On Saturday May 6, King Charles III will be officially crowned in an ornate ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
British coronations are a centuries-old tradition marking the ascension of monarchs to the throne while blending political and religious rites with symbolism, pomp and circumstance.
Here are seven facts about British coronations, including who makes the guest list, what medieval book guides the ceremonies and what ritual is considered the most sacred.
Queen Elizabeth II's 1953 coronation was the first televised British coronation ceremony—watched by millions of viewers around the globe.
Before the event, coronations were mainly attended by dignitaries, and news reports were the only sources of information for the public. The 27-year-old Queen chose to have the ceremony filmed to showcase England's global power and optics. See highlights.
Royal succession requires a sacred ceremony with symbolic objects. During King Charles III's coronation, regalia will signify his anointment as the God-given ruler of the United Kingdom and head of the Church of England.
Learn more about five historic objects used during British royal ceremonies and their meanings.
The sacred coronation oil used when anointing a new monarch was destroyed in 1941 during a World War II bombing raid. Queen Elizabeth’s coronation oil was made from a 17th-century recipe that included olive oil, sesame seeds and a perfume featuring roses, orange flowers, jasmine, musk, ambergris and civit. Read more.
Chart the unexpected rise and record-breaking reign of Queen Elizabeth II, which unfolded in the turbulent modern history of the English monarchy.
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