Coronation for the cost of living crisis as King expresses wish for ‘good value’
Stone of Scone to be moved to Westminster, but other aspects of ceremony will be scaled back
KING CHARLES III will be crowned in a “cost of living” coronation next year in reflection of his vision for a slimmeddown monarchy.
The King is not expected to be crowned until next year, and his Coronation will be designed in line with his vision for a smaller, more modern monarchy.
The King will be crowned alongside his Queen Consort, with Queen Elizabeth II having expressed her wish for the former Duchess of Cornwall to take the title during her Platinum Jubilee celebrations this year.
It is expected that the ceremony will take place next spring or summer and could even take place on the same day as his mother’s – June 2. Next year will be the 70th anniversary of the late Queen’s Coronation.
Meanwhile, the Stone of Scone will be moved from Edinburgh Castle to London for the Coronation. The symbol of Scotland’s monarchy was used in the anointment of Scottish kings for centuries, before Edward I of England had it removed in 1296 and built into a new throne in Westminster Abbey.
When Elizabeth II was crowned in 1953 at Westminster Abbey, her throne sat above the stone, also known as the Stone of Destiny, but it was returned to Scotland on St Andrew’s Day in 1996.
Although no date has yet been announced for the Coronation, a spokesman for Historic Environment Scotland (HES) confirmed: “HES staff will move the Stone of Destiny to Westminster Abbey in advance of the Coronation and then return it to Scotland.” The service is the only remaining religious coronation in Europe. By convention, palace aides insist that details of the Coronation of a successor are not discussed in advance out of respect for the reigning monarch.
It is also unlikely that the ceremony will be at the forefront of the King’s mind as he mourns his mother.
But plans have been drawn up under the codename Operation Golden Orb. Because of the late Queen’s age, discussions have been ongoing for a number of years.
Sources have said that it will be shorter, smaller, less expensive and more representative of different faiths and community groups.
The King is also said to have expressed a wish that it reflects the ethnic diversity of modern Britain.
Queen Elizabeth II was crowned 16 months after the death of her father, George VI. It was a moment of national celebration, which cheered a nation that was still in the grip of post-war austerity and rationing.
The Palace will want the new King’s Coronation to be a similarly joyous moment, and so will want to give the nation time to mourn.
It will include the coronation oath required by statute and many of the ceremonies which were seen in his mother’s service, such as anointing with consecrated oil, the delivery of the orb and the enthroning.
Like Queen Elizabeth, the King will be crowned with the St Edward’s Crown, which is made of solid gold and has more than 400 gemstones, including rubies, garnets, sapphires.
More than 8,000 guests representing 129 nations travelled to Westminster Abbey for the 1953 coronation. It was so packed that the dignitaries were accommodated on makeshift benches.
In contrast, and reflecting the health and safety considerations of the modern age, guests at next year’s Coronation will be limited to a maximum of 2,000. Commonwealth leaders and a diversity of religions will be prioritised among the congregation.
Sources have said that the service will be “far shorter” than the three hours for Queen Elizabeth, not least because the new King is 73.
It is believed that with his mother’s blessing he had changed his coronation vows a number of years ago to include “Queen Camilla”, but it was only announced this year.
The change was said to have been made during a wider rewriting of the service to bring it up to date.
The Queen Consort will have the platinum and diamond crown made for the Queen Mother’s coronation in 1937 placed on her head.
One of the 2,800 diamonds in the crown is the controversial Koh-i-noor or “Mountain of Light” diamond which was given to Queen Victoria but which some claim was stolen from India.
The Queen Consort will become the first consort to be crowned since 1937, as Prince Philip, as a man, was not entitled.
After the ceremony, the King is expected to be seen on the balcony of Buckingham Palace alongside only the core Royal family. It is thought he may only be joined by his Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children.
The Government pays for the Coronation and the King has reportedly expressed a wish that his service is considered “good value”.
According to a briefing document for Parliament on the Coronation: “On the death of the reigning monarch, the person entitled to succeed to the throne does so as soon as his or her predecessor dies, as summed up in the phrase: “The King is dead; long live the King!”. This is because of the “common law that the King never dies”.
A Coronation Committee, composed of privy counsellors, will be appointed to make the arrangements for the King’s Coronation.
But it is unlikely arrangements will begin before the end of a month of court mourning for the late Queen.