is an additional bank holiday for King Charles III’s coronation, just as there was for Queen Elizabeth II’s. Following the Saturday, May 6 service, Britons are being encouraged to celebrate a Coronation Big Lunch with their neighbors at street parties on Sunday, May 7, before joining in with The Big Help Out by volunteering in their community on Monday, May 8.
Will there be other events to celebrate King Charles III’s coronation over the long weekend?
Yes. On January 21, Buckingham Palace announced that there would be a Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle on May 7, in which both up-and-coming artists and global musical icons will come together to mark the occasion. They’ll be joined by an orchestra, dance troupes, A-list actors delivering “spoken word sequences” and the coronation choir, comprised of amateur singers from across the country, who’ll be joined by a virtual choir made up of vocalists based across the Commonwealth.
Who will perform at the Coronation Concert?
Katy Perry, Lionel Ritchie, Andrea Bocelli, Freya Ridings, Nicole Scherzinger, Paloma Faith, Tiwa Savage, Olly Murs and Take That are all set to perform for a crowd of approximately 20,000 people at Windsor Castle.
