The coronation of King Charles III is taking place in England
A day of elaborate pomp, tradition, ceremony and royal pageantry for Charles In other words, it has started since birth, starting with the procession – known as the King’s Procession – escorting the King and Queen Camilla from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey for the coronation. It was here that Queen Elizabeth was crowned almost 58 years ago today, June 2nd 74. Charles, now 74, was four years old.
Guests will include Judi Dench, Emma Thompson and Maggie Smith, as well as a host of heads of state and British political leaders old and new.
After the ceremony, the King will return to Buckingham Palace with the rest of the royal family for a larger ceremonial procession, this time known as the Ceremonial Procession. The media lens will likely focus on Prince Harry, who was only recently revealed to be an attendee (without Meghan Markle, who remains in Los Angeles with the children), and any interactions he has with his father, mother-in-law or brother, Prince William. After revealing the truth in his Netflix documentary, autobiography and subsequent interviews.
Back at the Palace, the King, Queen and Royal Family will end the day with one of their longstanding traditions, an appearance on the balcony.
The coronation marks three full days of events (Monday has been made a statutory public holiday) and has divided across the UK as enthusiasm for the new king wanes and his popularity Significantly lower compared to his mother, according to recent research, only 7% of British adults describe themselves as “firm royalists”, while 58% Not interested in the royal family. Meanwhile, only 9% said they cared “very much” about their weekend activities.
But most of the debate centered on the cost of the lavish event – £286 million dollars ($250 million), British taxpayers are footing the bill at a time when the cost of living crisis is pushing many into poverty. Charles is already king – he inherited the title from the second Queen Elizabeth, who died last year – and the fact that this ancient event is not scaled down to reflect today’s times, or even funded by the royal family itself, is off-putting at in someone’s mouth. For others, however, maintaining the spectacle of this grand royal event is a source of national pride.
Several republican activists planning a peaceful protest were arrested by London’s Metropolitan Police and hundreds of placards were confiscated ahead of the coronation.
“Our tolerance for any disruption, whether through protests or otherwise, will be low,” police said earlier this week. “We will crack down on anyone who seeks to disrupt this celebration.”
