The world is about to see the first British coronation in 70 years. Operation Golden Orb, the coronation ceremony that will formalize King Charles III’s transformation from history’s longest-reigning Prince of Wales into king of the United Kingdom, has at last come to fruition.
Charles legally ascended to the throne as soon as his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died last September. The coronation serves as a religious ceremony much like a wedding, formalizing Charles’s new status as king. It’s also a moment of national celebration (and royalist propaganda), welcoming the new king to his station as the country moves away from mourning his long-reigning mother.
The coronation is supposed to tell the world what kind of king Charles plans to be. It’s intended to be shorter and less ponderous than previous coronations, but still enough of a spectacle to dazzle the public. There’s going to be a lot of heavily symbolic ritual going down over the course of the ceremony, some of it stretching back before the Norman conquest of England in 1066, and some of it brand new for the occasion. This article is your guide to what the coronation is going to look like, what it means, and why the whole thing matters.
When will the coronation take place, and how can I watch it?
Charles will be crowned in Westminster Abbey, the same place every British monarch has been crowned for over 900 years.
The coronation will take place on May 6, 2023, at 11 am London time. In the US, that’s 6 am Eastern time and 3 am Pacific time. All major networks in the US and the UK will be broadcasting the events.
What happens at the coronation?
The festivities will begin shortly before the service with the King’s Procession. On the morning of May 6, Charles and his wife Camilla will travel…
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