Much at the coronation ceremony of King Charles III. (74) on May 6th at Westminster Abbey follows centuries-old customs. Some other traditions will probably be broken by the royals. This includes the choice of clothes.
Charles could allegedly choose an outfit for his coronation that goes against royal tradition. In earlier ceremonies, the king wore silk stockings and breeches. High-ranking palace officials are of the opinion that this seems too outdated, as “The Sun” reports, citing an insider. The new British monarch could therefore don his military uniform.
There are guidelines not only for adult royals when it comes to clothing for official appointments. One of the traditions of royal offspring in the UK is that boys wear shorts until they are around eight years old. Prince Louis, the little brother of Prince George (9) and Princess Charlotte (7), is only five years old. Royal expert Jennie Bond (72) now suspected in “OK!” Magazine that Prince William (40) and Princess Kate (41) will allow their youngest child to wear long trousers for the coronation. Anything else would be “strange” on this occasion, she says.
Members of the House of Lords traditionally wear a special coronation robe of scarlet velvet with a collar of white fur and a headdress showing their rank in British nobility. However, according to a report by The Telegraph, the peers have been instructed to choose a less ostentatious outfit for Charles’ coronation.
Another break with a centuries-old tradition: monarchs from abroad attend Charles’s coronation ceremony. Previously, it was customary for no other kings or queens to be present at the coronation of a British monarch. The reason: The holy ceremony should be an “intimate exchange between the monarch and his people in the presence of God”, as the “Daily Mail” explained, among other things.
Among the approximately 2,000 invited guests at Charles’ coronation on May 6 are Swedish King Carl Gustaf (76) and his daughter, Crown Princess Victoria (45). According to Spanish media reports, King Felipe of Spain (55) and Queen Letizia (50) are also traveling to London for the celebrations. Prince Albert of Monaco (65) had already publicly stated that he was very happy to take part in the ceremony: “I’m sure it will be an incredible and very moving ceremony,” the US magazine “People” quoted the prince as saying.
Charles and his wife Camilla (75), who is also crowned in Westminster Abbey, are also breaking new ground when it comes to choosing a carriage. The King and Queen will arrive at Westminster Abbey in a procession known as “The King’s Procession”. According to the palace, the couple will use the State Coach Britannia, a six-horse closed carriage built for Elizabeth II’s (1926-2022) Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012 – which is more modern and comfortable than previous versions royal carriages. Another procession will follow the coronation. For this purpose, King Charles III. and Queen Camilla board the “Gold State Coach”. The carriage was first used by King George III. (1738-1820) and has been used at every coronation since that of William IV (1765-1837) in 1831 – at Elizabeth II for both processions.
