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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Elaine Blackburne

Plans for King Charles' Coronation show rituals axed and thousands cut from guest list

Plans for massive changes to the traditional Coronation service have emerged with a more modern feel to the occasion. Traditionally the crowning of a monarch takes more than three hours and is filled with ancient rituals.

However according to The Mail on Sunday the Coronation of King Charles III will be very different to those in the past. It claims the time will be slashed to just over an hour, the old tradition of handing the King gold ingots will be scrapped.

This week speculation mounted on the date of the event. It is suggested it will be held on June 3 - the Queen was crowned on June 2, 1953, making it almost on the anniversary.

Questions were also raised as to whether people would get a bank holiday for the event. However so far neither of these have been confirmed.

However plans are already breing set in place with the paper saying it has learned some of the key details. It says Prince William will take a major role in planning the ceremony.

It says the service will not only be shorter than in the past but it will also be slimmed down in numbers. Rather than the usual 8,000 guests, this will be cut to 2,000 with hundreds of nobles and parliamentarians missing out.

It also understands there could be a more relaxed dress code with peers being allowed to wear lounge suits. Historically they would wear their ceremonial robes.

The Queen’s Coronation was based largely on that of her father, King George VI, in 1937, which in turn was modelled on that of King George V in 1911. However it is understood the Duke of Norfolk, who as Earl Marshal is coordinating the Coronation, has been asked to prepare a simpler, shorter and more diverse ceremony that reflects modern Britain.

It is understood that unlike the Queen, who made a number of outfit changes during her Coronation in 1953, King Charles is unlikely to do the same. It is also thought that the service will drop much of the ancient language which makes it harder for people to follow and adapt it for today's audience.

However some key traditions are likely to remain. The monarch will still be anointed, swear to be the "defender of the faith", and ride in the 1762 Gold State Coach.

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