With the coronation of Charles III. (74) a new breeze is blowing in Britain: the ceremony on May 6, 2023 is intended to reflect modern Britain. Instead of opulence and pomp, the monarch prefers elegant restraint and modern simplicity. Together with his advisors, he developed a shorter and more efficient coronation ceremony, codenamed “Golden Orb”, in which the dress code was also significantly relaxed.
In the past, the “peers”, i.e. the British aristocracy, had a strict dress code at the coronation. The counts, viscounts and barons attended the ceremony in a floor-length robe of red velvet – lavishly trimmed with ermine fur.
This “coronation outfit” was introduced around 1400. The current design of the robes dates from the 17th century. The details provide information about the rank of the individual: In the past, members of the high nobility wore different-looking crowns and different patterns on the ermine trimmings in addition to their velvet coats.
According to the Daily Mail, King Charles’ new “Golden Orb” vision significantly simplifies dressing for the coronation ceremony: Members of the House of Lords (upper house of the British Parliament) may wear parliamentary robes or their usual business attire. The heads of state invited to the coronation also do not have to change their clothes: they should be allowed to appear in suits or uniforms.
Charles also makes it much easier for himself. According to reports, the British king will probably not be seen in silk stockings and jodhpurs with gold yarn like his predecessors did: As the “Telegraph” reports, it is very likely that King Charles will appear at the service in his military uniform.
According to the Daily Mail, it is very important to him that his coronation outfit reflects “the modern monarchy of the 21st century”. His advisors concluded that the traditional outfit just didn’t fit in today’s world and therefore advised him to adopt a modern dress code.
According to tradition, the king and his queen Camilla (75) will each wear two different robes during the coronation: the state robe and the status robe. Charles and Camilla will be in state robes upon arrival at Westminster Abbey and in robes after the coronation service.
Floor-length dresses or just calf-length? What the relaxed dress code means for the women present at the coronation is not yet entirely clear. That will probably only show up on May 6th in Westminster Abbey. However, it could well be that at the coronation ceremony among the guests no tiara will sparkle in the church – and instead fascinators and hats or floral decorations on the heads of Princess Kate (41) and Co. will be seen. The coronation of Willem-Alexander (56) and Máxima (51) from the Netherlands in 2013 was similarly casual – by royal standards.
