Skip to main content

Inside the coronation of King Charles III: A visual guide to Westminster Abbey

Janet Loehrke   Paste BN

We're just days away from a coronation ceremony that hasn't been seen in the United Kingdom for seven decades. 

King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla will be crowned May 6 – just days short of the 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation on June, 2, 1953, at age 27.

Charles, 74, will be the oldest monarch to be crowned in British history. Queen Elizabeth, the United Kingdom's longest-reigning monarch, died last year.

What is a coronation?

In symbolic and religious ceremonies, crowns will be placed on the heads of Charles and Camilla. According to the BBC, the coronation formally establishes "the monarch's role as the head of the Church of England and marks the transfer of their title and powers."

The event will be broadcast across the world. In the U.S., ABC News and "Good Morning America" will air the ceremonies at 5 a.m. to 10 a.m EDT.

Here's what we know. 

Inside Westminster Abbey

In 1066, William the Conqueror's coronation was the first documented at Westminster Abbey. Charles will be crowned as the 40th reigning king. The ritual has been held in London's Westminster Abbey for the past 900 years.

Can’t see our graphics? Click to reload page.

The stages of the coronation

There are five steps in the coronation of the British monarch, which continues the following traditions:

  • The recognition: The Archbishop of Canterbury presents the monarch to those gathered in Westminster Abbey while standing next to the 700-year-old Coronation Chair. The congregation proclaims "God Save the King," and trumpets blow.
  • The oath: The monarch, or king in Charles' case, takes an oath to support the rule of law and the Church of England.
  • The anointing: The monarch sits in the Coronation Chair after removing his ceremonial robe. The king is hidden from view by a gold cloth held over the chair. The king's hands, chest and head are anointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury with holy oil, which is prepared according to a secret recipe but is known to contain ambergris, orange flowers, roses, jasmine and cinnamon. 
  • The investiture: The Royal Orb and the Sovereign's Sceptre are presented. The archbishop then presents the king with St. Edward's Crown.
  • The enthronement and homage: The king rises from the Coronation Chair and takes his seat on the throne. The congregation kneels before the king to pay homage.

The royal regalia

Some of the most famous items connected to the royal family are the sceptre and orb. The royal orb stands for moral and religious authority, and the sceptre symbolizes power. The Sovereign's Sceptre, a gold rod capped with a white enameled dove, stands for justice and mercy. All will be presented to Charles.

What crown will King Charles III wear for the coronation?

Three crowns will be used in the coronation ceremony. Charles will wear St. Edward's Crown, made for King Charles II, and the Imperial State Crown, which was worn by Queen Elizabeth II for her coronation. The Queen Mary's Crown, commissioned by Queen Mary in 1911, will be worn by Camila. 

The Sovereign's Orb

According to the Royal Collection Trust, the orb is a representation of the sovereign's power. During the coronation service, the orb is placed in the right hand of the king or queen as they are invested with the symbols of sovereignty. It is then placed on the altar before the moment of crowning. Bands of jewels divide the orb into three sections that represent the three continents known in medieval times.

The Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross

The Sovereign's Sceptre was commissioned for the coronation of Charles II in 1661 and has been used in every coronation since. The sceptre, however, has been altered twice. For the coronation of George IV in 1820, an enameled rose, thistle and shamrock – representing England, Scotland and Ireland – were added to the monde. The sceptre was again altered in 1910 to set the Cullinan Diamond.

The British royal coat of arms explained

The royal coat of arms identifies the head of state in the United Kingdom. The emblem is used by the government and appears on public buildings, churches and coins.

The three lions on the red background symbolize England. The golden harp represents Ireland. The red, rearing lion with the gold background represents Scotland.

Its current composition began in 1603 when King James VI of Scotland became the King of England, uniting England, Scotland and Ireland.

Facebook Twitter Email