Coronation of Charles III and Camilla — initiation rite to crown King Charles III
The first British coronation of the 21st century, crowning Charles III at Westminster Abbey before a global television audience of 2 billion.
Key Facts
- Date
- 6 May 2023
- Venue
- Westminster Abbey, London
- Peak UK TV audience
- 20.4 million
- Global audience
- 2 billion across 125 countries
- Westminster Abbey coronation number
- 40th since William the Conqueror (1066)
- Previous British coronation
- Elizabeth II, June 1953
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Charles III acceded to the throne on 8 September 2022 following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. A coronation ceremony was required to formally invest him with the symbols of royal authority and to mark his spiritual and secular responsibilities as monarch of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth realms.
On 6 May 2023, Charles III and Camilla were crowned at Westminster Abbey in an Anglican service that included Charles taking an oath, being anointed with holy oil, and receiving the coronation regalia. Camilla was crowned in a shorter parallel ceremony. The service was deliberately adapted to reflect the multiple faiths and cultures of the United Kingdom and was shorter than Elizabeth II's 1953 coronation.
The coronation drew a peak UK television audience of 20.4 million and a global audience of 2 billion people. It provoked both celebrations—including street parties, volunteering events, and a Windsor Castle concert—and republican protests; 64 people were arrested in London. In other Commonwealth realms, some officials and indigenous groups used the occasion to voice republican sentiments and calls for reparatory justice.