The Real Reason Why King Charles Will Be Crowned in May, and Not Later
King Charles isn’t going to wait as long as his mother, Queen Elizabeth, to get officially crowned
While King Charles took over the throne after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, his official coronation hasn't occurred yet. This week, Buckingham Palace announced that the ceremony, which involves actively placing a crown upon a monarch's head, will occur on Saturday, May 6, 2023 – almost seven months away. However, historically, coronations occur even more than a year from the date when someone becomes a monarch. Here is why the King opted to schedule his ceremony on the early side.
While it might seem like a long time to wait before the big day, Queen Elizabeth's coronation took place on June 2 1953 – 16 months after she became monarch. Many speculated that Charles would have his on June 2 as well, as a tribute to his late mother.
However, according to the Mirror the new King didn't want to overshadow his mother's historic anniversary, opting for an earlier date instead. The new date will be just under eight months after his accession.
The date of May 6 does mean something to other members of the Royal Family. It happens to fall on the birthday of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's son, Archie, who will turn four. It also happens to be the wedding anniversary of Princess Margaret, the Queen's late sister.
According to reports, the King is planning a scaled down coronation compared to his predecessors. Experts are speculating it could last just an hour compared to the usual – more than three hours – and that guest numbers will be closer to 2,000 instead of 8,000.
The dress code will also be different. Instead of ceremonial robes, guests will wear suits and dresses. He has also gotten rid of some rituals. However, per the Palace, the ceremony will be "rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry" and also "reflect the monarch's role today and look towards the future."
