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Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip
King Charles will mark his Coronation this weekend alongside his wife Queen Camilla. Charles, 74, will be the first new British monarch crowned since his late mother Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne on 2 June, 1953. The ceremony is seeped in history and tradition, read on to find out some of the most surprising things that will happen... (©BANG Showbiz)
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It takes place on Saturday 6 May, 2023 at 11am
The world’s media will be putting all its attention on the pomp and pageantry on the morning of the big day with telly crews already setting up outside Buckingham Palace. (Avalon)
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It will take place in Westminster Abbey
The venue has played host to every coronation in England since 1066 following the defeat of Harold at the hands of William The Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings. In more recent history, it has held many ceremonies like his mother Queen Elizabeth's state funeral, the nuptials of Prince William and Princess Catherine and the funeral of Charles' ex-wife, the late Diana, Princess of Wales. (©BANG Showbiz)
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The official coronation dish is a quiche
When Queen Elizabeth II was coronated in 1953, invited guests dined on florist Constance Spry’s recipe for cold chicken sandwiches that included a creamy curry sauce and a rich salad with green peas and mixed herbs - which was dubbed Coronation Chicken. For her son, the dish is a Coronation Quiche that contains spinach, broad beans and tarragon. (©BANG Showbiz)
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King Charles' procession will be shorter than his mother’s
Queen Elizabeth II got a procession that was five miles long and took two hours to complete. Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla will only travel 1.3 miles in the Diamond Jubilee Coach while passing London landmarks like the Pall Mall, Admiralty Arch and Whitehall. (©BANG Showbiz)
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King Charles will wear St Edward’s Crown
King Charles will be officially crowned with the headpiece named after St Edward the Confessor. The crown has sat on the head of the British monarch since the 1300s. However, a new one was made in 1661 after it became a casualty of the Civil War. Queen Camilla will don a modified version of Queen Mary’s crown, made by Garrard for the 1911 coronation and commissioned by Queen Mary, the consort of George V. However, it will not feature the Koh-i-Noor diamond, which was seized by the East India Company in 1849 and presented to Queen Victoria. (©BANG Showbiz)
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A very special Coronation anthem composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber
The ‘Evita’ composer, 75, has created the coronation anthem ‘Make A Joyful Noise’ with guidance from King Charles that the ditty had “got to be hummable”. Webber told 'The One Show': “To be asked to write anything for this has just been an extraordinary honour.” (©BANG Showbiz)
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A lucky 2,000 people will witness King Charles' Coronation
Thousands of people will take to the streets of London to be part of the occasion, but only 2,000 will be inside Westminster Abbey to witness history being made. Among the guests will be Prince Albert of Monaco and his wife, Princess Charlene. (©BANG Showbiz)
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Monarchs used to spend two nights in the Tower of London
It used to be a tradition for the soon-to-be coronated monarch to stay over in the Tower of London, but this hasn’t been the case since Charles II’s sleepover in 1661. (©BANG Showbiz)
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The coronation ring is dubbed ‘The Wedding Ring of England’
The Sovereign’s Ring has played a part in every coronation since 1831 and first appeared during the crowning of King William IV. But when the next monarch Queen Victoria was coronated seven years later, it was far too big and could not be amended enough so another was made just for her. (©BANG Showbiz)
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Britons get a public holiday!
When King Charles assumed the throne following his mother’s death, the UK government announced they would give the British people an extra day off to celebrate the Coronation! (©BANG Showbiz)
King Charles will mark his Coronation this weekend alongside his wife Queen Camilla.
