King Charles III's coronation: an explainer

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
5 May 15:23

The event has enraged some Britians who criticized the amount of money that is going to be spent amid the huge economic crisis battering the United Kingdom.

Britain's King Charles III smiles during a boat trip, in Hamburg, Germany, Friday, March 31, 2023 (AP)

The epitome of a much-anticipated weekend-long celebration is the Saturday crowning of King Charles III and his wife Camilla as queen.

The big event has enraged some Britians who criticized the amount of money that is going to be spent amid the huge economic crisis battering the United Kingdom.

Some Media reported on Wednesday, citing one of the organizers for the antimonarchist movement Republic, that at least 1,600 antimonarchists are preparing a protest to be held on the coronation day in London.

According to estimates, the coronation is expected to cost a staggering 250 million pounds ($314 million).

A complete guide to King Charles' coronation

When Queen Elizabeth passed away on September 8, Charles automatically ascended to the throne and formally proclaimed the monarch of Britain two days later in an ascension ceremony that was televised for the first time.

It is noteworthy that a coronation is not legally required, and other European monarchies have already abandoned the ceremony.

The day is scheduled to begin at 10:20 am (0920 GMT) with the "King's Procession" -- a two-kilometer (1.3-mile) journey from Buckingham Palace in central London to Westminster Abbey.

The King and the Queen will be accompanied by members of the Household Cavalry, the King's personal bodyguard, as they travel in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach pulled by six Windsor Grey horses. They will arrive for the beginning of the ceremony at 11:00 am.

Who are the guests?

Charles will be crowned at 12:00 pm, and the Church of England's highest-ranking priest, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, will preside over the service until it concludes at 1:00 pm.

About 2,300 people, from foreign leaders and royalty to elected officials and civil society representatives, will be present inside the abbey.

The recognition, the oath, and the anointing

It is worth noting that the ceremony has mainly remained the same for more than 1,000 years. The King will first be presented to the congregation, who respond with shouts of "God Save King Charles!" Simultaneously, trumpets will sound after each recognition.

The Coronation Oath, a legal duty, will be administered by the Archbishop of Canterbury and will take the form of questions addressed to the King.

With his hand on the Bible, Charles would answer the queries and declare, "The things which I have here promised I will execute and keep. God, please help me."

He will also perform a separate Accession Declaration Oath in which the monarch proclaims to be a "faithful protestant".

In further detail, Charles, sitting in King Edward's Chair (the Coronation Chair) under a canopy, is then "anointed, blessed and consecrated" by the archbishop.

The oldest artifact among the Crown Jewels is a silver-gilt spoon that was used to distribute consecrated oil from a gold ampulla.

The anointing will be "the only part of the ceremony the public will not see", Welby confirmed.

The Investiture, the Enthronement, the procession

Then, Charles gets the St. Edward's Crown placed on his head after receiving the sovereign's orb and scepters, which stand in for their spiritual and temporal authority.

The monarch then moves to the throne. Concurrently, the archbishop, the heir to the throne, royal dukes, and members of the hereditary peerage all kneel and vow fealty as is customary.

The only royal duke to honor Charles will be the heir apparent, Prince William, who is both the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cornwall.

In a historic first, the Archbishop of Canterbury will invite everyone who is watching or listening to pledge allegiance to the new sovereign. Then, Camilla will be crowned separately in a similar but simpler ceremony.

A grander ceremonial "Coronation Procession" will follow the monarch and queen back to Buckingham Palace in the Gold State Coach.

Additional royal family members will join them. The parades feature about 7,000 British and Commonwealth troops dressed in full costume.

They will show up at the palace at around 2:15 p.m. to welcome the crowd and view a Royal Air Force fly-past.

On Sunday, neighborhood street parties -- "The Big Coronation Lunch" -- will be held across the UK.

At 8:00 pm, Windsor Castle, west of London, will host some 10,000 people at a Coronation Concert, presenting artists including Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, Take That, and Andrea Bocelli.