14 months elapsed from the death of Elizabeth II’s father, who became Queen immediately, to her coronation at Westminster Abbey. With his son, the new King Carlos III, the waiting time will be shorter. Buckingham Palace announced Tuesday that the ceremony, which will also see Queen Consort Camila crowned, will also be held at Westminster Abbey on May 6.
It is a tradition with 900 years of history that combines pomp and splendor with elements of a religious nature, such as the moment when the monarch is anointed with the holy oil. Elizabeth II’s coronation ceremony in 1953 was first broadcast nationally by the BBC, but the oil painting moment was captured off-camera.
In the last few days, several British media outlets have responded to Carlos III’s alleged request. pointed out the pomp and circumstance of a ceremony that many Britons may see as excessive 70 years after the last. Buckingham Palace said in its statement that the event will combine old and new, remain “rooted in long-held traditions” but also “reflect the role of the monarch today and the vision for the future”. Elizabeth II’s coronation ceremony lasted three hours. According to sources from the British royal family, that of his son will be significantly shorter and more varied than it was then with relevant personalities from the political and social life of the country.
Queen Consort Camila will be crowned at the same time in a slightly simpler ceremony. One of Carlos III’s first acts upon ascending the throne was to confirm his mother’s wish for Camila to receive the title of queen consort, as had historically always happened with the wives of kings. The poor image that the wife of the then Prince of Wales carried around for years due to the failure of Carlos and Diana Spencer’s marriage led the heir at the time to claim for many years that when the time came, Camila would only get her Title of the Princess’ consort.
Carlos III will be 74 on 6 May and the oldest monarch at the time of his coronation. The ceremony will be presided over by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.
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