The Coronation of King Charles III. May 6th is approaching and preparations are in full swing at Buckingham Palace. More and more details about the celebrations are coming to light. It was recently announced that Prince George will be the page of honor. Charles and Camilla will each have four page honours at their sides during the procession through the nave of the church. Camilla will be joined by her grandchildren Master Gus, Master Louis Lopes and Master Freddy Parker Bowles.
And the palace has now shown the invitation cards for the first time. They are full of hidden and non-hidden messages. The design is by Andrew Jamieson, a heraldic artist and illustrator. Particularly striking on the invitation, painted in watercolor and gouache, is the motif of the “Green Man”, according to Buckingham Palace, “an ancient figure from British folklore, symbolizing spring and rebirth to celebrate the new reign”.
And the Palace goes on to announce that the “Green Man” will be “crowned with natural foliage [consisting] of leaves of oak, ivy and hawthorn and the symbolic flowers of the United Kingdom”.
The written part of the invitation is framed by lily of the valley, cornflowers, wild strawberries, dog roses, bluebells and a sprig of rosemary, representing a reminder of the past. Animals can also be seen: a bee, a butterfly, a ladybug, a wren and a robin.
The flowers, according to the palace, “appear in groups of three” to symbolize that Charles will be the third king of that name. In the middle of the painted flower meadow you can also see a lion, a unicorn and a wild boar. They are taken from Charles’ coat of arms and that of Camilla’s father, Major Bruce Shand.
2000 guests are expected at Westminster Abbey on May 6th, including high-ranking royals from all over the world, politicians and relatives of the royal family.
Source: Buckingham Palace
