The coronation ofKing Charlesis quickly approaching.
Although King Charles, 74, became the U.K.’s new monarch immediately upon the death of his mother,Queen Elizabeth II, on Sept. 8, 2022, he will be officially crowned in a ceremony steeped in tradition. The coronation will take place on May 6 at 11 a.m. U.K. time (6 a.m. ET).
“Charles became King Charles the moment his mother died, but the coronation is to do with the job and being the monarch in the eyes of all the people,” royal historian Robert Lacey told PEOPLE.
His wife Camilla, 75, willalso be crowned as Queen Consortduring the ceremony.
Here is everything to know about King Charles' coronation, including how to watch and what royals are attending.
How Can I Watch King Charles' Coronation Live?
King Charles and Queen Camilla.Chris Jackson/Getty
There are multiple options onhow to watch the ceremony. The coronation will be broadcast on major U.S. stations including CNN, NBC, ABC and Fox News, with some starting coverage at 10 a.m. U.K. time (5 a.m. ET) as King Charles and Queen Camilla begin their procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey.
PEOPLE will have a group of royal experts and reporters on the ground in Londonreporting live from the coronation. PEOPLE will also be streaming various parts of the festivities on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and PEOPLE.com.Watch PEOPLE’s live coronation coverage, starting at 5 a.m. ET on May 6, here.
When Will King Charles' Coronation Take Place?
Buckingham Palaceannouncedin October 2022 that King Charles' coronation will take place on May 6, 2023. The date is earlier than widely speculated — many believed that King Charles would pick a June date as a tribute to the month whenQueen Elizabethhad her coronation in 1953.
“The Coronation will reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry,” Buckingham Palace said.
Where Will King Charles' Coronation Take Place?
Thefirst documented coronation at Westminster Abbeywas for William the Conqueror on December 25, 1066, and King Charles will be the 40th reigning monarch to be crowned there on May 6.
How Will King Charles' Coronation Compare to Queen Elizabeth’s in 1953?
King Charles' ceremony will be more modest than his mother’s crowning. An estimated 2,000 guests will pour into Westminster Abbey’s pews on May 6, while 8,251 people attended Elizabeth’s. And the service has been cut down to 60 minutes — a third of the Queen’s three-hour coronation in 1953. Charles will also introduce more modern elements.
“It’s going to be more inclusive. I think with many more religions [represented],” says Lady Anne Glenconner, 90, who served as a maid of honor at Elizabeth’s coronation. In preparation for the big day, rehearsals are taking place in the Buckingham Palace Ballroom.
How Will King Charles and Queen Camilla Travel to the Coronation?
Matthew Lloyd/Getty
The palaceannouncedthat the King and Queen Consort will ride in storybook style in two spectacular carriages on May 6. The royal couple will travel to Westminster Abbey in theDiamond Jubilee State Coachand return to Buckingham Palace in theGold State Coach. The horse-drawn transport to the coronation will be called the King’s Procession.
The Diamond Jubilee State Coach was commissioned to commemorate the 60th anniversary ofQueen Elizabeth’s accession in 2012, and is likely a smoother ride than the 261-year-old Gold State Coach, constructed in 1762. It has been used at every coronation since King William IV was crowned in 1831.
Samir Hussein/WireImage
“After the coronation service itself, they’ll return in the Gold State Coach, with an enormous procession with all the pageantry that Britain can muster,” he said in a new video shared toTwitter.
What Crowns Will King Charles and Queen Camilla Use at the Coronation?
St Edward’s Crown and Queen Mary’s Crown.JACK HILL/POOL/AFP via Getty, Handout/Royal Collection Trust via Getty
King Charles will be crowned with the St. Edward Crown at his coronation. In December, the headpieceleft the Tower of London, where it is stored with the other Crown Jewels, to undergo work to get it ready for the historic service in May.
The St. Edward Crown was first created for Charles II in 1661 and was a replacement for the previous crown that had been melted down in 1649. The palace said the original was thought to date back to the 11th-century royal saint, Edward the Confessor, who was the last Anglo-Saxon king of England.
King Charles will then swap the St. Edward Crown for the less-heavyImperial State Crown.
The move marks the first time in recent history that a Queen Consort will use an existing crown for a coronation ceremony instead of commissioning something new. Buckingham Palace said the decision was made “in the interests of sustainability and efficiency,” causes close to King Charles' heart.
The St. Edward’s Crown has also inspired anew emojithat will appear on Twitter when any of the following hashtags are used: #Coronation, #CoronationConcert, #CoronationWeekend, #CoronationBigLunch and #TheBigHelpOut. The new icon went live online on April 9.
What About the Coronation Royal Regalia?
King Charles and Queen Camilla will continue centuries of royal tradition and use theprecious collectionofcoronation regaliaduring their crowning ceremony. These objects include two 17th-century maces made of silver gilt over oak, the Sword of State, a symbol of royal authority used at Charles' investiture as the Prince of Wales in 1969, the St. Edward’s Staff, Sovereign’s Orb, the twelfth century Coronation Spoon, two Sovereign’s Sceptres and more.
PHOTO: www.royal.ukPHOTO: www.royal.uk
What Will King Charles and Queen Camilla Wear at Their Coronation?
King Charles and Queen Camilla will bothwear two different robesat the crowning ceremony: the Robes of State and the Robes of Estate. Robes of State are worn on arrival at Westminster Abbey while the Robes of Estate are worn on departure and are traditionally more personalized.
Will Kate Middleton Wear a Tiara at the Coronation?
It’s thought that the Princess of Wales won’t be wearing a sparkly headpiece, but with increased anticipation for her to deliver glamour, the conversation around the decision is ongoing.
What Will Prince William’s Role at the Coronation Be?
As his father’s heir,Prince Williamwillplay an important role in the ceremony. After King Charles is crowned,Prince Williamwill kneel before King Charles and say: “I, William, Prince of Wales, pledge my loyalty to you and faith and truth I will bear unto you, as your liege man of life and limb. So help me God.” The Prince of Wales' words is called the Homage of Royal Blood.
The Prince of Wales will also appear during the coronation service as the Stole Royal (from an ancient Greek word meaning “scarf”) and the Robe Royal are brought to the King.Prince Williamwill assist Baroness Merron and bishops in putting the robe on King Charles.
What Role Will Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Children Play in the Coronation?
It was reported that Prince William and Kate’s three children —Prince George,Princess CharlotteandPrince Louis—“are expected to join their parents” and be on “public display” in a horse-drawn carriageas it leaves Westminster Abbey at the end of the crowning ceremony.
Prince George is second in line to the throne and will be aPage of Honorfor his grandfather at the ceremony. His coronation participation marks the first time in modern royal history that a future monarch is officially involved in such a service. According toThe Telegraph, George will become the youngest future king to play an official role at a coronation.
Who Will Attend King Charles' Coronation?
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.Jane Barlow/PA Images via Getty
Somefamous faceswill be in the crowd as well, including Lionel Richie and BritishVogueeditor-in-chief Edward Enninful. Ant and Dec, who are hosts ofI’m a Celebrity … Get Me out of Here!, are also on the guest list.
Royals from around the worldare also on the guest list. Foreign monarchs — includingKing Carl XVI Gustafof Sweden and King Felipe of Spain — attending to the marks a change in past coronation guest lists. Foreign monarchs typically did not attend a British king or queen’s crowning ceremony — instead, they would usually send heirs, consorts or other family members to represent them.
Will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Attend King Charles' Coronation?
Kirsty O’Connor - WPA Pool/Getty
On April 12, Buckingham Palace confirmed thatPrince Harry will be at the crowning ceremonyof his father King Charles and stepmotherQueen Camillaon May 6.
“Buckingham Palace is pleased to confirm that The Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey on 6thMay. The Duchess of Sussex willremain in Californiawith Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet,” they said in the statement.
Prince Harry, 38, wanted to be at the service to support his father at this important moment in his life, a friend tells PEOPLE.
Meghan, 41, isstaying in Californiawith the couple’s two children. May 6 is alsoPrince Archie’sfourth birthday, and she will spend the weekend celebrating with him and his sister,Princess Lilibet, PEOPLE understands.
Will Prince Andrew Attend Brother King Charles' Coronation?
Will Queen Camilla’s Children and Grandchildren Play a Role in the Coronation?
By including Camilla’s children and grandchildren, the royal couple is showing that they — like many people around the world — belong to a blended family.
Who Will Be Behind the Scenes at the Coronation?
Dominic Lipinski - WPA Pool/Getty
According toThe Times, King Charles' team has tappedHugo Burnandas the official coronation photographer. Charles and Camilla previously called on Burnand, 59, to photograph another high-profile milestone: their wedding in 2005. The London cameraman evidently aced the assignment, and he got behind the camera again to take the official portraits ofPrince WilliamandKate Middletonon their 2011 wedding day.
Like much of the rest of Charles' coronation plans,The Timesreports that the pictures are “expected to combine a modern and traditional style.”
Does the Coronation Have a Theme?
Not exactly — but more information is being released as the countdown gets closer. In early February, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport debuted anew websitededicated to the crowning ceremony. The site features previously released details on the upcoming ceremony at Westminster Abbey and the festive events planned for the three-daybank holidayweekend.
In another fun update, courtiers debuted an official “Coronation Celebration Playlist” onSpotify. The eclectic two-hour mix mostly features British talent including The Beatles, Coldplay, David Bowie, Ed Sheeran, Ellie Goulding, George Ezra, Harry Styles, Queen, Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart, Sam Ryder, the Spice Girls, The Kinks, The Who and Tom Jones.
What Other Events Will Surround the Coronation?
Synchronized with the concert, “Lighting up the Nation” will see iconic locations across the U.K. illuminated with projections, lasers and drone displays.
Will King Charles and Queen Camilla Live in Buckingham Palace After the Coronation?
It’s expected that the royal couple will move out of Clarence House and into Buckingham Palace when extensive renovations on the royal residence are completed in 2027.
“It is monarchy HQ,” says an insider.
source: people.com
