King Charles IIICoronationCelebrations

Roll out the bunting, bake some cakes and pour a cup of tea, it’s time for a right Royal knees up!

That’s right, Saturday 6th May will see the Coronation of King Charles III and The Queen Consort at Westminster Abbey. On this day, the country and people across the globe will unite to watch this spectacular event; something we haven’t seen on our shores for over 70 years. You may not believe it, but that means almost 80% of the UK population has never seen a coronation!

In the UK, the coronation can be traced back more than 1,000 years. Originally the coronation was an important and necessary stage in becoming King or Queen. Over time the law has changed and today a monarch automatically becomes sovereign when the previous King or Queen dies. Instead, the coronation marks a symbolic moment in their reign.

It goes without saying that this is a huge event for the UK and the Commonwealth as the British coronation is the only remaining event of its type in Europe. To commemorate the occasion on 6th May, Buckingham Palace has released a special Coronation Emblem which will feature throughout the historic celebrations. Let’s get ready for a right royal affair and tell you all you need to know.

King Charles III’s Coronation

So, what have we got to look forward to? The main event will happen on Saturday 6th May, with The King’s Procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. We are expecting to see around 2,000 guests from across the Commonwealth and the world at the ceremony.

For many years the King has expressed his desire to modernise the Monarchy. As a result, the coronation will still have its roots in long-standing traditions but at the same time look towards the future. The ceremony, conducted by The Archbishop of Canterbury, will be shorter, less expensive and include representatives from different faiths and community groups.

Of course, we can’t throw away all traditions. The coronation will still see the King take the oath, anointed with consecrated oil and receive the orb and sceptres. It will all be finished by the big moment, when the glittering St Edwards’s Crown will be placed on the King’s head.

After the service, Their Majesties will return to Buckingham Palace in the coronation procession which will include other members of the Royal Family - the perfect chance to spot your favourite. Once back at the palace, the Royal Family will appear on the balcony to end the events for the day to wave to the crowds along down the Mall.

The day will finish with the Coronation Concert staged live at Windsor Castle. Volunteers from The King and The Queen Consort’s charity affiliations will be in the audience. If you fancy going, there will be several thousand pairs of tickets up for grabs available through a national ballot held by the BBC.

The rest of the weekend is all about celebrating with the public. It starts on Sunday with the Coronation Big Lunch - the perfect chance for communities to get together and share in the fun.

If Sunday was all about getting together, Monday 8th May will be all about giving. Their Royal Highnesses are encouraging the public to spend the day volunteering and supporting their local areas. Interested in joining in? More information will be available on The Big Help Out website from 20th March.

The Coronation Emblem

Have you seen the Coronation Emblem? The special logo was created by Sir Jony Ive KBE, who worked as chief designer for Apple, and will feature throughout the celebrations. It perfectly combines His Majesty’s love of nature with the pride and history of the United Kingdom. If you look closely, you’ll see the individual floral parts represent each of the four nations of the United Kingdom – the rose, daffodil, thistle and shamrock. Each flower has a fascinating history.

On the logo the different flora weave together to form the shape of St Edward’s Crown – the one that will crown His Majesty The King. Completing the look, the emblem combines the red, white and blue of the union flag.

The design of the emblem also highlights the optimism of spring. With so many blooms, especially daffodils, popping up all over the place it certainly feels like exciting things are about to come!

Coronation Flower Ideas

Whether you’re planning a community banquet or something intimate with family and friends, why not add some flowers to the festivities.

Which flowers should you choose? You really can’t avoid going with the theme of the coronation emblem by choosing daffodils, roses and clover (you should be able to find some early flowering ones). We’re a bit early in the year for thistles, which don’t tend to bloom until about July, so you’ll need to get hold of some dried ones.

Use these blooms as a magnificent focal point by creating a flower cloud that hangs over your table as you hold your big lunch, or hanging in your hallway to welcome your guests in.

Another idea is to go with the red, white and blue of the coronation emblem. Why not choose red peonies, white roses and blue irises as a coronation selection. They’ll look great if you’re taking part in the big lunch, just imagine a row of vases filled with these Union Flag themed blooms spread all the way down the table!

You could also be just like royalty and choose some flowers in purple. For centuries this colour has represented nobility as creating a purple dye used to be incredibly expensive. Queen Elizabeth I loved the colour so much she stopped anyone but close family members from wearing it! Go for the regal touch and choose delphiniums – which are said to be The Kings favourite flower – or hyacinths, lilacs or even wallflower to adorn your decorations.

No party is complete without getting your glad rags on. Be just like King Charles III and finish it off with your very own flower crown. We can’t promise the proper one, but a flower crown will look just as good. Our monarch is passionate about sustainability, so why not make a crown out of dried flowers or even paper flowers.

Gather your family and friends and celebrate together this historic moment.