King Charles III became Britain's new monarch in September, following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II. Next summer he will be officially crowned during his coronation.
Taking place at Westminster Abbey, the ceremony is an occasion for pageantry and celebration, steeped in religion and thousand-year-old traditions. Charles' coronation will be Britain's first in 70 years.
His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, was just 25 years old when she was crowned at a ceremony in Westminster Abbey on 2 June, 1953. When his coronation takes place next year, King Charles will be 74, making him the oldest person to be crowned in British history.
Read more: All the confirmed UK bank holidays for 2022 and 2023
The King acceded to the throne on September 8, immediately on the death of Elizabeth II – the nation’s longest reigning monarch. Here is everything we know about the King's coronation so far, including the date, whether there will be bank holiday and what the ceremony will entail.
When is the King's coronation?
The ceremony will be held on Saturday May 6 next year, with the Queen Consort being crowned alongside Charles. The coronation will take place in Westminster Abbey, eight months after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
The coronation also falls on the birthday of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s son Archie. Charles’ grandson will be turning four on the day of the ceremony next year.
Will it be a bank holiday?
In November, Downing Street finally confirmed the news we had all been waiting for; there WILL be a bank holiday for the King's coronation.
But as the ceremony takes place on a Saturday, the bank holiday will instead be on a weekday. The holiday will take place on Monday May 8, two days after the coronation on Saturday May 6.
The announcement follows calls from Tory MPs for the Government to either move the early May bank holiday from May 1 to coincide with the coronation weekend or to declare an extra day off.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: " The coronation of a new monarch is a unique moment for our country. In recognition of this historic occasion, I am pleased to announce an additional bank holiday for the whole United Kingdom next year.
"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."
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Oliver Dowden, added: "The coronation combines the sacred and the solemn but it is also celebratory. This bank holiday will once again give people across the United Kingdom the opportunity to come together as families and communities to welcome His Majesty to the throne as we mark this important day in our nation’s long history."
What will happen at the coronation?
Charles’ coronation is expected to be on a smaller scale and shorter than traditional crownings. There are suggestions that it could last just one hour rather than more than three.
It is expected to be more inclusive of multi-faith Britain than past coronations but will be an Anglican service. Guest numbers will be reduced from 8,000 to around 2,000, with peers expected to wear suits and dresses instead of ceremonial robes, and a number of rituals, such as the presentation of gold ingots, axed.
Coronations have not traditionally been held on a weekend, with the late Queen’s taking place on a Tuesday. Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg dismissed suggestions the ceremony would be a cut-price affair, saying the coronation must be “sufficiently dignified”.
The Palace said the ceremony will be “rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry” but also “reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future”. During the event, Charles will be anointed with holy oil, receive the orb, coronation ring and sceptre, be crowned with the majestic St Edward’s Crown and blessed during the historic ceremony.
Camilla will also be anointed with holy oil and crowned, just like the Queen Mother was when she was crowned Queen in 1937. Guest lists have yet to be confirmed for the spectacle, including whether or not the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be invited or be able to travel from California to attend.
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