The coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla sets off a weekend of royal festivities and celebration.
Their majesties will be formally crowned Saturday at London’s Westminster Abbey — the first coronation Britain has had since the late Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne on June 2, 1953.
Here’s a play-by-play for the historic event.
What we can expect to see on coronation day?
King Charles III will become the 40th monarch to be crowned at the church, with William the Conqueror kicking off the centuries-old tradition on Christmas Day in 1066.
The British royal family is the only one in Europe that still holds coronations.
While coronations are typically grandiose events, Buckingham Palace has announced the King’s crowning will be a simpler, shorter affair.
“The coronation will reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future while being rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry,” the palace said in a statement.
The ceremony will be conducted by Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury — a role assigned to the Archbishop from its 1066 start.
The ceremony is expected to begin at 6 a.m. ET (11 a.m. in the UK) at the iconic Westminster Abbey in London.
Later Saturday, military personnel will perform a flypast of more than 60 aircraft from the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force.
The recognition
During the first element of the coronation — known as the recognition — King Charles will be presented and announced to the people.
The Archbishop of Canterbury is expected to proclaim the monarch “the undoubted King.” and tell those in attendance to support their new sovereign.
During Queen Elizabeth’s 1953 coronation, the archbishop presented the late royal to all four corners of the church — symbolizing the east, south, west, and north — as people shouted “God Save Queen Elizabeth!”
A similar protocol is expected at Charles’ ceremony.
The coronation oath
The coronation oath will involve the King being asked three questions by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The King will place his hand on the Holy Bible and say, “The things which I have here before promised, I will perform and keep. So help me God.”
He will then sign an oath pledging his service to the people.
The anointing
The Archbishop of Canterbury will make a cross with holy oil on the King’s “forehead and elsewhere on the body to show that the monarch has been chosen by God,” according to the Westminster Abbey website.
For the late queen’s coronation, the archbishop anointed her, saying: “Be thy head anointed with holy oil: as kings and prophets were anointed. And as Solomon was anointed king by Zadok the priest and Nathan the Prophet, so be you anointed, blessed and consecrated King/Queen over the Peoples, whom the Lord thy God hath given thee to rule and govern.”
The sacred vow was not filmed on camera and was not seen by attendees at the time — the queen and archbishop were covered with a canopy so no one would see him dabbing oil on her face, chest, and hands.
According to Exchequer, accounts kept in the National Archives, the anointing oil is “a very large composition” of essential oils, balsams, and spirits.
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The investiture
Traditionally, the monarch dons a ceremonial robe adorned with scarlet velvet.
But it’s been widely reported King Charles is looking to switch things up to keep up with the times.
Charles will reportedly don his military uniform for the big day in a bid to represent the “modern 21st-century monarchy.”
Du’ring the investiture, the King is expected to be presented with coronation bracelets, known as armills, that he’ll wear at the ceremony.
The bracelets, which have played a significant part in coronations for centuries, represent sincerity and wisdom.
His Majesty will then receive the orb, his coronation ring, and a scepter before being blessed by the Archbishop.
The crowning
The Archbishop of Canterbury will place St Edward’s Crown, which is over 400 years old, on the His Majesty’s head — the first, and only, time the monarch will don the St. Edward’s crown, which is made of solid gold and weighs five pounds.
Last year, the crown was l”removed from the Tower of London to allow for modification work” to fit the King’s measurements, the palace said in a statement.
His Majesty will also wear the Imperial State Crown during the coronation service.
The diadem, which contains 444 gemstones consisting of rubies, sapphires, garnets, and tourmalines, was last worn by Charles’ mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
She famously described it as “unwieldy,” telling the BBC in 2018, “You can’t look down to read the speech, you have to take the speech up. Because if you did, your neck would break — it would fall off.”
“So there are some disadvantages to crowns, but otherwise they’re quite important things,” she added.
The crown was originally made for the coronation of King Charles II in 1661 and is stored safely in the Tower of London.
The homage
The King is expected to follow in the footsteps of previous monarchs by sitting in the coronation chair, also known as King Edward’s Chair.
The famous piece of furniture was made by the order of Edward I in the 14th century to enclose the famous Stone of Scone.
He will then move from the chair to the throne for the final part of the ceremony, known as the homage.
The King will swear his allegiance before the archbishop delivers some final words.
It’s not yet known whether the King will opt for the traditional way of kneeling, kissing, and touching the crown, or if he will sway from tradition.
The crowning of the Queen Consort
Camilla, 75, will be crowned Queen alongside her husband, much like the late Queen Elizabeth’s mother was in 1937.
The King is expected to give a nod before Camilla is anointed with holy oil. She will then have a crown placed on her head.
Camilla was originally meant to inherit the title of princess following the Queen’s death, however, the late monarch had voiced her request for Camilla to be named Queen Consort.
Following the coronation, “Consort” will be dropped from her title and she’ll will be called Queen Camilla or simply, the Queen.
Ending the service
After the King and Queen are crowned, His Majesty is expected to take Holy Communion before going behind the high altar into the shrine of St. Edward the Confessor.
He will then put on the Imperial State Crown and make his way through Westminster Abbey carrying the orb and scepter.
The National Anthem “God Save the King” will be performed by the congregation as the King makes his way out of the Abbey — the official beginning of his reign that will kickstart a procession.
What is the procession route?
After the coronation ceremony, the King and Queen will travel back to Buckingham Palace in “The Coronation Procession.”
Charles and Camilla will leave the Abbey and pass Parliament Street, located next to the famous No. 10 Downing Street address where the prime minister lives.
They will then travel along the south side of Trafalgar Square, passing through Admiralty Arch and proceeding down The Mall directly opposite Buckingham Palace, the official royal residence.
Finally, their carriage will pass through the Centre Gate of the palace.
The King and Queen will travel in the Gold State Coach for the occasion. Created for Queen Elizabeth II to commemorate the 60th anniversary of her reign, the coach has only ever been used by the late Queen.
Upon return, Charles and Camilla will receive a Royal Salute and three cheers from military service personnel.
According to royal.co.uk, more than 6,000 men and women of the UK’s Armed Forces will participate in the historic event.
Described as the largest military ceremonial operation in 70 years, the spectacle will include sailors, soldiers, and aviators from across the country and the Commonwealth taking part.
After arriving at the palace, the King and Queen will be joined by other members of the royal family for an appearance on the palace balcony.
Later Saturday, military personnel will perform a flypast of more than 60 aircraft from the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force.
“I am incredibly proud of our brilliant military personnel who are preparing to honor centuries of military tradition by taking to the streets, skies, and seas to pay tribute to our new King and Queen and mark the Coronation…” UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said in a statement.
