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LONDON — The guests at the coronation of King Charles III will include fewer world leaders and a younger generation of royalty compared with the fall funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, but Britain’s first coronation in 70 years is still expected to draw large crowds and require a substantial security operation.
More than 2,200 people, including foreign delegations from 203 countries and about 100 heads of state, have confirmed their attendance for the May 6 coronation service at Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace said Monday.
King Charles III’s coronation: What to know about the May 6 ceremonies
About 20 royal families will be represented, according to a British government official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss details that have not been released publicly. Some of them, including the Danish and Norwegian royals, are sending crown princes and princesses rather than their sovereigns.
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Buckingham Palace mailed invitations — featuring a heraldic design on heavy card stock — to guests on a list compiled in coordination with British civil servants. The decision-making process was shrouded in secrecy.
The government official said organizers did not extend invitations to leaders from some countries with which Britain has strained or suspended diplomatic relations. The official put that number “in the single digits” and said it includes Russia, Belarus and Iran. From North Korea, only someone at the ambassador level was invited. Despite protests from some British lawmakers, Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa said he would accept his invitation.
In coronation twist, King Charles to pledge to protect ‘all faiths’
The government official noted that Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will not attend, although another Saudi prince will. MBS, as he is known, remains a pariah in much of the West and has not visited Britain since a CIA report concluded he had ordered the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.
Among the invited leaders sending surrogates in their place is Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is campaigning ahead of a May 14 election. Erdogan skipped the queen’s funeral after a debate over security arrangements.
This time, organizers are not busing world leaders to Westminster Abbey, the government official said. Everyone will have their own car.
Forget the private jet and limo. Leaders relegated to buses for queen’s funeral.
Security remains a big concern, the official said, although not to the degree it was for the funeral — in part because President Biden won’t be making a return trip.
The White House announced earlier that Biden would miss the event; no U.S. president has ever attended a British coronation. Instead, first lady Jill Biden will lead a U.S. delegation that includes special climate envoy John F. Kerry, who has worked closely with Charles on climate initiatives over the years.
The cost of security — borne by taxpayers — won’t be released until sometime after the coronation. Officials told The Washington Post that the bill could run to tens of millions of dollars.
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Organizers have emphasized that, by design, this will be a smaller affair than Elizabeth’s coronation 70 years ago.
King Charles’s coronation: 2 carriages, 5 swords and a crown emoji
The procession route has been abbreviated, which reduces the number of streets that need a heavy security presence.
And the guest list has been limited by the normal capacity of Westminster Abbey. There will be no special raised seating of the sort that made it possible for 8,000 guests to see the queen in 1953.
Dignitaries will be seated in blocs, according to protocol. In the front pews will be Charles’s family. Keen royal watchers will have their eyes on where Charles’s disgraced brother Prince Andrew and disgruntled son Prince Harry are placed. (Harry’s wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is staying in California with their children, Buckingham Palace said.)
Prince Harry, but not Meghan, will attend King Charles III’s coronation
Also near the front will be royal families from around the world, including a contingent of Persian Gulf royals, Monaco’s Prince Albert and Princess Charlene, Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, and Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf and Crown Princess Victoria, according to the government official. Belgium’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, and Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema will also attend, officials at each of their palaces said.
Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako — who both attended the queen’s funeral — will not make the trip this time, according to British media reports. Instead, Crown Prince Fumihito (who, like his parents, studied at the University of Oxford) will represent Japan, along with his wife, Crown Princess Kiko.
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The absence of some of the older sovereigns who attended September’s funeral made sense, the government official suggested, because they had been Elizabeth’s personal friends. Norway’s King Harald, 86, was a second cousin of Elizabeth. Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II, 83, was a third cousin — related by way of both Queen Victoria and King Christian IX of Denmark.
There has also been a tradition of crowned monarchs and other heads of state not attending coronations, said Craig Prescott, a Bangor University academic who writes about the British monarchy. So, at Elizabeth’s coronation in 1953, many foreign royal houses were represented by heirs, and other country leaders by ambassadors. Prescott said it was a “big change” that some foreign heads of state and government were attending themselves this time.
The British royals “continue to strike a chord internationally, and I never quite understand why,” Prescott said. “You can understand interest in Australia or Canada, but there is interest globally, outside of the Commonwealth.”
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David Torrance, a constitutional specialist at the House of Commons, suggested the shift in who is attending may be explained in part by the growing importance of such state events in diplomatic life. Before, he said, “it was deemed inappropriate” for crowned heads of state to be present. But “state occasions are now treated as part of international diplomacy,” he said.
Indeed, on Friday ahead of the coronation, many of the visiting foreign leaders will meet with British government officials at Lancaster House to discuss climate change.
Torrance said Saturday’s ceremony will also be different from the last coronation in that the delegations representing Commonwealth countries will be far smaller. “Five hundred people came from Canada alone in 1953,” he said. “I think this time around, 500 is probably roughly the entire international presence.”
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The guest list in 1953 reflected that Britain still had an empire at that point — it “was the last imperial coronation,” he said.
Seated behind the royal families will be delegations from realms where Charles is still head of state and from the broader association of Commonwealth countries. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins will all be there. Other elected leaders will include French President Emmanuel Macron, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Polish President Andrzej Duda, their offices confirmed. A delegation of European Union officials will include European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel, their offices said.
British prime ministers, past and present, are also on the guest list. Rishi Sunak will deliver a Bible reading as part of the coronation service. His top ministers will be there, too — although British outlets reported that some were unhappy that there was no room for their spouses. Liz Truss and Tony Blair are among the former prime ministers who have confirmed their attendance. Labour Party leader Keir Starmer has confirmed, as well.
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Some staunch republicans will be among those in the pews. Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf and Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford are attending. Sinn Fein’s leader in Northern Ireland, Michelle O’Neill, will also be there — a sign of how Northern Ireland’s politics have evolved since the decades of intense sectarian conflict. Explaining her decision, O’Neill said she wanted to represent everyone as an elected leader — including unionists for whom the coronation is a momentous occasion.
The selected coronation crowd for the Westminster Abbey service will also include a diverse range of faith leaders, Nobel Prize winners and 850 people from community and charity organizations from across Britain.
Joanne Gates, a 31-year-old supermarket manager, was invited for her role serving her community by keeping the grocery store where she worked open during the covid-19 pandemic. “I don’t think I’ll grasp the reality of it until I’m in Westminster Abbey,” she said, describing the surreal moment when she received the invitation.
“Sitting at home and watching it on television would have been amazing enough,” she said. “I’ve got my nails, my eyelashes, my hair. I’ve got my shoes. But I haven’t been able to find a dress yet, so that’s my next couple of days’ worth of shopping.”
Annabelle Timsit and Karla Adam contributed to this report.
FAQs
Who will be attending King Charles coronation? ›
Most of the British royal family is expected to attend, including Prince Harry, although Meghan and their two children will not. Heads of state will also attend, although no U.S. president has ever attended a British coronation. However, first lady Jill Biden will attend.
Is Prince Andrew invited to coronation? ›LONDON — Buckingham Palace confirms that Prince Harry and Prince Andrew will attend the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, but will play no role in the ceremony.
What world leaders are going to the coronation? ›World leaders who said they were attending include French President Emmanuel Macron; Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese; German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier; Polish President Andrzej Duda; President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, New ...
Who is next in line following King Charles? ›Instead, after the queen, her firstborn, Charles, ascended to the throne and became the British sovereign. Next in line is his firstborn, Prince William, Prince of Wales, and then his firstborn, Prince George.
Who has been invited to the coronation? ›Confirmed foreign royals expected to be in attendance include Monaco's Prince Albert and Princess Charlene, Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia, Japan's Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, and Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Crown Princess Victoria.
What is Prince William expected to do at King Charles III's coronation? ›Prince William, who is first in line to the British throne, will kneel and pledge his allegiance to King Charles after his crowning, says Roberta Fiorito, another "Royally Obsessed" co-host, a gesture also known as "The Homage of Royal Blood" ceremony.
Will Camilla be crowned at the coronation? ›Camilla, the Queen Consort, will be crowned with an existing crown on Saturday at King Charles III's coronation, but one that has undergone a transformation due, in part, to controversy.
Does Camilla become queen after coronation? ›That's exactly what Charles appears to have done by signaling that Camilla will become simply Queen Camilla upon her coronation — though she will still hold no power as a non-birth member of the royal family, and a non-regnant queen.
Will Charles and Camilla have a coronation? ›The coronation of Charles III and his wife, Camilla, as king and queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms is to take place on Saturday, 6 May 2023, at Westminster Abbey. Charles acceded to the throne on 8 September 2022, upon the death of his mother, Elizabeth II.
Who is the great leader in the world now? ›| Name | Designation | Approval Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Narendra Modi | Prime Minister of India | 71% |
| Andrés Manuel López Obrador | President of Mexico | 66% |
| Mario Draghi | Prime Minister of Italy | 60% |
| Fumio Kishida | Prime Minister of Japan | 48% |
Which foreign royals will attend the coronation? ›
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands have confirmed they will attend the Coronation. They will be joined by their daughter Princess Catharina-Amalia and Willem-Alexander's mother Princess Beatrix at the reception on 5 May.
Who will be the next royal leader? ›William, Prince of Wales
Charles's eldest son, Prince William, is now first in line to the throne. Like his father before him, he's been granted the title Prince of Wales, as well as Duke of Cornwall and Cambridge, and William's wife Catherine is now Princess of Wales.
He will be known as King Charles III. Charles was nine when he was given the title the Prince of Wales. He's now 74, and ascended to the throne immediately following his mother Queen Elizabeth's death.
Why is Princess Anne not in the line of succession? ›Princess Anne is the Queen's second-born child, but she's below her two younger brothers in the line of succession because, as with Lady Louise above her, the 2013 Succession of the Crown Act doesn't apply retroactively.
Will Kate Middleton be queen? ›Both of them are married or partners of the next in line to the throne. This means that neither Camilla nor Kate will ever be known as Queen, only as Queen Consort. When William becomes king, that will be the title that awaits her.
Who were ladies in waiting at coronation? ›The Maids of Honour were Lady Mary Baillie-Hamilton (now Lady Mary Russell), Lady Vane-Tempest-Stewart (now The Lady Rayne), Lady Jane Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby (now The Baroness Willoughby de Eresby), Lady Anne Coke (now The Lady Glenconner), Lady Rosemary-Spencer-Churchill (now Lady Rosemary Muir) and Lady Moyra ...
Who was not invited to Queen Elizabeth's coronation? ›In 1953, all eyes were on the televised coronation of Queen Elizabeth II—including those of her uncle, the former king Edward VIII, who couldn't secure an invite and instead watched the ceremony from a party in Paris. Photo from Getty Images.
How many guests attended Queen coronation? ›In 1953 more than 8,000 guests attended Queen Elizabeth II's coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey. Saturday's proceedings will be slimmed down, with about 2,000 invited to the abbey.
Did Queen Elizabeth raise Charles? ›Charles and Anne were mostly raised by nannies
Although the young Queen was thrilled to be a mother, Prince Charles is quoted as saying the nursery staff were the ones who helped raise him, teaching him to play, punishing and rewarding him, and even watching his first steps.
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, her eldest son Charles became King. Find out more about the Royal Family and the line of succession below. King Charles: When is the coronation and is there a bank holiday?
What time is the coronation of King Charles the Third? ›
6 a.m. ET: The May 6 coronation service will begin at 11 a.m. local time, 6 a.m. ET, and is expected to last around 90 minutes. During the ceremony, Charles will sign an oath pledging to serve the people and will be crowned with the St. Edward's Crown, marking the only time the king will ever wear that specific crown.
Will the Queen consort have a coronation? ›Queen Consort Camilla will officially be named Queen Camilla at King Charles III's coronation on Saturday (6 May). The invitations for the King's forthcoming coronation revealed Camilla Parker-Bowles' new title. She was referred to as Queen Consort following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September last year.
What time is the coronation 2023? ›On Sunday, 7 May 2023, a special Coronation Concert will take place at Windsor Castle at 8pm, and will be attended by a public audience including volunteers from The King and The Queen Consort's many charity affiliations.
Where is the coronation of King Charles? › Can Camilla inherit the throne? ›The Duchess of Cornwall will not become the monarch because the throne can only be inherited. This means that members who are married into the royal family cannot take the throne. However, the title of Queen consort as she “continues her own loyal service”, Queen Elizabeth II said before her death.
What will Camilla be called after Charles becomes king? ›In the UK the legacy of Princess Diana—and the fact that Charles and Camilla's affair became public—make things far more complicated. Before Charles and Camilla's wedding in 2005, it was announced that Camilla would be known as Princess Consort, not Queen, if and when Charles ascends to the throne.
Where will the coronation take place? › Will Charles have a new crown? ›King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla will have a major jewelry upgrade after the coronation on Saturday. May 6 will mark the first time in nearly 70 years that Britain has crowned a new monarch since Charles' late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, had her coronation in 1953.
Will Harry attend the coronation? ›Announcing the decision last month, the Palace said: "Buckingham Palace is pleased to confirm that The Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey on 6th May.
What is the difference between Queen and Queen Consort? ›As NBC royal commentator Daisy McAndrew puts it, a “queen consort is a woman who married a man who is king,” and a “queen is a woman who is born to be queen and is head of state — not the wife of a monarch.”
Who is the best PM in the world 2023? ›
Top global leaders 2023: Complete list. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has topped the list by garnering 78 percent of approval ratings which is way higher than US President Joe Biden who has received 40 percent ratings. This clearly shows the current popularity that the Indian PM holds worldwide.
Who was one of the greatest leader? ›- #1. Winston Churchill (1874-1965) ...
- #2. Franklin D. ...
- #3. Martin Luther King (1929-1968) ...
- #4. Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) ...
- #5. Albert Einstein (1879-1955) ...
- #6. Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013) ...
- #7. Nelson Mandela (1918-2013) ...
- #8. Mother Teresa (1910-1997)
Many people have begun to acknowledge that most leaders are made rather than born. While a natural affinity for leadership is always appreciated, many employees need consistent practice and skill-building resources to become talented leaders.
Which royal family members actually served? ›| Name of Royal | Branch of Service | Years of Service |
|---|---|---|
| Prince Henry of Wales | British Army | 2006–present |
| Charles, Prince of Wales | RAF, RN | 1971–1976 |
| Prince Andrew, Duke of York | RAF, RN | 1980–2001 |
| Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex | Royal Marines | 1986–1987 |
What Will Prince William Wear? For the ceremony, William will present his grandfather with the Stole Royal and the Robe Royal. He is also expected to wear a small crown and suit.
When was the last coronation? ›Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation, 1953
Queen Elizabeth II was the last monarch to be crowned in England.
Still, when it comes to all things official, there's only one answer as to whether the prince remains in line for the royal seat: yes, Harry is still in the line of succession.
Will Harry ever be King? ›The couple's daughter, Princess Charlotte, and their son Prince Louis follow George in the line of succession. Harry will only be eligible to become king after his nephews and niece, so the likelihood of him ever taking the throne seems slim.
What happens if a King dies without heir? ›Line of succession
But if the monarch has no children or grandchildren, the throne passes to the descendants of his parent or grandparent, provided they are not further removed from the deceased King than the third degree of consanguinity.
') William certainly has the option of choosing a new regnal name when he becomes King (perhaps one of his middle names: Arthur, Philip, or Louis, or George, like his great-grandfather), but if he keeps William, he would be known as King William V.
Will William be invested as Prince of Wales? ›
William, son of King Charles III, was made Prince of Wales on 9 September 2022. There are no plans for a formal investiture, with an emphasis instead on "deepening the trust and respect of the people of Wales."
Will money change when Charles is King? ›We unveiled the design of our King Charles III banknotes on 20 December 2022. The King's portrait will appear on all four of our polymer banknotes (£5, £10, £20 and £50). The rest of the design on the banknotes will remain the same.
How much will Harry inherit from the Queen? ›Royal Inheritance
Representatives told Forbes in 2021 that Harry was not a beneficiary of any of the $100 million left to the royal family by his great-grandmother, the Queen Mother.
But while she almost certainly will never become Queen, she still holds a significant role in the monarchy, not only as the daughter of a former monarch and the sister of the current King, but also as one of the hardest working members of The Firm—and the royal family's resident badass.
Will Princess Charlotte ever be Queen? ›It would take extraordinary circumstances to ever see Charlotte as queen, but as we've seen before in history — it can happen. It's more likely that she will become Princess Royal, which is “customarily given by the Sovereign to his or her eldest daughter” and is considered an honorary title.
Does William bow to Camilla? ›William Technically Has to Bow to Queen Camilla
“The personal impact is likely the protocol changes that roll into action almost immediately,” an insider said shortly after Charles took the throne. “The family will now have to bow or curtsy to King Charles and Queen [Consort] Camilla.”
According to Royal protocol, Kate, along with other female members of the family including Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Meghan Markle and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, must curtsey to the King and Queen Camilla as they are the most senior members of the family and male royals are expected to bow their heads.
What is Harry's new title? ›By Thursday, the royal family's official website had been updated with the new titles, listing Harry and Meghan's children as Prince Archie of Sussex and Princess Lilibet of Sussex.
What time is the Kings coronation 2023? ›What time and date is the king's coronation? The date of the coronation is Saturday May 6, 2023, with the ceremony taking place from 11am at Westminster Abbey and the flypast ending the day's events around 2.30pm.
How long will the coronation take? ›How long will the coronation ceremony last? It will last around two hours. You can see the full schedule here.
How can I watch the coronation of King Charles in the US? ›
How to watch on ABC (FREE) (5 - 10 a.m. ET) Special television coverage of the historic coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla starts at 5 a.m., with streaming on ABC News Live.
What time is the coronation of King Charles 3rd? ›The coronation ceremony will begin at Westminster Abbey at 11:00 a.m. local time, 6:00 a.m. Eastern. Traditionally the events take place as follows: the Recognition, the Coronation Oath, the Anointing, the Investiture and the Enthronement and Homage.
How long will it take for the coronation of King Charles? ›Saturday's coronation is set to begin at 11 a.m. (6 a.m. ET) and is expected to last around two hours. Processions into the abbey will start with faith leaders, followed by representatives from each of the realms where the King is head of state.
Will there be a coronation for King Charles the Third? ›When will the coronation take place, and how can I watch it? Charles will be crowned in Westminster Abbey, the same place every British monarch has been crowned for over 900 years. The coronation will take place on May 6, 2023, at 11 am London time.
How soon will the Kings coronation be? ›The Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort will take place at Westminster Abbey on Saturday 6th May, 2023. The Service will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Why is the coronation so late? ›The coronation was held more than one year later because of the tradition of allowing an appropriate length of time to pass after a monarch dies.
What date is the coronation of King Charles? › Why is there a long wait for the coronation? ›One reason that the coronation of a Monarch happens so long after their accession is because the King or Queen needs time to mourn the loss of their mother or father. Queen Elizabeth II was coronated on June 2, 1953, 15 months after her father King George VI died at the age of 56.
What time will King Charles coronation be televised in the US? ›What time will the coronation be televised in the U.S.? The King's Procession will start at 5:20 a.m. ET ahead of the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey, which will be begin at 6 a.m. ET.
Who is next king of England? ›After an historic 70 years on the throne, Britain's longest-serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, died at the age of 96 on Sept. 8, 2022. Immediately upon her passing, her eldest son Charles became the new king.
Is Charles in charge on any streaming services? ›
You are able to stream Charles in Charge by renting or purchasing on iTunes or Amazon Instant Video.
How do you see a coronation? ›The Coronation will be available to watch online on Paramount+, or will be accessible by a live TV streaming service that carries any of the above channels.