All Things Royal Coronation
Posted 02 May 2023 in Events
Written by Britannia Web Team 
In September 2022, Queen Elizabeth II passed away after reigning for a historic 70 years, making her the longest-serving monarch in British history. After her passing, the then Prince of Wales, Charles, immediately ascended to the throne. Despite this, his official Coronation will occur in May 2023. This allows for a formal handing over of power to the new successor as well as leaving time for a grand celebration to be organised.
Millions of people will be watching King Charles III’s Coronation on TV, however you have the opportunity to see this ceremony in first person. If you decide to take to the streets of London and be part of this historic event, we have the perfect place for you to stay.
What is a Coronation?
A royal Coronation sees the crowning of a new monarch and thus the transfer of power from the previous ruler to the next. The ceremony is both religious and celebratory, allowing a country to welcome their next King or Queen. For almost 900 years, the current Archbishop of Canterbury has taken on the role of leading the Coronation service from Westminster Abbey in London.
The new Sovereign must take an oath before being blessed by the Archbishop. They are then presented with a bejewelled orb, sceptre, and St Edwards Crown which has been used at British Coronations since the 13th century.
After the ceremony, the new monarch typically travels around the streets of London in the Gold State coach; reserved for magnificent events such as jubilees and Coronations. This is the beginning of a grand parade which unifies a country in celebration of new beginnings.
When is King Charles III’s Coronation?
The new King’s Coronation is set to occur on Saturday 6 May 2023. King Charles III will become the 40th monarch to be crowned in Westminster Abbey, alongside Camilla, Queen Consort.
It has been reported that King Charles III has requested a smaller Coronation to that of previous monarchs. Speculatively, this could be to indicate a more modern royal family, moving away from archaic norms, as well as putting into consideration the financial strain on the country at this time. Due to this, there is a limited guest list of only 2,000 people. This is a drastic reduction to that of his late mother’s Coronation, for which approximately 8,000 guests from throughout the Commonwealth were invited.
In this historic time, the UK has been given a one-off bank holiday on Monday 8 May. This bank holiday is in addition to the usual two bank holidays that happen during the month of May.
Where can I stay?
There are two Britannia Hotels in London which would be perfect for you to stay at during King Charles III’s Coronation.
One of these hotels is the stunning Britannia International Hotel located on Marsh Wall Street. It is only a short 23-minute train journey to Westminster Abbey, meaning you can get to the surrounding streets bright and early in the hopes of securing a great viewing spot for the Coronation parade.
Slightly further away, there is the glorious Britannia Hampstead Hotel that sits on Primrose Hill Road. This is a 26-minute train journey away from where King Charles III will be crowned in Westminster Abbey. Additionally, only a 15-minute walk from the hotel, you have Regent’s Park, vast with greenery and trees.
Both hotels offer a variety of booking options including room only, bed and breakfast or dinner, bed and breakfast. Whichever you option choose, there is a wide range of rooms available for you to book right now.
If you make the choice to venture out to the capital, why not make a holiday out of the event and stay for a few more days? London has endless attractions and sights just waiting for you to experience.