The date for King Charles III's coronation is expected to be on June 3 next year in a ceremony at Westminster Abbey, UK officials have said.
Plans are converging on that Saturday near the start of the summer although discussions over which other days will become official holidays are still going on, said a government official speaking on condition of anonymity before a public announcement.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment.
Almost 70 years to the day after his mother was crowned, the coronation will form the centrepiece of days of celebration to mark the beginning of the monarch’s reign.
King Charles acceded to the throne last month after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
By June next year he will be 74, making him the oldest person to be crowned sovereign in British history.
It has been widely reported that the coronation will be a smaller, more modest version of previous ceremonies, with space for representatives of different faiths and community groups in line with modern Britain’s diversity.
King Charles III hosts world leaders at Buckingham Palace reception - in pictures
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Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, arrives for a reception hosted by Britain's King Charles III for heads of state and official overseas guests, at Buckingham Palace in London on Sunday, on the eve of the funeral for Queen Elizabeth II. AP -
British Prime Minister Liz Truss arrives at Buckingham Palace on Sunday. AFP -
Britain's Foreign Secretary James Cleverly arrives at Buckingham Palace in London with his wife Susannah for the reception. AFP -
US President Joe Biden and his wife Jill arrive for the reception. AFP -
Mr Biden in his presidential car 'The Beast' as it drives to Buckingham Palace on Sunday. AFP -
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte arrive for the reception hosted by King Charles. AP -
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and husband Heiko arrive for the reception. AP -
Israel's President Isaac Herzog and his wife Michal arrive at Buckingham Palace. AFP -
Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia arrive at the reception hosted by King Charles at Buckingham Palace. PA -
King Hamad of Bahrain arrives at the reception. AP -
Sheikh Mishal Al Ahmad, Crown Prince of Kuwait, arrives at Buckingham Palace. AP -
Oman's Sultan Haitham arrives at the reception. AP -
Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan arrives for the reception. AP -
Queen Rania of Jordan arrives at Buckingham Palace with King Abdullah II (not shown). AP -
Jordanian King Abdullah and Queen Rania arrive. AP -
Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim walks into the reception hosted by Britain's King Charles. AP -
Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia arrive at the palace. AP -
World leaders and heads of state arrive for the reception at Buckingham Palace in London. PA -
World leaders and heads of state arrive for the reception at Buckingham Palace in London. PA -
World leaders and heads of state arrive for the reception at Buckingham Palace in London. PA -
World leaders and heads of state arrive for the reception at Buckingham Palace in London. PA -
World leaders and heads of state arrive for the reception at Buckingham Palace in London. PA
King Charles will be crowned alongside his wife, the Queen Consort, Camilla.
When Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in 1953 more than 8,000 guests from 129 nations travelled to Westminster Abbey in the centre of London, with temporary platforms erected to seat the guests, including every member of the British aristocracy.
Safety restrictions mean that nowadays the church can only hold about 2,000, providing a headache for planners.
King Charles III through the years — in pictures
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A photo released by Buckingham Palace as they announced that King Charles III had been diagnosed with cancer. All Photos: Getty Images unless stated -
King Charles attends the Sunday service at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate in January -
King Charles and Queen Camilla leaving The London Clinic in January. The King had been receiving treatment for an enlarged prostate. -
King Charles delivers his Christmas message at Buckingham Palace in December 2023 -
King Charles delivers an address at the opening ceremony of the Cop28 Summit in December 2023 in Dubai -
King Charles and Prince William attend the National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph in November 2023 in London -
King Charles and Queen Camilla at the State Opening of Parliament in November 2023 -
King Charles waters and plants a tree watched by President of Kenya, William Ruto in October 2023 in Nairobi -
King Charles and US President Joe Biden review a guard of honour at Windsor Castle in July 2023 -
Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince William, King Charles and Queen Camilla during the National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh, in July 2023 -
King Charles and Queen Camilla on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, after his coronation. PA -
King Charles, carrying the Sovereign's Orb and Sceptre, leaves Westminster Abbey after the Coronation in May 2023. AFP -
King Charles III is crowned with St Edward's Crown by The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby during his coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey in May 2023. PA -
King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla, centre, with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Buedenbender during the king's state visit in March 2023 -
King Charles and Camilla during a visit to the Bangladeshi community of Brick Lane, London, in February 2023 -
King Charles welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the leader of the Conservative Party to form a new government in October 2022 -
King Charles during the recording of his first Christmas broadcast at Windsor Castle in December 2022 -
King Charles follows the coffin of Queen Elizabeth as it is carried from Westminster Abbey after her state funeral. AP -
King Charles holds a vigil beside the coffin of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, as it lies in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall. PA -
King Charles greets members of the public as he walks by the gates of Buckingham Palace after the death of Queen Elizabeth. AP -
King Charles shakes hands with British Prime Minister Liz Truss during their first audience at Buckingham Palace -
King Charles III delivers his address to the nation and the Commonwealth from Buckingham Palace after the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022 -
Prince Charles with Camilla and Prince William during the ceremonial state opening of parliament at the Palace of Westminster in 2022 -
Prince Charles and Camilla on a visit to Giza in Egypt in 2021 -
Prince Charles joined members of the British Asian Trust for a short bicycle ride as they launched the charity's Palaces on Wheels cycling event at Highgrove in 2021 -
Prince Charles walks behind the Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin during the funeral of Prince Philip in 2021 -
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles during the state opening of parliament at the Palace of Westminster, London, in 2019 -
Prince Charles, Prince William, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry arrive for a Christmas Day church service on the Sandringham estate in December 2018 -
Prince Charles leads Meghan Markle up the aisle during her wedding to Prince Harry in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in 2018 -
Prince Charles and Camilla attend a dinner hosted by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, in Amsterdam in 2013 -
Prince Charles and Harry in front of an Apache helicopter at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop, 2011 -
Queen Elizabeth presents Prince Charles with the Royal Horticultural Society's Victoria Medal of Honour at the Chelsea Flower Show, west London, in 2009 -
An official portrait to mark Prince Charles's 60th birthday in 2008 -
Prince Charles and his new bride Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle after their wedding in April 2005 -
Charles with his sons William and Harry on a ski break at Klosters in Switzerland in 2005 -
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles in Avignon during a state visit to France in 1972 -
Prince Charles learns a soul dance routine at St George's Secondary School in Maida Vale, west London, in 1978 -
Prince Philip, Prince William, Earl Spencer, Prince Harry and Prince Charles follow the coffin of Princess Diana at her funeral in London in September 1997 -
Diana and Prince Charles pose with their sons, Princes William and Harry, on Prince William's first day at Eton College in 1995 -
Prince Charles and Diana on a visit to Nottingham in 1985 -
Diana and Prince Charles with Prince Harry leave St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, west London, in 1984 -
Prince Charles and his wife Diana with their baby son, Prince William, at home in Kensington Palace in 1983 -
Prince Charles and Diana with son William in 1983 -
Prince Charles and Diana on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on their wedding day in 1981 -
Prince Charles at a polo event in Windsor Great Park, accompanied by the queen and Prince Edward, in 1971 -
Prince Charles leaving Caernarfon Castle after his investiture as Prince of Wales, in Gwynedd, 1969 -
Prince Charles during a tour of Wales in 1969 -
Prince Charles playing cricket in 1968. He was playing for Lord Brabourne against a team of Grand Prix racing drivers. -
Prince Charles and Princess Anne at Windsor Great Park in 1968 -
Prince Charles at the University of Cambridge in 1967, where he was beginning his term at Trinity College -
Queen Elizabeth and her family travel to Sandringham in 1966. Prince Andrew is on her lap, the Duke of Edinburgh to her left with Princess Anne on his lap, and Prince Charles, right -
Prince Charles, walking a Corgi, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and their nanny Mabel Anderson at Euston Station, London, in 1963 -
US President Dwight D Eisenhower, centre, with the British royal family, left to right, Prince Philip, Princess Anne, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles, at Balmoral Castle in 1959 -
Queen Elizabeth watches her son Prince Charles driving a toy car in the grounds of Balmoral Castle in 1952 -
A young Prince Charles is perched on the lap of his father the Duke of Edinburgh, while his mother Queen Elizabeth II looks on in the grounds of Windlesham Moor in 1949
Last month, the UK Foreign Office spent days devising the seating plan for the queen’s funeral, mindful of diplomatic hierarchies and protocol.
The coronation ceremony itself is rich in tradition.
The king is seated on a throne known as Edward’s Chair, holding the sovereign’s sceptre and rod — to represent his constitutional control of the nation — and the sovereign’s orb — to represent the Christian world.
King Charles III’s 13 residences across the UK - in pictures
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Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of UK sovereigns since 1837. Photo: Alamy -
The ballroom at Buckingham Palace set up for a state banquet. Photo: Alamy -
Windsor Castle in Berkshire was one of Queen Elizabeth II's favourite places. King Charles III inherited it as part of the Crown Estate. Photo: Alamy -
A state banquet was held for the visit of former India President Prathibha Patil at Windsor Castle in 2009. Photo: Alamy -
The Palace of Holyroodhouse on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile is the official residence of the British monarchy in Scotland. Photo: Alamy -
The Great Stair inside Holyroodhouse Palace. Photo: Alamy -
Hillsborough Castle in County Down was built in 1779 and is King Charles’s official residence in Northern Ireland. Photo: Alamy -
The formal gardens of 18th century Hillsborough Castle are open to the public. Photo: Alamy -
Sandringham House in Norfolk is mentioned in the 11th century Domesday Book and is where the royals traditionally spend Christmas. Photo: Alamy -
The 20,200-hectare Balmoral estate in Scotland is privately owned by the royals and passed to King Charles following the queen’s death. Photo: Alamy -
Inside Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire. Prince Charles and Princess Diana had part of their honeymoon on the estate in 1981. Photo: Alamy -
Highgrove House in Gloucestershire is the family residence of King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla and has its own organic farm. Photo: Alamy -
The meadows at Highgrove House. Many of the organic products for King Charles's Duchy Originals produce line are made on the estate. Photo: Alamy -
Clarence House in Westminster is the London home of the king and his wife. Photo: Alamy -
Clarence House was the former home of the late Queen Mother and Queen Elizabeth II gave birth to Princess Anne there. Photo: Alamy -
Birkhall House was built in 1715 and is where King Charles and Camilla spent their honeymoon. Photo: Alamy -
King Charles's 77-hectare Llwynywermod Estate in the Brecon Beacons was once owned by a relative of Anne Boleyn, one of Henry VIII’s wives. Photo: Alamy -
Inside Llwynywermod in Wales. The grounds comprise three cottages, a grade II-listed barn and a main house. Photo: Alamy -
King Charles inherited the Castle of Mey in Scotland from his grandmother when she died in 2002. Photo: Alamy -
Princess Margaret's room in the Castle of Mey in Caithness. Photo: Alamy -
Dumfries House in Scotland is set on a 2,000-acre estate which was purchased by the Prince’s Foundation for £45 million in 2007. Photo: Alamy -
The Red Dining Room in Dumfries house. The 18th century stately home is an example of Palladian architecture. Photo: Alamy -
King Charles owns Tresco Island in the Isles of Scilly, as well as the six-bedroom Dolphin House. Photo: Dolphin House -
The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge enjoyed a holiday at Dolphin House in 2019 with their children. Tresco Island is home to just 175 residents. Photo: Dolphin House
After being anointed with oil, blessed and consecrated by senior clergy, King Charles will have the crown of St Edward placed on his head.
St Edward’s Crown — named after the last Anglo-Saxon king, Edward the Confessor — is made of solid gold and features over 400 gemstones, including rubies, garnets and sapphires.
The version which will be used next year, originally made for Charles II in 1661, is 30 centimetres tall and weighs 2.23 kilograms. It is usually kept under guard in the Tower of London.
King Charles visits UK Parliament — in pictures
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Britain's King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla sit at Westminster Hall, where both Houses of Parliament are meeting to offer their condolences after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, in London. AP -
King Charles gives his address thanking the members of the House of Lords and the House of Commons for their condolences. PA -
The king observes proceedings from his seat at Westminster Hall. PA -
Yeomen of the Guard march through Westminster Hall. Getty Images -
British Prime Minister Liz Truss in attendance. Getty Images -
A packed Westminster Hall at the Houses of Parliament. Getty Images -
Britain's former prime minister Boris Johnson awaits the arrival of King Charles. Getty Images -
Yeomen of the Guard arrive for the presentation of addresses. Getty Images -
The order of events. Getty Images -
King Charles waves as he leaves Clarence House for Westminster Hall. AP -
The king and the queen consort pass Big Ben en route to Westminster Hall. PA
