The coronation of King Charles III will be held on Saturday May 6, 2023, Buckingham Palace has announced.
The ceremony, which will take place at London’s Westminster Abbey, will be “rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry” but will also “reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future.”
The Queen Consort will also be crowned alongside Charles.
Charles acceded to the throne on September 8 following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, at the age of 96. She was the longest-reigning monarch in British history.
The late Queen’s coronation took place on June 2, 1953 – 16 months after she became monarch following the death of her father, George VI.
Plans for the event have been drawn up under the codename Operation Golden Orb, and because of the late Queen living well into her old age, discussions surrounding the event have been ongoing for a number of years.
The King’s coronation is expected to be scaled back, lasting just over one hour, compared with the Queen’s three-hour ceremony in 1953.
The number of guests will also be reduced from 8,000 to around 2,000, with a more relaxed dress code of suits and dresses instead of ceremonial robes.
Charles will sign a proclamation formally declaring the date at a meeting of the Privy Council later this year.
The Palace said: “Buckingham Palace is pleased to announce that the coronation of His Majesty The King will take place on Saturday 6th May 2023.
“The coronation ceremony will take place at Westminster Abbey, London, and will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
“The ceremony will see His Majesty King Charles III crowned alongside the Queen Consort.
“The coronation will reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry.”
May 6 is also the birthday of Harry and Meghan’s son Archie, who will turn four on the day of the coronation.
The date was also the wedding anniversary of the Queen’s sister Princess Margaret.
Further details of the ceremony, including the guest list, will be released in due course. The government and royal family are also said to be conscious of the scale of the event as the country faces a cost-of-living crisis.
A royal source recently told the Mirror: “The King is very aware of the struggles felt by modern Britons so will see his wishes carried through that although his coronation ceremony should stay right and true to the long-held traditions of the past, it should also be representative of a monarchy in a modern world.
“The King has long been an advocate of a streamlined or slimmed-down monarchy and this project could certainly be said to fit with his vision.
“He has already spoken of his wish to continue his mother’s legacy and this includes continuing to recognise what the people are experiencing day by day.”
