Buckingham Palace on Saturday unveiled the program for the three day celebrations to mark the coronation of King Charles III. started: After the ceremony on 6 promote volunteerism.
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The coronation of 74-year-old Charles comes eight months after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away on September 8 at the age of 96.
Buckingham wants to make “this historic event” a moment of celebration that “gives people an opportunity to come together.”
But will the royal family itself be reunited? Buckingham did not say in his statement whether Harry and his wife Meghan, who live in exile in California, will be in attendance.
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The palace has never officially responded to the prince’s controversial book, The Substitute, released on January 10, in which he makes serious allegations against several members of the royal family, most notably his brother William and Queen Consort Camilla.
The coronation traditionally takes place in the months following the accession to the throne. During this time, both national mourning and royal mourning can be observed and the ceremony organized.
The last coronation, that of Elizabeth II, was dated June 2, 1953. The grandiose ceremony was televised for the first time and was watched by 27 million Britons for a population of 36 million at the time. It had lasted more than three hours, in front of 8,251 guests gathered in the abbey. 129 nations and territories were officially represented.
The coronation ceremony of Charles III. takes place in Westminster Abbey on the morning of May 6th, like the previous coronations of British monarchs for 900 years. It will be chaired, as tradition dictates, by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, spiritual leader of the Anglican Church.
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“The coronation is a solemn service and an occasion for celebration and pageantry,” says Buckingham. The ceremony “will be forward-looking while steeped in tradition and long-standing pageantry.”
Charles’ wife Camilla is also crowned.
Charles III and Camilla will arrive in Westminster from Buckingham Palace in a procession called the ‘King’s Procession’. After the ceremony, they return to Buckingham as part of the ‘Coronation Procession’, accompanied by other members of the Royal Family.
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To conclude this first day, the King and Queen consort, accompanied by members of the Royal Family, will appear on the Buckingham balcony to greet the crowd.
The next day there will be a concert at Windsor Castle in west London featuring “international music icons and contemporary stars”. It will be broadcast on the BBC. However, Buckingham did not name the artists who will perform on stage.
Among the viewers will be volunteers from charities supported by Charles and Camilla.
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A “coronation choir” will also perform a concert, featuring singers from refugee choirs, public health services, LGBTQ+ and deaf singing groups.
In the evening, famous places across Great Britain are illuminated.
The population is also invited to the “Big Coronation Breakfast” on May 7th, to neighborhood festivals to “celebrate friendship”. According to Buckingham, “thousands of events” are to take place in the streets, gardens and parks.
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These popular celebrations commemorate those held in June 2022 to mark Elizabeth’s platinum anniversary of her 70th reign. Tens of thousands of lunches and picnics have been organized with neighbors across Britain to celebrate this hugely beloved monarch.
On Monday May 8th, which will be a public holiday, people are encouraged to volunteer. The move aims to “bring people together and create a volunteer movement that will last beyond Coronation weekend,” the palace said.