As Saturday 6 May – and its accompanying bank holiday – edges ever closer, we’re getting more and more excited about King Charles’ coronation. For many of us, this will be the first time that we’ve ever witnessed a royal coronation, but for those who were alive on 2 June 1953, there are a lot of questions about how different King Charles’ coronation will be to Queen Elizabeth’s. Luckily, we’ve got all the answers.
Although much of King Charles’ coronation will be ‘rooted in long-standing tradition’, as the monarchy attempts to modernise for the 21st century, it’s clear that a lot will be different, especially with the ceremony coming during a cost-of-living crisis when frivolity won’t be rewarded. Seeing as Queen Elizabeth’s coronation cost a whopping £1.57 million, it seems like a wise decision.
Was Queen Elizabeth coronated in Westminster Abbey?
Just like King Charles will be, Queen Elizabeth was crowned in Westminster Abbey.
Was Prince Phillip crowned at Queen Elizabeth’s coronation?
In a marked step from tradition, Camilla is set to be crowned Queen alongside King Charles, something that didn’t happen for Prince Phillip when Queen Elizabeth was crowned.
The last time that a Queen Consort was crowned was back in 1937 at the coronation of King George VI when The Queen Mother became Queen Elizabeth.
How many guests did Queen Elizabeth have at her coronation?
Whilst Queen Elizabeth’s coronation was attended by 8, 250 guests, King Charles’ guest list is expected to be around 2,000.
Will King Charles’ coronation ceremony be the same length as Queen Elizabeth’s?
Queen Elizabeth’s coronation serviced lasted a lengthy four hours in total whereas King Charles is only going to be 60 minutes.
What is the dress code for King Charles’ coronation?
Queen Elizabeth donned full ceremonial robes made from crimson velvet and ermine for her coronation atop a satin gown embroidered with pearls and crystals, but King Charles’s dress code will be a lot more relaxed. He may even choose to wear his military uniform.
Will Prince Harry have to swear his allegiance to King Charles?
At Queen Elizabeth’s coronation all the dukes in attendance knelt before her and swore to, ‘become your liege man of life and limb, and of earthly worship; and faith and truth I will bear unto you, to live and die, against all manner of folks. So help me God.’
At King Charles’ only William will pay homage to his father meaning that neither the Duke of Sussex (Prince Harry) nor the Duke of York (Prince Andrew) will have to kneel before the King.
What is the Koh-I-Noor diamond?
Known as the world’s most controversial diamond, the Koh-I-Noor diamond is currently set among the crown jewels.
Found in India’s alluvial mines, in 1635 it adorned the throne of Mughal ruler Shah Jahan before making its way through theft to Queen Victoria. In 1911, the diamond was transferred to Queen Mary’s Crown and then in 1937 to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother’s Crown.
Noting the dark past of the Koh-I-Noor diamond, Queen Camilla is not expected to wear The Queen Mother’s Crown and will instead wear Queen Mary’s during the coronation.
Will King Charles’ coronation procession be different to Queen Elizabeth’s?
After her coronation ceremony, the Queen rode in her carriage with the Duke of Edinburgh for five miles across the streets of London. The journey took two hours in total and involved 16,000 individuals.
King Charles however is expected to take a much shorter route of 1.3 miles and there are even rumours that instead of riding in the golden state carriage, he may take a car or the Diamond Jubilee State Coach which was commissioned to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s accession to the throne.
How else will King Charles’ coronation be modernised?
Considering emojis hadn’t yet been invited by Queen Elizabeth’s coronation, one notable difference between the two events is the creation of an emoji for King Charles’ coronation. The design is a cartoon version of the solid gold King Edward Crown which will be worn by King Charles during the ceremony.