The coronation ceremony promises to have ancient features and symbols inherited from more than 1,000 years ago, along with new features suitable for a modern context.
Combining tradition and modernity
As has been the tradition since 1066, the ceremony will be held inside Westminster Abbey and will reflect the deep religious history of the British monarchy. A total of seven symbols derived from biblical stories will appear during the ceremony. Among the most famous are the Royal Orb, the Scepter, the Crown and the Coronation Chair.
According to History.com , the coronation chair is an extremely old wooden chair, used since the 1200s. Beneath the chair is an ancient stone, which according to legend was used by the biblical character Jacob as a pillow and dreamed his way to heaven. The anointing oil used in the ceremony also originated from the Holy Land.
Preparations before the coronation ceremony
In a new move, King Charles III decided to scale down the coronation and invited only 2,300 guests to attend the main event inside Westminster Abbey, much lower than the more than 8,000 who attended Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953. In addition, representatives of Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam and Sikhism were also present at the ceremony, demonstrating King Charles III's commitment that he would be "the defender of the faiths".
The coronation carriage procession will also be shortened to 2km, the distance from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace. The carriage is 260 years old, and has been used at every coronation since 1831. Around 7,000 military personnel will take part in the ceremony, with more than 4,000 troops taking part in the coronation procession.
A boost to the economy
About 100 heads of state have confirmed their attendance, including royals from Europe to Asia. Prince William, Prince of Wales, will kneel and pledge allegiance to his father, while Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, will not perform the ceremony.
The Associated Press reported that some estimates put the cost of King Charles III's coronation at £100 million, while organizers and Buckingham Palace said the event would be a boost to Britain's sluggish economy.
"It is a proud moment in British history," said Lord Field Marshal Edward Fitzalan-Howard, Duke of Norfolk, Reuters reported. The family of the Earl Field Marshal, a hereditary position, has been performing coronations for British monarchs since 1483. The coronation is estimated to generate more than £1 billion for the British economy.
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