What to Expect at the Coronation of Charles III and How to See It

Royal fans and heads of state will arrive in London for the first British coronation in 70 years.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla will be crowned at Westminster Abbey on Saturday, continuing a tradition dating back more than 1,000 years.

King Charles is already technically Britain’s head of state, having assumed the role shortly after his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died in September.

But the ceremony goes beyond simply crowning a new monarch. The event, which runs through Monday, will be filled with festivities, performances and royal ceremonies not seen since Elizabeth’s coronation in 1953.

Here’s a rundown of weekend activity: It’s expected to cost the UK taxpayer $125 million – and how to watch them live.

three day festival

King Charles and Camilla rode in a carriage through the leafy expanse of the shopping center from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey as part of the Royal Procession on Saturday morning.

A coronation is a religious ceremony primarily presided over by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The anointing ceremony, in which holy oil is applied to the monarch’s hands, chest and head, has never been televised before, but there is speculation whether this time will be different.

After the ceremony, King Charles and Lady Camilla will return to Buckingham Palace for another large ceremonial procession. They joined the royal family on the palace balcony, where the day’s public festivities ended with a military flyover and royal waves.

sunday special coronation concert Produced and broadcast live by the BBC, it is scheduled to air at 8pm local time or 3pm ET. Held at Windsor Castle, the event will feature musicians from around the world, including American pop singers Katy Perry and Lionel Richie, Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli and a Welsh bass Baritone Sir Bryn Turfel. Reserve.

How to Watch the Coronation Live

coronation saturday scheduled to start 11:00 AM local time or 6:00 AM EST. The event lasts approximately 3 hours.

NPR.org will have special coverage of the event beginning at 1:00 a.m. ET.

A royal YouTube channel is also in the works live services. The BBC will be on BBC News at 7:30am local time or 2:30am ET on BBC News or BBC iPlayerIts video-on-demand service.

Other networks also broadcast live.

Ceremony will be a test of the modern monarchy

Elizabeth’s final coronation in England captivated the world. It is not known whether the anointing of King Charles and his wife will bring the same joy.

The royal family has been widely criticized over the years for crimes old and new. From the treatment of Prince Harry’s wife Meghan Markle (who won’t be at the funeral) to new scrutiny of British colonialism, here’s what may be behind the controversial Kohinoor diamond. The royal family decided not to make an appearance at the coronation.

In some ways, the ceremony is a test of the monarch’s ability to adapt to changing times and deal with a younger, more diverse Britain.