King Charles III's coronation will be held on Saturday, May 6, Buckingham Palace has announced, eight months after the monarch’s accession and the death of Queen Elizabeth II .
The service will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury and will take place at Westminster Abbey, where his mother's funeral took place .
Queen Consort Camilla will be crowned alongside King Charles .
Plans for the major event are known by the codename Operation Golden Orb, which sets out the blueprint for the service and the pageantry surrounding it.
The palace said the ceremony will be “rooted in long-standing traditions and pageantry” but also “reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future”. It described it as a "solemn religious service, together with an occasion for celebration and pageantry".
In a deeply religious service, King Charles will be anointed with holy oil, receive the orb, coronation ring and sceptre, be crowned with the majestic St Edward’s Crown and blessed during the historic ceremony.
The monarch is the head of the Church of England so it will be an Anglican service, but it is expected to be more inclusive of multi-faith Britain than past coronations.
The queen consort will also be anointed with holy oil and crowned, as the Queen Mother was when she was crowned in 1937.
In a statement, the palace said: “Buckingham Palace is pleased to announce that the coronation of His Majesty The King will take place on Saturday 6th May 2023.
“The coronation ceremony will take place at Westminster Abbey, London, and will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
“The ceremony will see His Majesty King Charles III crowned alongside the Queen Consort.
“The coronation will reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in long-standing traditions and pageantry.”
The coronation falls on the birthday of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s son Archie, who will turn four. It has not yet been confirmed who will attend the ceremony and whether or not Prince Harry and his wife Meghan will be among those invited.
Traditional coronation with a modern twist It is understood that the ceremony will include the same core elements of the traditional service, which has retained a similar structure for more than 1,000 years, while also recognising the spirit of our times.
For the last 900 years, the ceremony has taken place at Westminster Abbey and since 1066, the service has almost always been conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The coronation is expected to be on a smaller scale and shorter than the late queen's coronation in 1953 , with suggestions that it could last just one hour, down from more than three.
Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Princess Anne and the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace after the Queen's coronation in June 1953. All photos: PA
Queen Elizabeth sitting on the St Edward's Chair, as she is crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The Duke of Norfolk, the Earl Marshall, paying homage to Queen Elizabeth after her coronation at Westminster Abbey.
Queen Elizabeth riding with the Duke of Edinburgh in the state coach through Trafalgar Square on the way from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey for her coronation.
People waiting on The Mall for an all-night vigil before the coronation procession of Queen Elizabeth.
A crowded Trafalgar Square in the rain as troops march past on the return from Westminster Abbey after the coronation of Queen Elizabeth.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip with son Prince Charles and daughter Princess Anne, other members of the royal family and guests at Buckingham Palace on return from the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
Queen Elizabeth at her coronation in Westminster Abbey.
The view from the roof of Buckingham Palace showing the state coach carrying Queen Elizabeth to Westminster Abbey.
Queen Elizabeth wearing the St Edward Crown and carrying the sceptre and rod after her coronation.
Guest numbers will be reduced from 8,000 to around 2,000, with peers expected to wear suits and dresses instead of ceremonial robes, and a number of rituals, such as the presentation of gold ingots, axed.
Coronations have not traditionally been held on a weekend, with the late queen’s taking place on a Tuesday. The palace has yet to comment on whether there will be any arrangements for a bank holiday. It had been speculated that the date would be June 3, but that would have clashed with the FA Cup final.
King Charles III through the years — in pictures 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
Further details are due to be released in due course, but the government and the royal household will be conscious of the scale of the coronation in light of the cost-of-living crisis facing the UK.
Security will be heightened given the high-profile nature of the day.
The king is expected to sign a proclamation formally declaring the date of the coronation at a meeting of the Privy Council later this year.
He will be anointed by the Archbishop and take his oath to “maintain and preserve inviolably the settlement of the Church of England, and the doctrine worship, discipline, and government thereof, as the law established in England”.
The queen consort will be crowned and take her place on a throne.
Queen's masterstroke to give Camilla the green light to be queen On the eve of her Platinum Jubilee in February 2022, Queen Elizabeth endorsed the then-Duchess of Cornwall to be known as queen consort when the time came.
Royal aides insisted, when she married Prince Charles, that Camilla did not want to be queen and said originally that she “intended” to be known instead as Princess Consort — the first in British history — when her husband acceded to the throne.
The wife of a king automatically becomes a queen and only a change in legislation would prevent her from doing so, but there had been much controversy over whether Camilla would use the title, being Charles’s former mistress.
Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her platinum jubilee in 2022, the first British monarch to reign for 70 years. Here 'The National' looks back at each of the years the queen has been on the throne. All photos: Getty Images
1952: A portrait of the queen and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.
1953: The queen and the Duke of Edinburgh wave at the crowds from the balcony of Buckingham Palace in London, after the queen's coronation, on June 2.
1954: The queen talking to an injured ex-serviceman during a visit to Repatriation General Hospital in Hobart, Australia.
1955: Gen Francisco Craveiro Lopes, President of Portugal, leaves Westminster Pier for Buckingham Palace by coach, with the queen.
1956: The queen inspects the Queen's Own Nigeria Regiment, at Kaduna Airport, Nigeria, during her Commonwealth tour.
1957: The queen presents the trophy to American tennis player Althea Gibson after she won the women's singles tennis title at Wimbledon.
1958: The queen shares a joke while watching Prince Philip during a cricket match at Highclere Castle, Hampshire.
1959: US president Dwight D Eisenhower with Prince Philip, Princess Anne, the queen, Prince Charles and John Eisenhower, at Balmoral Castle, Scotland.
1960: The queen and Prince Charles walk through Liverpool Street Station in London with their dogs, having returned by train from Sandringham after the Christmas holidays.
1961: The queen and Prince Philip leave Manchester by train.
1962: The queen attends the races at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey.
1963: The queen waves to residents from the rear of an open top car in the town of Russell, during a Commonwealth visit to New Zealand.
1964: The queen during the State Opening of Parliament ceremony in the chamber of the House of Lords, at the Palace of Westminster in London.
1965: At the Tissisal Falls, where the Blue Nile begins, with Emperor Haile Selassie during a royal visit to Ethiopia.
1966: The queen smiling after presenting England captain Bobby Moore with the Jules Rimet trophy, following England's 4-2 victory over West Germany in the World Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London.
1967: The queen meets actor Rex Harrison and his wife Rachel Roberts at the premiere of the film 'Dr Dolittle' at the Odeon Marble Arch, London.
1968: The queen, Princess Margaret, and Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, riding at Ascot Racecourse.
1969: The royal family at Windsor: Prince Edward, the queen, Princess Anne, Prince Charles and Prince Andrew.
1970: US president Richard Nixon and British prime minister Edward Heath meet the queen for lunch at Chequers.
1971: Prince Charles takes part in a polo match in Windsor Great Park, accompanied by the queen and Prince Edward.
1972: The queen and Prince Philip with the president of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta, during a visit to Kenya.
1973: Anne, the Princess Royal and Mark Phillips with the queen on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in London after their wedding.
1974: The queen with the Queen's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard at Buckingham Palace in London.
1975: The queen greets the public while visiting Greenwich, London.
1976: The queen looking relaxed standing next to her car.
1977: The crowd cheers the queen in her gilded state coach during her silver jubilee procession.
1978: The queen and Prince Philip are greeted by Native Canadians as they arrive by train during a tour of Canada.
1979: The queen is met by president Julius Nyerere at Dar es Salaam airport, at the start of a three-day state visit to Tanzania.
1980: On a tour of the Chelsea Flower Show, London.
1981: The Prince and Princess of Wales pose on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on their wedding day, with the queen.
1982: US president Ronald Reagan and the queen at a gala dinner at Windsor Castle.
1983: The queen and Prince Philip are met by Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi and president Zail Singh at Palam Airport, New Delhi, during a Commonwealth tour of India.
1984: Prince Charles is presented with an award by his mother, after a polo match at Smiths Lawn in Windsor.
1985: The queen visits the University of Evora during a state visit to Portugal.
1986: The queen and Li Xiannian, president of China, outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing during her visit to China.
1987: The queen with Prince William and Prince Harry in the Royal Box at Guards Polo Club, Smiths Lawn, Windsor.
1988: US president Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy Reagan chatting with the queen at Buckingham Palace.
1989: The royal family gather on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in London for the Trooping the Colour ceremony. Pictured are Princess Margaret, Princess Diana, Prince Harry, Prince William, the queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
1990: The queen on a walkabout in Reykjavik, during a three-day state visit to Iceland.
1991: England captain Will Carling introduces the queen to the England team before the Rugby World Cup Final against Australia at Twickenham.
1992: The queen at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin during an official tour of Germany. She is seen with President Richard Von Weizsaecker.
1993: The queen walking through the crowds at Royal Ascot.
1994: The queen, Princess Anne, Prince Philip and Princess Diana greeting well-wishers as they attend the Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.
1995: The queen at a banquet in Cape Town, South Africa, with president Nelson Mandela.
1996: Germany captain Jurgen Klinsmann lifts the trophy as the queen smiles, after the 1996 UEFA European Championships Final against Czech Republic at Wembley Stadium in London.
1997: The queen and Prince Philip view tributes from the public outside Buckingham Palace to Diana, Princess of Wales, after her funeral.
1998: The queen shopping at the trade stands at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
1999: With British prime minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie Blair during the Millennium New Year celebrations in Greenwich, London.
2000: The queen and Italy's president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi walk past the honour guard at the Piazza Di Siena in Rome.
2001: The queen and other members of the royal family appear with the Queen Mother during celebrations to mark her 101st birthday in London.
2002: The queen and Prince Philip leave after a party for close friends and family at The Ritz hotel in London. The monarch was thanking them for making her golden jubilee year a success.
2003: Russian President Vladimir Putin is accompanied by the queen during a procession at the start of his state visit in London.
2004: The queen arrives in her horsedrawn carriage to attend Ladies Day at Royal Ascot.
2005: Prince Charles and his bride, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, pose with their families and the queen at Windsor Castle after their wedding ceremony.
2006: The queen smiles at the crowds in Windsor, during a walk in the town to celebrate her 80th Birthday.
2007: A less-than-impressed queen raises her hand during a downpour as she stands with Prince Philip and Prince Charles on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the Trooping the Colour ceremony.
2008: The queen stands in the music room at Buckingham Palace after recording her Christmas day message to the Commonwealth.
2009: US president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama with the queen and Prince Philip during an audience at Buckingham Palace.
2010: The queen and Prince Philip wear 3D glasses to watch a demonstration, during a visit to the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre.
2011: The queen and Prince Philip arrive to open the Sainsbury Laboratory for Plant Sciences at the University of Cambridge Botanic Garden.
2012: The queen makes a speech at the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games in London.
2013: The queen and other members of the royal family leave Westminster Abbey in London, after the service to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the coronation of the queen there.
2014: A smiling queen arrives for the opening of the Flanders Fields Memorial Garden at Wellington Barracks in London.
2015: The queen signs a book during a visit to the headquarters of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force's 603 Squadron in Edinburgh, Scotland.
2016: Prince Charles, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince William, Prince Harry, the queen, and Prince Philip stand on the balcony during the Trooping the Colour, this year marking the Queen's 90th birthday at The Mall.
2017: The queen and Prince Charles attend the State Opening Of Parliament in the House of Lords at the Palace of Westminster, London.
2018: Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, and the queen at the Queen's Young Leaders Awards Ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
2019: The queen and US president Donald Trump arrive for a state banquet at Buckingham Palace.
2020: Riding at Windsor. The queen has been in residence at Windsor Castle during the coronavirus pandemic.
2021: The queen takes her seat at the funeral of Prince Philip, in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
The royal website used to declare: “A Queen Consort is crowned with the King, in a similar but simpler ceremony.”
But following the prince’s marriage to Camilla it added the get-out clause “unless decided otherwise”.
The Duke of Norfolk, who organised the queen’s funeral, also has the role of staging the coronation.
He was recently banned from driving for six months after pleading guilty to using his mobile phone behind the wheel — despite claiming he needed his licence to arrange the forthcoming ceremony.
Queen's coronation brought much needed boost to postwar Britain The late queen’s coronation took place on June 2, 1953 — 16 months after she became monarch.
It was a carnival of celebration and a morale boost for a nation starved of pageantry after the Second World War.
People began to bed down in the streets of London as early as 48 hours before the service, just to make sure they had a standing place to watch the queen pass by in the gold state coach in a grand procession.
By the Monday evening, in pouring rain and driving wind, half a million people were already lining the procession route.
Special seating structures were built inside the church to increase the usual congregation from 2,000 to 8,000.
Prince Charles, who was only four at the time, attended the service.
He has recalled his mother saying goodnight to him the night before while wearing the crown so she could get used to its weight on her head.
He remembered “thousands of people gathered in The Mall outside Buckingham Palace chanting ‘We want the Queen’ and keeping me awake at night”.
The 1953 coronation was shared with a wider audience through the relatively new medium of television, which came of age with the screening of the ceremony for the first time.
An estimated 27 million people in Britain alone watched the ceremony live on their black and white TVs and the images were also beamed around the world.
Queen Elizabeth II's funeral: extraordinary images from an extraordinary day — in pictures King Charles III follows behind the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign's orb and sceptre on top, as it is carried out of Westminster Abbey after her state funeral. Reuters
The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth travels down the Long Walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the Committal Service at St George's Chapel. AP
Pall bearers carry the coffin into St. George's Chapel, in Windsor. AP
A Royal Guard stands by floral tributes at Windsor Castle. AFP
The coffin of Queen Elizabeth is pulled on a gun carriage by Royal Navy sailors to Westminster Abbey. Getty Images
Prince William and Prince Harry follow the coffin of the queen after her state funeral in Westminster Abbey. AP
Emma, the monarch's fell pony, stands as Queen Elizabeth's coffin passes at Windsor Castle. PA
Members of the royal household stand with Queen Elizabeth's Corgis, Muick and Sandy, as they await the funeral cortege at St. George's Chapel, Windsor. AP
Catherine, Princess of Wales, attends the state funeral service in London. AFP
The coffin of Queen Elizabeth is pulled along The Mall following her funeral service in Westminster Abbey. AP
Flowers thrown by the public lie on the hearse carrying the coffin as it arrives at Windsor Castle. AP
King Charles at the state funeral in London. Reuters
People sleep before the funeral service at Westminster Abbey. AFP
A giant screen honouring the late queen at Piccadilly Circus in London. EPA
King Charles looks towards the coffin of his mother at Westminster Abbey. Getty Images
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, sitting in a car as a British flag is reflected in its window. AFP
Buckingham Palace household staff return through the gates of the palace after paying their respects. AFP
Staff Sergeant Yeoman Darren Fowler, right, and Captain Rebecca Cooper from the Royal Signals at the Elizabeth Tower, checking that Big Ben Chimes in time with gunfire during the state funeral procession. EPA
King Charles salutes as he is driven past Wellington Arch in London. Getty Images
The London skyline is seen as the procession moves down The Mall. Getty Images
The coffin of the queen is pulled on a gun carriage by Royal Navy sailors from Westminster Abbey. Getty Images
Princess Charlotte arrives by car ahead of the funeral in central London. AP
The coffin is carried into St George's Chapel for the Committal Service, in Windsor Castle. AP
A woman cries in London's Hyde Park while watching the funeral service. AP
Prince George looks towards his father Prince William during the Committal Service at St George's Chapel. Getty Images
Queen Elizabeth's coffin is driven along the Long Walk towards Windsor Castle. Reuters
People waiting along the route that the coffin will be pulled on a gun carriage in central London. AP
King Charles and the Queen Consort Camilla follow the coffin at St George's Chapel. AP
The Royal State Hearse arrives at Windsor Castle. Getty Images
King Charles follows the State Gun Carriage as it carries the coffin at Westminster Abbey. PA
Members of the public gather to see the coffin as it travels from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch in London. Getty Images
King Charles and members of the royal family follow behind the coffin as it is carried into Westminster Abbey. PA
The Imperial State Crown resting on the coffin. Getty Images
The hearse transporting the coffin is covered in flowers thrown by the public. AFP
The Bearer Party of The Queen's Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards carries the coffin from Westminster Abbey. AFP
Updated: October 11, 2022, 5:00 PM