With everyone looking forward to the crowning moment, one of the most iconic symbols of the British monarchy, the St. Edward’s Crown will take centre stage at the coronation of King Charles III this weekend. This magnificent crown has been worn by many monarchs during their coronation ceremonies, including HRH, the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Made of solid gold and embellished with precious stones, its history dates back over a thousand years.

The role of the St. Edward’s Crown

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A monarch wears the St. Edward’s Crown just once in a lifetime, when the Archbishop of Canterbury places it on their head during the crowning moment of the coronation ceremony. For King Charles III, this will be during his coronation at Westminster Abbey in London on May 6.

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The crown is only worn for a short period of time during the service, after which it is replaced by the Imperial State Crown. This is the crown that the monarch wears to depart from the Abbey, and for all other crown-related moments throughout their reign.

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A thousand years of history

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The St. Edward’s Crown was made for King Charles II in 1661, as a replacement for the medieval crown which had been melted down in 1649. The original crown can be traced back to the 11th century. It was thought to be first created for the crowning moment of the coronation of King Edward the Confessor in 1066.

Although not an exact replica of the medieval crown, it too features the four crosses-pattée and four fleurs-de-lis, and the two arches of the original design.

The crown is named after King Edward the Confessor, one of England’s most revered monarchs. He was known for his piety and was believed to have been able to perform miracles. Edward the Confessor was considered to be a saintly figure, and it was believed that the crown had the power to bestow divine blessings on the monarch who wore it.

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Dazzling jewels

444 precious and semiprecious gemstones adorn the crown’s gold frame. These include rubies, sapphires, topazes, garnets, amethysts and tourmalines. The solid gold frame weighs 2.23kg (nearly 5lbs).

The largest stone is the magnificent Black Prince’s Ruby. This large red gem is set in the Maltese cross in the front of the crown. In fact, it is not a ruby but is one of the world’s largest gem-quality red spinels, a polished lump 5 cm (2 inches) long, pierced and partly filled with a small ruby.

One of the oldest parts of the Crown jewels, the ruby has been in the possession of the British monarchs since 1367 when it was given to his namesake Edward of Woodstock, known as the Black Prince.

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A revered heritage

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A symbol of the United Kingdom and the enduring power and majesty of the British monarchy, when King Charles III wears the St. Edward’s Crown during the crowing moment of his coronation, he will be following in the footsteps of many of England’s greatest monarchs.

Six have been crowned with St. Edward’s Crown since the Restoration: Charles II (1661), James II (1685), William III (1689), George V (1911), George VI (1937) and Elizabeth II (1953).

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The Tower of London – home of the crown jewels

The St. Edward’s Crown is kept at the Tower of London and is one of the most precious objects in the royal treasury. This iconic Castle and UNESCO World Heritage site is famously home to the Crown Jewels. This is the most complete collection of Royal regalia in the world.

The Crown Jewels have been protected at the Tower of London since the 1660s. They are guarded by the iconic Yeoman Warders. These 32 men and women are drawn from the Armed Forces and go by the nickname of ‘Beefeaters.’

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The Crown Jewels are a working collection that is used at annual state occasions. This includes the annual State Opening of Parliament as well as at less frequent occasions, such as coronations. Included in the collection are the Coronation Regalia, most recently used at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Along with the St. Edward’s Crown you have the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross, the Sovereign’s Orb and the Coronation Spoon.

Ceremony of the Keys

An exclusive after-hours visit to the Tower of London is just one of the exclusive experiences that make up our British Royale tour. Set against a backdrop of the twinkling lights of the British capital, walk the castle grounds in privacy and serenity under the watchful eye of a Yeoman Warder.

You’re also invited to experience the historic Ceremony of the Keys. This is the oldest practiced military ceremony in the world in which the outer gates of the fortress are locked for the night. The keys are then delivered to the monarch’s representative in the Tower, the Resident Governor. Enjoy a memorable inside look at the 700-year-old tradition that has stood the tests of even the most tumultuous times.

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Discover this on British Royale

On Saturday 6 May 2023, the Coronation of King Charles III will take place at Westminster Abbey in London. During the ceremony, the new sovereign will be crowned as head of the Church of England and King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. The King will be crowned alongside Camilla, the Queen Consort. Here is everything we know so far, ahead of this historic day.

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When is the Coronation of King Charles III?

On 8 September 2022, Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning British monarch, died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, at the age of 96. She was succeeded by her eldest son, Charles III. Tradition states that the country must hold a period of mourning after the passing of a monarch, meaning the Coronation of the new monarch takes place some months later. On 11 October 2022, Buckingham Palace announced King Charles III’s Coronation will take place on the morning of Saturday 6 May 2023. 

Where will the Coronation of King Charles III take place?

The Coronation will take place at Westminster Abbey in London, where all British Coronations have been held for over 950 years since 1066. This will be the 39th Coronation of a reigning monarch held at Westminster Abbey.

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Will there be a bank holiday?

There will be an extra bank holiday in the UK on Monday 8 May for the Coronation. This was also the case for Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation, held on 2 June 1953.

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What will happen at the Coronation of King Charles III?

While some elements of the Coronation of King Charles III will be similar to that of his mother, other parts will be different. A Buckingham Palace press release said the Coronation “has retained a similar structure for over a thousand years, and next year’s Coronation is expected to include the same core elements”. The press release further said that while the Coronation will be “rooted in long-standing traditions” it will “reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future”. 

Codenamed Operation Golden Orb, the Coronation is likely to be shorter than the allotted three hours and more modest than Queen Elizabeth II’s 1953 Coronation to reflect the modern monarchy. It will also represent a wider range of religions and community groups to reflect the country’s diversity. 

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The procession

While Queen Elizabeth’s procession had 16,000 participants, the Coronation of  King Charles III will see a smaller procession. Buckingham Palace confirmed more details in a press release on 21 January. The King and Queen Consort will join the King’s Procession to Westminster Abbey and return to Buckingham Palace in a larger Coronation procession. There, they will be joined by members of the Royal Family, however, the palace has not confirmed who will appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

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The music

King Charles has personally chosen the music for the ceremony. We’ll hear 12 newly-commissioned pieces, including a new Coronation anthem by Cats composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. There will also be a Coronation March by Patrick Doyle and a new commission for solo organ by Iain Farrington.

 We’ll hear soloists including Welsh opera singer Sir Bryn Terfel. Some of the service singing will be in Welsh. A gospel choir and Westminster choristers will perform. King Charles has also requested that Greek Orthodox music feature in the service, in tribute to his late father, The Duke of Edinburgh. 

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What are the stages of the Coronation service?

The stages of the ceremony will be more similar to Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation.

The recognition

King Charles will stand beside the 700-year-old Coronation Chair as the Archbishop of Canterbury presents the monarch to the congregation. They will all say “God Save the King!” as trumpets ring out.

The oath

The King takes the Coronation oath, swearing to uphold the law and the Church of England.

The anointing

The King’s ceremonial robe is removed before he sits in the Coronation Chair. A gold cloth held over the chair will conceal the King from view. The Archbishop anoints the King’s hands, breast and head with consecrated oil. The full recipe of the oil is secret but includes olives, roses, jasmine, cinnamon, ambergris, and orange flowers. 

The investiture

The King is presented with the Royal Orb, the Sceptre, and the Sovereign’s Sceptre, representing religious and moral authority, power, and justice and mercy, respectively. The Archbishop then places the opulent St. Edward’s Crown on King Charles’ head.

The enthronement and homage

The King stands and leaves the Coronation Chair and moves to sit on the throne. The congregation kneel before the King to pay homage.

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Will Queen Consort Camilla be crowned alongside King Charles III?

In 2022, the late Queen Elizabeth II declared it was her “sincere wish” for the former Duchess of Cornwall to be crowned Queen Consort alongside King Charles’ accession to the throne. True to this wish, Queen Consort Camilla will be anointed and crowned in the same way after the King during the Coronation. She will be the first crowned Queen Consort since the Queen Mother in 1937.

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Which crowns will be worn during the Coronation of King Charles III?

We know the King will be crowned with the 17th-century St. Edward’s Crown, which is quite literally, the crown jewel of the royal jewellery collection. Historically used for the crowning moment in the Coronation, it was worn by the late Queen Elizabeth at her 1953 Coronation. St. Edwards Crown was made in 1661 for Charles II, replacing the medieval crown that was melted down in 1649. That original crown dates back to the 11th century, worn by Edward the Confessor, the royal saint and last Anglo-Saxon king of England.

Officials have removed St. Edwards Crown from the Tower of London for modifications before the Coronation. As it’s made from solid gold and is extremely heavy, it will only be placed briefly on the King’s head during the ceremony.

The King will also wear the Imperial State Crown during the service. This crown contains the controversial Cullinan II diamond or the Second Star of Africa. It was gifted to Edward VII by the Transvaal government, a former British colony in what is now South Africa. 

Queen Consort Camilla will be crowned with Queen Mary’s Crown. The crown has also been removed from the Tower of London for modifications. In tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth, the crown will be reset with the Cullinan III, IV and V diamonds. These diamonds were often worn by Her late Majesty as part of her personal jewellery collection for years.

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Who will go to the Coronation of King Charles III?

As the Coronation is a state occasion, the government manages the invitees. The Royal Family will attend, along with the prime minister, Houses of Parliament representatives, dignitaries, heads of state, and other royals from across the globe. Although 8,000 guests attended Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation, Westminster Abbey’s usual capacity is 2,200 guests. 

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How can I watch the Coronation of King Charles III?

The BBC will live broadcast the Coronation. Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation was the first ceremony to be broadcast on TV, attracting around 27 million viewers in the UK. It’s expected the Coronation of King Charles III will surpass this with a worldwide audience of hundreds of millions. In another milestone, King Charles III’s Accession Council was broadcast for the first time in history. 

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Who pays for the Coronation?

As it’s a state occasion, the UK government will pay for the Coronation of King Charles III. While the government will come under pressure to be sensitive to the current inflation crisis, they will likely use the Coronation as an opportunity to present the UK at its regal best on the world stage.

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Will there be other events to celebrate the Coronation over the long weekend?

Coronation celebrations will continue throughout the long weekend. There will be a Coronation concert at Windsor Castle on Sunday 7 May, with global artists, dance troupes, A-list actors, the Coronation choir, and an orchestra. The “Lighting up the Nation” is the highlight event. You’ll see UK’s most famous landmarks illuminated with lasers, projections and drone displays. BBC One will also live broadcast this magical event. If you want to witness it in person, you’ll have the chance to win one of the thousands of free tickets in a public ballot.

Besides the concert, you can also find other community events like the Coronation Big Lunch on Sunday 7 May. Similar to the Big Jubilee Lunch in 2022, this event encourages neighbours and communities to get together for street parties full of food and fun. There’s also The Big Help Out on Monday 8 May, an event inviting people to volunteer in their local community. You can identify official Coronation events by the Coronation logo, created by former Apple designer Jonny Ive. The logo features a rose, daffodil, thistle and shamrock to represent nations across the UK.