As King Charles III’s Coronation draws to a close, Vogue recaps the ceremony.
Which members of the royal family attended the Coronation?
May 6, 2023 Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales attend the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey
Photo: Yui Mok - WPA Pool via Getty Images
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, travelling 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 6 May – 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 9am, with King Charles III’s procession setting off from Buckingham Palace at 10.20. The Coronation ceremony then began at 11 – going off without a hitch. Afterwards, the King boarded the Gold Stage Coach at 1pm 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 on BBC, you can watch a recap on BBC iPlayer. The Coronation concert will also be televised on Sunday 7 May, from 8 to 10pm.
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?
May 06, 2023 King Charles III and Queen Camilla can be seen on the Buckingham Palace balcony ahead of the flypast during the Coronation
Photo: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
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 honour.)
What are Coronation regalia exactly?
The Coronation regalia are the precious objects which symbolise the service and responsibilities of the monarch, and which 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, sceptres, 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 6 May.
Who was invited to King Charles III’s Coronation?
More than 2,000 guests were invited to Westminster Abbey on 6 May. 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 6 May service, Britons are being encouraged to celebrate a Coronation Big Lunch with their neighbours at street parties on Sunday 7 May, before joining in with The Big Help Out by volunteering in their community on 8 May.
Will there be other events to celebrate King Charles III’s Coronation over the long weekend?
Yes. On 21 January, Buckingham Palace announced that there would be a Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle on 7 May, 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.
Editor
Radhika Seth and Hayley MaitlandCredit
Lead Image: Richard Pohle - WPA Pool via Getty Images
