Coronation of King Charles III

May 4, 2023

The history of British royal coronations in London dates back around a thousand years, with numerous rituals developed over that period. The coronation of King Charles III and his wife, Camilla, will take place on May 6, which coincides with the anniversary of the 1910 death of his great-great-grandfather, King Edward VII.

Westminster Abbey, the chosen location for the coronation since 1066

Westminster Abbey has been the site of coronation ceremonies for British monarchs since 1066, when William the Conqueror defeated England. Over the centuries, a total of 38 coronations have taken place at the cathedral.

St. Edward’s Crown: The centerpiece of the so-called Crown Jewels

The British royal family possesses multiple crowns, and King Charles III will wear St. Edward’s Crown during his coronation, as is customary. St. Edward’s Crown is the oldest of the British royal crowns and is a part of the Crown Jewels collection. King Charles II was the first monarch to wear the crown, which was created in 1661. The crown is made entirely of gold and is adorned with rubies, amethysts, and sapphires. It weighs around two kilograms and is estimated to be worth $40 million (€36 million). The crown’s name is derived from St. Edward, who was the final Anglo-Saxon king of England and ruled from 1042 until his passing in 1066.

Camilla’s crown for the coronation

Camilla, currently Queen Consort, will wear the crown made for the 1911 coronation ceremony of Queen Mary, consort of King George V, during the coronation. For the first time since the 1700s, a queen consort’s crown will be reused in a coronation. Before the coronation, the Koh-i-noor diamond, a significant gem in the crown, will be taken out, as it has caused controversy as it came into the possession of the British royal family under questionable circumstances. Instead, Camilla’s crown will feature some of Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite stones, as four nations – India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran – are attempting to reclaim the Koh-i-noor from Great Britain.

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