The ceremony, which requires considerable and precise organization, is already on everyone’s mind. It could take place in the spring of 2023, possibly on June 2, the 70th anniversary of Elizabeth II’s coronation. A very symbolic date.
The state funerals of Isabel II have barely concluded when we must already think about another great ceremony: the coronation of King Carlos III. Across the Channel, the planning of the event, known as Operation “Golden Orb”, is the focus of all attention. Held in Westminster Abbey under the direction of the Archbishop of Canterbury, this exceptional meeting with a sacred and ancient ritual should take place next spring, reports the British press.
“There is no urgency […] and there is a lot of planning to do. But it will be in May or June depending on what’s going on in the world,” a source told the tabloid. Sun. If a date has not yet been formalized, it seems that an option is emerging: that of a coronation on June 2, 2023, 70 years after that of Elizabeth II. A symbol for her eldest son, Carlos III.
The ceremony, whose ultramillimetric organization is again in charge of the Duke of Norfolk, must be the reflection of the lighter and more modern monarchy that the new sovereign wants. According to various outlets in the kingdom, including the daily mail, it will be shorter than the previous coronation – which lasted three hours – but also less expensive at a time when the country is experiencing, as everywhere else, a cost of living crisis. The coronation, unlike royal weddings, remains a state ceremony, funded as such by the British government. For Carlos III, it is about not appearing disconnected from the life of the British.
Reflecting the diversity of the UK
So how could the coronation of the new monarch be? This issue, now central, has been the subject of discussion for several years, due to the advanced age of Elizabeth II, says the Telegram. While the ceremony will retain its traditional aspects, it must also reflect the ethnic and religious diversity of the country. Carlos III could thus invite members of different religions to join the congregation, he understands the daily mail. The guest list will include a maximum of 2,000 people, far from the 8,000 present in 1953 during the coronation of the late sovereign.
The organization of this exceptional event should not be announced soon. The royal family observes a seven-day mourning period during which no official engagement will take place. The king flew to Scotland accompanied by his wife, the queen consort Camilla. After the death of her father, King George VI, Elizabeth II waited 16 months before being crowned at Westminster Abbey. An appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace followed the ceremony. The same will happen with Carlos III, who must then be accompanied by his wife, the princes of Wales and his children.