King Charles III Will Be Crowned On June 3, 2023
It’s happening, whether we like it or not. Bloomberg reports that King Charles III’s coronation ceremony is set to take place on June 3, 2023. This is exactly 70 years (and one day) after THE QUEEN was crowned on June 2, 1953. Queen Elizabeth was 26 when she took the throne. By next June, Charles will be 74, making him the oldest person to be crowned king in British history. So the phrase “Long live The King!” is, well, optimistic.
This date isn’t set in stone, but palace sources tell Bloomberg that it’s the day they’re hoping for. These same sources also claim that Charles’ ceremony will be much smaller and more modest than his mother’s. Makes sense. It would be tacky to go all out at age 74 (see: a bride on her fourth husband who throws a 300-person wedding and insists on wearing the big, puffy white dress… give it up, sweetie). Charles’ coronation is earlier than some expected. The time between his mother’s death and the ceremony will be less than nine months. Queen Elizabeth waited a year and four months after King George VI’s passing in early 1952. But I really don’t blame Charles for rushing this shit. He’s 74, and he’s not risking going to the grave without a fucking crown on his head! Page Six gave us the rundown of what we can expect:
Per tradition, the incoming monarch will sit on the throne dubbed The Coronation Chair while holding the sovereign’s scepter and rod, which represents his constitutional control of the nation, and the sovereign’s orb, which represents the Christian world.
After being anointed with oil, blessed and consecrated by senior clergy, Charles will have the crown of St. Edward placed on his head, officially making him King. He, as well as the Queen Consort, will then address the nation from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
Usually, at a coronation they’ll play God Save the Queen King, but, for Charles’ crowning, he’s requested they play Scar’s banger from The Lion King, “Be Prepared”:
Apparently, Charles just really connected to these lyrics:
Meticulous planning, tenacity spanningDecades of denial is simply why I’ll…Be king undisputed, respected, salutedAnd seen for the wonder I amYes, my teeth and ambitions are bared,
Be prepared!
Pic: Carl de Souza/PA Images/INSTARim/Cover Images