Saturday’s coronation of King Charles: What you need to know.

Get Ready for the Coronation of King Charles III

On Saturday, the United Kingdom will witness the coronation of its latest monarch, King Charles III. This historic event, which continues a tradition spanning centuries, will be the first such ceremony in over 70 years.

What to Expect from the Coronation Ceremony

Charles and his wife, Camilla, will arrive at Westminster Abbey via the Diamond Jubilee State Coach at 6 a.m. Eastern. The ceremony will be livestreamed by the Washington Examiner, CBS, and ABC News. Here’s what you can expect:

• The Archbishop of Canterbury will introduce the royal couple to the congregation, who will respond with “God save the king!”
• Charles will take the oath of allegiance, vowing to uphold the law and the Church of England.
• The monarch will be anointed with holy oil behind a canopy, representing his designation as the head of the Church of England and God’s consecration of Charles as monarch.
• Charles will be seated on the coronation chair and given the crown jewels of the United Kingdom, including the Sovereign’s Orb, two Sovereign’s Sceptres, St. Edward’s Crown, and the Imperial State Crown.
• Charles will transition from the coronation chair to the throne in the enthronement ceremony.
• Charles and Camilla will leave the abbey for Buckingham Palace in the Gold State Coach, where they will be greeted with a royal salute and three cheers from the military.

Camilla will also be crowned queen in a similar but shorter ceremony on Saturday.

Changes to Charles’s Coronation

Charles’s coronation will be a smaller and more inclusive affair than previous coronations. The ceremony will be scaled back to between one and two hours and will feature 12 new musical compositions, including a new coronation anthem composed by Andrew Lloyd-Webber. The king’s oath will be changed to make it more inclusive to other religions, and the public will swear an oath of allegiance to the monarch instead of his hereditary peers.

Who’s on the Guest List?

Only 2,000 guests will be in attendance at Westminster Abbey, including members of the royal family, other royal families and world leaders, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, former British prime ministers, and 850 representatives of the public who have been chosen for their charity work. Notably absent are President Joe Biden and Harry’s wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.

Celebrate the Coronation in DC

Locals can attend several parties to celebrate the coronation, including viewing parties at the Hillwood Estate’s Merriweather Cafe, Duke’s Grocery, or the King’s Coronation Tea at the Four Seasons. The British Embassy is also hosting a free sidewalk celebration with cutouts of the royals for photos, activities for children, and British-themed refreshments.

Don’t miss this historic event! Tune in to the livestream or attend a local celebration to witness the coronation of King Charles III.