WhenQueen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle on 8 September 2022, Charles automatically became King. Following her sad death, Operation Golden Orb - the codename given to the strategy and the special committee in charge of organising thecoronation of King Charles III- has been hard at work planning for the big day.
Now, the new monarch’s official Coronation is approaching – the UK is gearing up to celebrate but how many days off do we actually get? Here’s everything we know so far:
When will Charles be crowned King?
The King will be crowned on Saturday 6 May 2023. Like his mother, King Charles III will be crowned at Westminster Abbey in the presence of faith leaders, peers, MPs, and foreign heads of state. There are six parts to the coronation - the recognition, oath, anointing, investiture, enthronement and homage. The investiture is the official crowning. It will see the King dressed in special robes and presented with the orb, coronation ring, sceptre and rod. Finally, the Archbishop will place St Edward's Crown on the King's head.
In a statement, Buckingham Palace said, 'The coronation will reflect the monarch's role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry.'
Will Camilla also be crowned?
Yes. Camilla will also be crowned Queen Consort in a similar but smaller ceremony. Ahead of her Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II announced that it was her wish for Camilla to be known as Queen Consort on King Charles III's accession.
Will we get a bank holiday for King Charles III’s Coronation?
Yes! Although, it won't be on the actual day of King Charles III's Coronation, as this falls on a Saturday. It has been confirmed by the Government that the bank holiday is scheduled for Monday May 8 2023, two days after the service at Westminster Abbey.
Will the May Day bank holiday be cancelled for King Charles III’s Coronation?
Of course, we normally get a 'May Day' bank holiday which falls on Monday 1 May this year. A number of MPs called for the 1 May bank holiday to be pushed back until Monday 8 May, giving the country a long weekend for the Coronation. This essentially means they were negotiating to merge the bank holidays and take the extra day away.
However, thankfully other MPs called for an additional bank holiday, arguing that adding an extra day off for the Coronation would not impact economic growth. Now it seems the latter will go ahead, as the government confirmed we will be getting two days off in May – both 1 May and 8 May.
Confirming the move, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the time off would give people the chance to 'come together and celebrate.' He said that the holiday would mark 'a unique moment for our country.' He added, 'I look forward to seeing people come together to celebrate and pay tribute to King Charles III by taking part in local and national events across the country in his honour.'
What Coronation Bank Holiday Activities Are Happening?
There are a range of Bank Holiday activities happening to celebrate the royal event. Official ‘watch zones’ with screenings are popping up in cities all around the UK on the coronation weekend. From Manchester to Brighton; outdoor screenings are happening across the country. You could even go to a Coronation Ball in York. This is a black tie event where you can enjoy a sparkling wine reception under the glittering chandeliers, before taking your seat at the banqueting table for a 3 course dinner!