London, England —(Map)
In the United Kingdom on Saturday, Charles the III will officially be crowned king in a special “coronation” ceremony. It’s the first time the country has crowned a monarch in 70 years. People across the nation will be watching and celebrating the historic event.
Charles is already the king. Last September when his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, passed away, he immediately became King Charles III. The coronation, or crowning ceremony, is a special event making his position as king official. It is also a time for people to celebrate and welcome the new king.
Before the main event, King Charles and his wife Camilla will travel from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey in a fancy coach pulled by horses. Many important people will attend the coronation, including royal family members and world leaders.
(Source: Mark Tantrum [CC BY 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons.)
The coronation will happen at Westminster Abbey. For the last 900 years, every British king or queen has been crowned at Westminster Abbey. King Charles’s coronation will include many of the most important parts of these historical coronation ceremonies.
But the king has also made some changes. King Charles’s ceremony will be shorter than previous ones and have fewer guests. There will also be changes to make it more modern and respectful of different cultures. For the first time ever, the ceremony will include leaders from different religions, as well as female religious leaders.
The ceremony is more than just putting a crown on the king’s head. It’s an old tradition that brings together the country’s royal history, church, and political system. During the religious ceremony, the king makes promises to God and his country.
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The coronation will happen at Westminster Abbey (above). For the last 900 years, every British king or queen has been crowned at Westminster Abbey. The ceremony is an old tradition that brings together the country’s royal history, church, and political system.
The Archbishop of Canterbury will lead the ceremony, which has six parts. First, the archbishop presents the king to the people in the abbey. In response, trumpets play and everyone shouts, “God save the king!” Next, the king promises to follow the law and support the Church of England.
After that, the king is marked with holy oil by the archbishop. This part of the ceremony is private and won’t be shown on TV.
Next, the king sits on the Coronation Chair, where he receives symbols of his power. These include the royal orb (a fancy ball) and two scepters (tall, fancy sticks). Then, St. Edward’s Crown is placed on the king’s head. The king moves to the throne and people promise to be loyal to him. The king’s wife, Camilla, will also be crowned.
(Source: United Kingdom Government [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.)
Finally, King Charles and Queen Camilla will return to Buckingham Palace in another special coach. Soldiers from many different countries connected to the UK will go with them. When the couple arrives, they’ll get a royal salute and be cheered by the military.
The rest of the weekend will be filled with fun events. On Sunday, there will be a “Coronation Big Lunch,” where people can come together to eat and celebrate. There will also be a “Coronation Concert” with famous singers like Lionel Richie and Katy Perry.
The last day of the three-day weekend will be a special holiday for people in the UK. They are encouraged to volunteer and help others.
Did You Know…?
The coronation ceremony will begin Saturday morning at 11 a.m. London time. The ceremony is being carried on major TV channels in the UK and the US. But people in the US will have to get up early if they want to watch the ceremony. For people on the East coast, it will begin at 6 a.m. That’s 3 a.m. on the West coast.
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