Solid Gold

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By Jennifer ClarkeBBC News

King Charles Iii 's Coronation will take place on Saturday 6 May 2023 at Westminster Abbey in London.

During The Ceremony , The King will be crowned alongside Camilla, the Queen Consort .

Here is what we know about the plans, code-named Operation Golden Orb.

What is a Coronation ?

A Coronation is both the symbolic religious ceremony during which a sovereign is crowned and the physical act of placing a crown on a monarch's head.

It formalises the monarch's role as The Head of The Church of England and marks the transfer of their title and powers.

However, it is not actually necessary for the monarch to be crowned to become King.

Edward Viii reigned without a Coronation - and Charles automatically became King The Moment Queen Elizabeth Ii died.

Will there be a Bank Holiday ?

There will be

Buckingham Palace has announced various events for the weekend,

Pubs, clubs and bars across England and Wales.

People are also being invited to hold street parties, and to take part in volunteering projects in their local community, as part of initiative.

Events are expected to be publicised under the which has been created by former Apple designer Jonny Ive.

It features a rose, a thistle, a daffodil and a Shamrock - emblems from nations across the United Kingdom .

What happens at a Coronation ?

Coronations have remained much the same for More Than 1,000 years. The British ceremony is the only remaining event of its type in Europe.

However, Buckingham Palace has said that although The Coronation will be " rooted in long-standing traditions" it will also " reflect the monarch's role today and look towards the future".

It is likely to be shorter and smaller in scale than Queen Elizabeth Ii 's 1953 Coronation , with a wider range of religions represented.

The Coronation procession is also expected to be more modest. Queen Elizabeth's procession had 16,000 participants, and took 45 minutes to pass any stationary point on the 7km (4. 3 miles) route.

This Time , The King and Camilla, the Queen Consort , will travel to Westminster Abbey in The King 's procession, and return to Buckingham Palace in a larger Coronation procession, where they will be joined by other members of the Royal Family .

The Palace has Not Yet said who will subsequently appear on The Balcony of Buckingham Palace .

There are several stages to The Service :

The Queen Consort will then be anointed in the same way and crowned.

What do we know about The Music ?

The King has personally chosen The Music for The Ceremony , including an anthem from Cats composer Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Part of The Service will be sung in Welsh, and soloists will include world-famous Welsh Opera Singer Sir Bryn Terfel .

There will be Greek Orthodox music in memory of The King 's father, Prince Philip , who was born in Greece.

A gospel choir will also perform, as will choristers from Westminster School.

Separately, a campaign has been launched to recruit thousands of bell-ringers to mark The Coronation under the.

Who will go to The Coronation ?

The Coronation is a state occasion, which means the government controls The Guest list.

In addition to the Royal Family , those attending will include the Prime Minister , representatives from the Houses of Parliament, heads of state, and other royals from around The World .

More Than 8,000 guests attended Queen Elizabeth Ii 's Coronation , but Westminster Abbey had to be closed for five months to allow extra seating to be built.

Its normal capacity is about 2,200 and it seems likely this will be the maximum number on this occasion.

There has been much speculation about whether The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will attend.

A statement from Prince Harry and Meghan said.

How can I watch The Coronation ?

The Ceremony is likely to be broadcast live, as was The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth Ii .

A worldwide audience of hundreds of millions is expected to watch.

Which crowns will be worn during The Ceremony ?

The King will be crowned with the Solid Gold , 17Th Century , St Edward's Crown. It is exceptionally heavy and only used at The Moment of Coronation .

The Queen 's death reignited The Debate about how some royal gemstones were obtained by the British Empire .

Much of the controversy centres around diamonds found in two other crowns.

One is, and which he will also wear when he appears on Buckingham Palace balcony.

That crown contains the Cullinan II diamond, sometimes called The Second Star of Africa. It was given to Edward Vii on his 66th birthday by the government of the Transvaal - a former British crown Colony - in what is now South Africa .

The Other controversial stone is the Koh-i-Noor, which is part of The Queen Mother's Coronation crown. It is one of the largest-cut diamonds in The World . India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran have all made claims to it.

Buckingham Palace

The Queen Consort will instead be crowned with Queen Mary's Crown, which has been Taken Out of The Tower of London to be resized ahead of The Ceremony .

It is thought to be the First Time in recent history that an existing crown will be " recycled" for a Coronation .

How much will The Coronation cost?

As a state occasion, The Coronation will be paid for by the UK government.

While it is likely to come Under Pressure to show sensitivity during the current cost-of-living crisis, the government is expected to use The Ceremony as an important diplomatic opportunity to present the UK to The World .

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Source of news: bbc.com