King Charles III ascended the throne after the tragic death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.
The nation was in a state of mourning after our longest serving Monarch passed away after a wonderful 70 years on the throne- and King Charles will now be the oldest person to take the throne in Britain’s history.
If you’re thinking about visiting the UK’s capital, surely there could be no better time than the weekend of a Royal crowning.
There will be celebrations, parades, celebrities, parties, a long weekend, and much more- all in the most British way possible of course.
During this bank holiday weekend the city will be alive with joy, hope and celebration, so make sure you book a room in The Montcalm Royal London House; not only is it one of the best spa hotels London has to offer, it’s also one of the most wonderfully located hotels near London City placing you slap bang in the middle of the city.
Let’s take a look at what’s in store for the Coronation weekend- you can be certain it’s a celebration you won’t want to miss!
First Thing’s First…
What is a ‘bank holiday’?
For those of you not familiar with the term, it quite simply is a long weekend.
On the Monday following a weekend a public holiday is declared, often celebrating an event, allowing businesses and services the ability to close.
Bank holidays are very important in the UK for a number of reasons, but mostly because it is an extra day for the country to unwind and enjoy time off!
What is a Coronation?
The next thing we need to address is the Coronation itself.
For us Brits this seems like a relatively normal thing- although it's been 71 years since the last one happened.
A coronation is essentially the ceremony that confirms a new monarch’s claim to the throne. It is quite literally the act of placing the crown on the head of the new Monarch as they make an oath to lead the nation and all its dependencies.
In modern day Britain the Monarchy largely stands without power, but the influence they hold is massive. People look to the royals for hope and affirmation of ‘Britishness’.
When Will the King be Crowned?
The Coronation is set to take place on Saturday 6th of May, 2023.
Westminster Abbey will host the ceremony as it has done for many hundreds of years.
In fact William the Conqueror was crowned here in 1066 after the successful Norman invasion of Britain.
Since then, 39 Monarchs have been crowned in the stunning abbey with a further 16 royal weddings taking place there too.
Will it be a Bank Holiday?
There was some worry surrounding this question in the build up to the announcement- rumours had been swirling that an existing bank holiday would be moved and held over the coronation weekend.
This was obviously very upsetting for the public.
But thankfully, the Government saw sense and declared the weekend a bank holiday in celebration of the event.
The weekend of the coronation will indeed be a bank holiday, with Monday 8th of May being a public holiday.
What will Happen On the Day?
So what will actually happen on the day of the coronation?
Well, it’s a good question.
Many British people have never experienced one, and people visiting the country will certainly have never been a part of the process.
The day will start with the coronation itself- obviously being held at Westminster Abbey.
The King and Queen Consort will be crowned and take the oath in front of a crowd of 2,000.
The Queen had around 8,000 attendees during her coronation in 1953, so this time around it will be a significantly quieter affair.
The King will be asked if he will govern the United Kingdom and its dependencies with law and justice, and if he will maintain christianity in the nation- but for the first time in history the wording will be different.
It is thought that this will be reworded to reflect and respect all faiths that now exist in a multicultural Britain- hopefully this is a sign that the Royals can modernise and adapt for the future.
He will then be adorned with St. Edward’s Crown, only used during coronations, and given the Sovereign’s Sceptre and Orb- representing the power given to the Royal family by god.
Following the ceremony the King’s Procession will lead the new King and Queen on a route around the city, where the public will be able to gather and catch a glimpse of the couple.
The route is yet to be confirmed but could follow the route that the Queen took in 1953; from the abbey, around the Wellington Arch, along the eastern border of Hyde park, into Oxford Circus, through Trafalgar Square and up the Mall to the Palace.
At Buckingham there will be an additional ceremony that involves members of the family accepting their new roles.
It is thought that the King will place a smaller emphasis on the extended family during his reign, instead focussing on the immediate family members who will take on new roles.
Will it be Televised?
The ceremony will be televised on the BBC, however there are moments of the ceremony that will not be included in the broadcast- for tradition’s sake.
The Big Help Out Initiative
On the bank holiday Monday the public are being encouraged to spend their free time volunteering in their local communities in an initiative called the Big Help Out.
The King is very passionate about volunteering and believes it’s something we should do more of as a nation.
Other Royal Events Warranting a Bank Holiday
There have been several events in the last year that have led to a bank holiday:
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee- This was a celebration of the Queen’s 70th year on the throne and saw celebrations spread around the UK and across London.
The Queen’s State Funeral- The Public were given the 19th of September as a day of mourning for the late Queen, many people joined the line that snaked its way around the city to see the Queen resting in the Abbey, whilst others watched from home.
London in Celebration
During the coronation weekend the city will be in a state of pure celebration, so it’s the perfect time to visit.
Embrace the British spirit and join some wonderful parties that will be taking place pretty much everywhere across the country.
Spend the day celebrating all over the city, then return happily to your room at the Montcalm Royal London House where you'll enjoy the first pick of the best Finsbury Square restaurants for a spot of dinner.
Sounds like the perfect and most British weekend possible!
