Charles: King Charles III’s coronation: All you need to know

LONDON: The United Kingdom’s royal family is turning the page on a new chapter on Saturday with Coronation of King Charles III – a scene that echoes the Middle Ages but has modern flourishes.
The pomp, grandeur, and symbolism date back more than 1,000 years, but this king’s coronation will show new twists on tradition and changes from the coronation of his mother, the Queen. Elizabeth II, 70 years ago.
Plans for the ceremony at Westminster Abbey call for an even more intense affair than before, though royals from other countries, heads of state and most of Charles’s family will be present, and the monarch plans to wear the same clothes that Elizabeth did.

Here are some things you should know about coronation:
Why is coronation then? Charles Is the king already?
Charles automatically ascended to the throne when Elizabeth died on September 8, and he was formally declared King of the United Kingdom two days later in an ascension ceremony that was first broadcast on television.
Charles said he was “fully aware of this great legacy and the heavy duties and responsibilities of the Sovereignty which have now passed to me”.
There is no legal requirement for coronations, and other European kingdoms have abandoned the ceremonies.
But the intensely religious and slogan-laden event is a more formal confirmation of his role as Head of State and Honorary Head of the Church of England and was intended to show that the King’s authority derives from God.
During the service conducted by the Church’s spiritual leader, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Charles will be anointed, receive the traditional symbols of the monarch – including the orb and sceptre – and place St Edwards’ Crown on his head for the first time. time. Charles’ wife, Camilla, will be crowned queen consort.
What will be different from the last coronation?
The coronation ceremony dates back to the medieval period, and not much of it has changed.
Westminster Abbey has been a place of ritual since the coronation of William the Conqueror in 1066.
The coronation of Elizabeth II in June 1953 was the first to be broadcast live. The black and white broadcast attracted tens of millions of viewers in the UK and was subsequently played to a global audience. In the age of live streaming and social media, people will be able to watch Charles’ coronation live — in bright reds, blues, and golds — from just about anywhere on the planet and post their hot pics with a crown emoji created for the occasion.

Charles said he plans to reduce the size of the monarchy. His coronation is expected to mirror that with a ceremony shorter than his mother’s three-hour extravaganza and no more than 2,800 guests — far fewer than the 8,000 people who gathered to see Elizabeth be crowned.
In a sign of the change in the religious makeup of the United Kingdom, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh religious leaders will play a role in the coronation. This reflects Charles’ pledge to be the “defender of religions” as opposed to the “defender of the faith”.
The post-ceremony procession will also be shorter than the 5-mile (8-kilometre) route that Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, took around London in 1953. Charles and Camilla plan to take a more modern set of horse-drawn carts for the 1.3-mile (2-kilometre) ride from the palace. Buckingham to Abbey. Once they are crowned, they’ll travel back in time and retrace the journey in the 260-year-old carriage – which is notorious for its difficult ride – used at every coronation since William IV in 1831.
Who is on the guest list?
One hundred heads of state are expected to attend, along with members of the royal family, ranging from Japan’s Crown Prince Akishino and his wife Keiko to Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia.
The United States will maintain its streak of no president attending a British royal coronation, though First Lady Jill Biden is willing to attend.
William, Prince of Wales and heir to the throne, is expected to kneel before his father and pledge allegiance in what is known as a blood royal tribute.
And his younger brother, Prince Harry, the disaffected Duke of Sussex, is not expected to be involved in the service. His explosive memoir Spear, which became a bestseller early this year, made grim claims about the royal family.
Three weeks ago, there was a question about whether Harry and his wife, Megan, would attend the coronation, after accusations of racism and media manipulation of the royal family were raised.
While Harry will be there, the Duchess will stay at the couple’s Southern California home with their two young children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
The coronation comes just days before the start of Harry’s trial in the first court case against the British tabloid press. The case may reveal more family secrets.
During a hearing in a similar case last week, Harry said in court papers that Buckingham Palace, with the Queen’s consent, had entered into an agreement with Rupert Murdoch’s English newspapers to settle allegations of phone hacking without a lawsuit. Harry said palace staff ordered his lawsuit to be dropped because his father wanted to curry favor with the press.
The family drama does not end there. Charles’ brother, Prince Andrew, is also not expected to play any part in the ceremony. Andrew abdicated his royal duties and was stripped of his military titles and patronage after his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was revealed. Andrew has settled a lawsuit with a woman who said she was forced to have sex with him as a teenager.
What is the significance of coronation?
With opinion polls showing weak support for the monarchy in recent years, this is the opportunity for Charles to seek and show the public’s embrace.
Crowds are expected to line the streets to cheer on the new king, and crowds will stand outside Buckingham Palace waiting for him to appear on the balcony after the procession.
While criticism of the Crown has been relatively muted in recent years out of respect for the Queen and her decades of service to the country, there is likely to be more debate about whether the UK still needs this ancient institution or whether it should become a republic with an elected head of state. .
The leader of the anti-monarchist group said it planned to welcome more than 1,000 demonstrators dressed in yellow, chanting “Not mine” as the royal motorcade passed by.
For the vast majority, though, it will be an opportunity to celebrate being British – or show their support for an institution that is the subject of fascination for many around the world.
Union flags will line the streets, spectators will dress in red, white and blue, and military aircraft will fly over billowing plumes of smoke in patriotic colors. The pomp and circumstance of the ceremony itself is also a reminder of the time when Britain was the most powerful country in the world.
Who picks up the tab for the party?
The public pays the coronation bill. There is no official estimate yet of what it might cost. Some reports estimate it could be as much as 100 million pounds ($125 million).
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said on Tuesday that some estimates were “more fanciful than others” and that the true cost would be shared later.
The celebration comes as the UK grapples with a painful cost of living crisis that has left many struggling to heat their homes this winter and put food on their tables.
But many people will benefit from the hype.
Officials expect to see an increase in tourism and there is no shortage of coronation-themed events and memorabilia products that could add extra sales tax.
Fans looking to remember the historic event can find everything from fine china to commemorative coins or even cardboard masks of Charles and Camilla. Coronation-themed biscuits, chocolate and beer are likely to be quickly forgotten.