On Saturday 6 May 2023, the Coronation of King Charles III will take place at Westminster Abbey in London. During the ceremony, the new sovereign will be crowned as head of the Church of England and King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. The King will be crowned alongside Camilla, the Queen Consort. Here is everything we know so far, ahead of this historic day.

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When is the Coronation of King Charles III?

On 8 September 2022, Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning British monarch, died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, at the age of 96. She was succeeded by her eldest son, Charles III. Tradition states that the country must hold a period of mourning after the passing of a monarch, meaning the Coronation of the new monarch takes place some months later. On 11 October 2022, Buckingham Palace announced King Charles III’s Coronation will take place on the morning of Saturday 6 May 2023. 

Where will the Coronation of King Charles III take place?

The Coronation will take place at Westminster Abbey in London, where all British Coronations have been held for over 950 years since 1066. This will be the 39th Coronation of a reigning monarch held at Westminster Abbey.

For travel inspiration: England destination guide

Will there be a bank holiday?

There will be an extra bank holiday in the UK on Monday 8 May for the Coronation. This was also the case for Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation, held on 2 June 1953.

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What will happen at the Coronation of King Charles III?

While some elements of the Coronation of King Charles III will be similar to that of his mother, other parts will be different. A Buckingham Palace press release said the Coronation “has retained a similar structure for over a thousand years, and next year’s Coronation is expected to include the same core elements”. The press release further said that while the Coronation will be “rooted in long-standing traditions” it will “reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future”. 

Codenamed Operation Golden Orb, the Coronation is likely to be shorter than the allotted three hours and more modest than Queen Elizabeth II’s 1953 Coronation to reflect the modern monarchy. It will also represent a wider range of religions and community groups to reflect the country’s diversity. 

Read more: Royalty & Noblemen: The fascinating people you’ll meet in Europe with Luxury Gold

The procession

While Queen Elizabeth’s procession had 16,000 participants, the Coronation of  King Charles III will see a smaller procession. Buckingham Palace confirmed more details in a press release on 21 January. The King and Queen Consort will join the King’s Procession to Westminster Abbey and return to Buckingham Palace in a larger Coronation procession. There, they will be joined by members of the Royal Family, however, the palace has not confirmed who will appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

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The music

King Charles has personally chosen the music for the ceremony. We’ll hear 12 newly-commissioned pieces, including a new Coronation anthem by Cats composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. There will also be a Coronation March by Patrick Doyle and a new commission for solo organ by Iain Farrington.

 We’ll hear soloists including Welsh opera singer Sir Bryn Terfel. Some of the service singing will be in Welsh. A gospel choir and Westminster choristers will perform. King Charles has also requested that Greek Orthodox music feature in the service, in tribute to his late father, The Duke of Edinburgh. 

Read more: Why Britain is an incredible destination for 2023

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What are the stages of the Coronation service?

The stages of the ceremony will be more similar to Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation.

The recognition

King Charles will stand beside the 700-year-old Coronation Chair as the Archbishop of Canterbury presents the monarch to the congregation. They will all say “God Save the King!” as trumpets ring out.

The oath

The King takes the Coronation oath, swearing to uphold the law and the Church of England.

The anointing

The King’s ceremonial robe is removed before he sits in the Coronation Chair. A gold cloth held over the chair will conceal the King from view. The Archbishop anoints the King’s hands, breast and head with consecrated oil. The full recipe of the oil is secret but includes olives, roses, jasmine, cinnamon, ambergris, and orange flowers. 

The investiture

The King is presented with the Royal Orb, the Sceptre, and the Sovereign’s Sceptre, representing religious and moral authority, power, and justice and mercy, respectively. The Archbishop then places the opulent St. Edward’s Crown on King Charles’ head.

The enthronement and homage

The King stands and leaves the Coronation Chair and moves to sit on the throne. The congregation kneel before the King to pay homage.

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Will Queen Consort Camilla be crowned alongside King Charles III?

In 2022, the late Queen Elizabeth II declared it was her “sincere wish” for the former Duchess of Cornwall to be crowned Queen Consort alongside King Charles’ accession to the throne. True to this wish, Queen Consort Camilla will be anointed and crowned in the same way after the King during the Coronation. She will be the first crowned Queen Consort since the Queen Mother in 1937.

Read more: Secret islands and snowy retreats: 5 hotspots loved by the British Royal family

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Which crowns will be worn during the Coronation of King Charles III?

We know the King will be crowned with the 17th-century St. Edward’s Crown, which is quite literally, the crown jewel of the royal jewellery collection. Historically used for the crowning moment in the Coronation, it was worn by the late Queen Elizabeth at her 1953 Coronation. St. Edwards Crown was made in 1661 for Charles II, replacing the medieval crown that was melted down in 1649. That original crown dates back to the 11th century, worn by Edward the Confessor, the royal saint and last Anglo-Saxon king of England.

Officials have removed St. Edwards Crown from the Tower of London for modifications before the Coronation. As it’s made from solid gold and is extremely heavy, it will only be placed briefly on the King’s head during the ceremony.

The King will also wear the Imperial State Crown during the service. This crown contains the controversial Cullinan II diamond or the Second Star of Africa. It was gifted to Edward VII by the Transvaal government, a former British colony in what is now South Africa. 

Queen Consort Camilla will be crowned with Queen Mary’s Crown. The crown has also been removed from the Tower of London for modifications. In tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth, the crown will be reset with the Cullinan III, IV and V diamonds. These diamonds were often worn by Her late Majesty as part of her personal jewellery collection for years.

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Who will go to the Coronation of King Charles III?

As the Coronation is a state occasion, the government manages the invitees. The Royal Family will attend, along with the prime minister, Houses of Parliament representatives, dignitaries, heads of state, and other royals from across the globe. Although 8,000 guests attended Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation, Westminster Abbey’s usual capacity is 2,200 guests. 

Read more: The 10 Most Beautiful Villages and Small Towns in Britain and Ireland

How can I watch the Coronation of King Charles III?

The BBC will live broadcast the Coronation. Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation was the first ceremony to be broadcast on TV, attracting around 27 million viewers in the UK. It’s expected the Coronation of King Charles III will surpass this with a worldwide audience of hundreds of millions. In another milestone, King Charles III’s Accession Council was broadcast for the first time in history. 

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Who pays for the Coronation?

As it’s a state occasion, the UK government will pay for the Coronation of King Charles III. While the government will come under pressure to be sensitive to the current inflation crisis, they will likely use the Coronation as an opportunity to present the UK at its regal best on the world stage.

Read more: The personal touch: our top 5 curated luxury travel experiences for 2023

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Will there be other events to celebrate the Coronation over the long weekend?

Coronation celebrations will continue throughout the long weekend. There will be a Coronation concert at Windsor Castle on Sunday 7 May, with global artists, dance troupes, A-list actors, the Coronation choir, and an orchestra. The “Lighting up the Nation” is the highlight event. You’ll see UK’s most famous landmarks illuminated with lasers, projections and drone displays. BBC One will also live broadcast this magical event. If you want to witness it in person, you’ll have the chance to win one of the thousands of free tickets in a public ballot.

Besides the concert, you can also find other community events like the Coronation Big Lunch on Sunday 7 May. Similar to the Big Jubilee Lunch in 2022, this event encourages neighbours and communities to get together for street parties full of food and fun. There’s also The Big Help Out on Monday 8 May, an event inviting people to volunteer in their local community. You can identify official Coronation events by the Coronation logo, created by former Apple designer Jonny Ive. The logo features a rose, daffodil, thistle and shamrock to represent nations across the UK. 

John Lennon called her “the greatest rock & roll voice of them all”. Dolly Parton said she’s “one of the greatest entertainers ever”. She’s inspired Elton John and Taylor Swift, the latter calling her “the singer who mastered the sound of heartbreak.” She toured with Jerry Lee Lewis and had the Beatles open for her. Her songs were favourites of Elvis and she influenced a generation of modern country music. As Rolling Stone puts it, Brenda Lee is a a “living link to the dawn of rock & roll”. 

Here we look at the success and influence of Brenda Lee, and share how you can meet the icon herself on Founders Collection departures of our Southern Grace tour.

Read more: Exclusive travel encounters: Founder’s Collection

Brenda Lee, global superstar

Brenda Lee may not be as well known as artists like Elvis and Johnny Cash, but she was as popular as any of them in her prime. She’s sold more than 100 million records globally throughout her career. In the 1960s alone, Lee achieved 47 US Hot 100 singles – more than any artist besides Elvis, the Beatles and Ray Charles. She was the first woman to be inducted into both the Rock and Roll and Country Music Halls of Fame. She’s also a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame and has won four Grammy awards, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. 

For travel inspiration: United States destination guide

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Generation-spanning musical influence

Lee captivated the world with her melodic voice, commanding stage presence, and endless stream of hits. Biographers Mary Bufwack and Robert Oermann said Lee is a “a prodigy so gifted that melody is as natural as breath.”

Her musical influence is far-reaching. In 2013, Kanywe West sampled Lee’s legendary “uh-huh honey” on “Sweet Nothin’s” for his hit “Bound 2”. During the 2009 Grammy Awards, Taylor Swift covered “I’m Sorry”, Lee’s first number-one single. Released in 1960, it catapulted 15-year-old Lee into global acclaim. Swift also called Lee her idol in an essay for the 2017 Woman Walk the Line. Earlier that year, Alison Krauss covered two of Lee’s songs in her 2017 album Windy City. 

And it’s just not Christmas until you hear Lee’s honeyed voice ringing out on her biggest hit “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”. It’s not only one of Lee’s most popular songs, it’s one of the best-selling Christmas singles of all time. There’s a remarkable catalogue of beloved hits that came before it, from the toe-tapping “Jambalaya (On the Bayou)” to the country music ballad “Nobody Wins”.  

Read more: Musical heritage from the South

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Brenda Lee’s starpower through the decades

Lee may have been the superstar of the 1960s and 70s, but she hasn’t gone anywhere. She had multiple top ten hits and a top ten album in the 1980s, and recorded the “You’ll Never Know” duet with Willy DeVille in 1992. “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” continued to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching #37 in December 2017 and #2 in December 2019, with over 37.1 million streams.

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Lee has lived in Nashville for the last 60 years. Known as the “unofficial mayor” of Nashville, Lee is a legend here and a stalwart of the music scene. The locals have plenty of stories about running into Lee at the grocery store or the Cheesecake Factory, or spotting her in the audience at a concert. She hosts events, gives speeches, and inducts fellow members Country Music Hall of Fame. Lee even performs a few times a year.

Read more: Where to see great live music in Nashville

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How you can meet Brenda Lee

Despite her global fame as a pop star, rocker girl, and country music legend – and her black book of equally iconic friends – Lee remains true to her roots. She’s warm and welcoming, and you’ll get to hear her stories as part of an exclusive experience on our Founder’s Collection departures on our Southern Grace tour. During your time in Nashville, you’ll meet with the remarkable Brenda Lee. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to stand in the presence of music royalty and hear Brenda’s fascinating stories first-hand. 

On the same trip, you’ll also meet harmonica legend Charlie McCoy, a Country Music Hall of Fame musician and Grammy-winning artist, who has collaborated with famous musicians like Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan and Loretta Lynn. Later, you’ll enjoy a rare recording session at Studio Be with a recording artist to learn the stories behind the hits. Top off your musical adventure in the Music City with a performance at the Grand Ole Opry. 

A dream for any music lover, this is a truly exceptional trip that is sure to inspire. 

For the opportunity to meet Brenda Lee for yourself, take a look at our Southern Grace luxury guided tour. To see more exclusive encounters that we have in store on our journeys, read about our Founder’s Collection. Spend time with the people who have shaped the history of the places you go. Meet European nobility, legendary locals and celebrated icons. Curated by our founder, the late Stanley Tollman, these are his friendships from across the globe brought to you through exclusive meet and greets.

When it comes to flying first class, we tend to focus on the big-ticket items to distinguish between airlines. Private cabins, fully-flat beds, gourmet dining, and exceptional service are important, of course. But what about the bathrooms? Some airlines are showing they should no longer be an after-thought. Expect walk-in showers, full-size sinks and mirrors, plush seating, luxury products, hidden urinals… even loos with a view. But who’s doing it the best? Here we revealing the airlines with the most luxurious first class bathrooms, for when you feel like pampering yourself at 30,000 feet. 

Read more: The A listers guide to in-flight skin care

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Emirates

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The first class bathrooms on Emirates A380 are among the finest in the world. The aircraft has 14 first class suites and two glamorous shower suites on the upper deck, complete with walk-in showers, heated floors, and luxury Bulgari toiletries. As a first class passenger, you can schedule your shower at the beginning of your flight. The aircraft will also have shower spa attendants on board who ensure the shower spas are maintained throughout the flight. The elegant spas are fitted with high-quality laminate wood panelling, sink, vanity and mirrors, along with cushioned benches. High-altitude pampering has never looked so good. 

Read more: 5 ultra-modern tech gadgets to help make jet lag a thing of the past

Singapore Airlines

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Singapore Airlines runs Emirates close with its A380 first class suite bathrooms. With only six seats in the first class cabin, you won’t have to wait to relax in these enormous bathrooms. Each luxurious bathroom has two roomy sections with a full-size sink, full-size vanity, plush seating, and a hidden urinal. You’ll feel like you’re at a day spa at the vanity, where you can unwind with a padded ottoman, full-length mirror, and an impressive stock of Lalique toiletries for sky-high indulgence. 

Read more: Expert selected: the 4 best hotel spas you can visit with Luxury Gold

Qatar Airways

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Looking at Qatar Airways’ opulent first class bathrooms, it’s hard to believe they belong on an aircraft. They have a full-length mirror and a full-size sink with a waterfall tap and LED light-up mirrors. The bathrooms also have gorgeous mood lighting, so you can pamper yourself in style with luxury brands of perfume and cologne, shaving kits, lotion, mouthwash, and toothpaste. The cherry on the cake is the hidden toilet upholstered in the same leather as the benches – which are almost as big as a chaise lounge.

Read more: The Luxury Gold guide to investing in luggage

Etihad Airways

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In summer 2023, Etihad Airways is bringing back its A380 aircraft with ultra-luxe first class bathrooms. The aircraft will include three of its extraordinary “Residences”. These are three-room suites, each with a separate bedroom, living room, and ensuite bathroom with shower. Widely considered the most luxurious flying experience, the relaunch of The Residences is garnering excitement in the luxury travel community. It’s also the only airline, aside from Emirates, offering a full shower in the bathroom suite. Guests will have a full five minutes of hot running water in the shower, a dream on long-haul flights. With an in-flight butler and premium features such as the same leather upholstery as Ferrari, this is as impressive as it gets in first class.

Read more: Experience the world’s finest retreats on your Luxury Gold tour

Ready to enjoy a first class flying experience on your next trip? Speak with our Luxury Travel Specialists or your Concierge to personalise your tour.

Banner image: Emirate’s first class shower spa