King Charles III: What is a coronation and why do royals have them?

03:47

King Charles III: What is a coronation and why do royals have them?

Almost eight months after Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, King Charles III’s coronation will take place on 6 May 2023.

The ceremony will see His Majesty King Charles crowned alongside the Queen Consort Camilla.

Ahead of Charles’s coronation, The Independent looks at what the regal tradition is and why royals have them.

A coronation is the formal investiture of a monarch of their regal powers.

It is a celebratory event where the crown is physically placed atop the monarch’s head, in front of thousands of guests.

Click here to sign up for our newsletters.

Up next

Cardi B hits back at Kamala Harris speech critics in expletive rant

00:46

Cardi B hits back at Kamala Harris speech critics in expletive rant

Watch: Lidl 2024 Christmas advert by Oscar-winning director

00:58

Watch: Lidl 2024 Christmas advert by Oscar-winning director

First look at iconic Covent Garden Christmas tree for 2024

01:13

First look at iconic Covent Garden Christmas tree for 2024

Janey Godley’s daughter fights back tears in death announcement

01:19

Janey Godley’s daughter fights back tears in death announcement

Editor’s Picks

On the run with Ammon Bundy

11:22

On the run with Ammon Bundy

The A-Word | An Independent TV Documentary

44:07

The A-Word | An Independent TV Documentary

Kemi Badenoch discusses how she’ll stand her ground if elected

32:06

Kemi Badenoch discusses how she’ll stand her ground if elected

Himesh Patel rolls with the laughs on HBO’s The Franchise

16:55

Himesh Patel rolls with the laughs on HBO’s The Franchise

More Editor’s Picks

Travel Smart

Discovering the secrets of Jordan with our TravelSmart guide

06:10

Discovering the secrets of Jordan with our TravelSmart guide

TravelSmart’s guide to the Caribbean islands

06:10

TravelSmart’s guide to the Caribbean islands

Why North Africa is our destination top pick for 2024/25

04:42

Why North Africa is our destination top pick for 2024/25

City breaks that won’t break the bank

05:33

City breaks that won’t break the bank

More Travel Smart

That Dress

How Jennifer Lopez inspired Google Images

01:32

How Jennifer Lopez inspired Google Images

How Diana’s revenge dress signalled a turning point in her life

02:06

How Diana’s revenge dress signalled a turning point in her life

How Geri Halliwell’s Union Jack dress was the look of Cool Britannia

01:49

How Geri Halliwell’s Union Jack dress was the look of Cool Britannia

The story of Kate Moss’s sheer dress | That Dress

01:31

The story of Kate Moss’s sheer dress | That Dress

More That Dress

Binge Watch

Himesh Patel rolls with the laughs on HBO’s The Franchise

16:55

Himesh Patel rolls with the laughs on HBO’s The Franchise

The Apprentice star and director on Trump’s criticism to film

06:12

The Apprentice star and director on Trump’s criticism to film

Jared Harris talks new film Reawakening and homage to Richard Harris

13:22

Jared Harris talks new film Reawakening and homage to Richard Harris

Justin Theroux on the legacy of The Leftovers

04:26

Justin Theroux on the legacy of The Leftovers

More Binge Watch

Music Box

Lemoncello perform ‘Old Friend’ in Music Box session

05:49

Lemoncello perform ‘Old Friend’ in Music Box session

Lemoncello perform ‘Sunflower’ in Music Box session

05:45

Lemoncello perform ‘Sunflower’ in Music Box session

Boston trio Tiny Habits perform ‘Wishes’ for Music Box session

04:13

Boston trio Tiny Habits perform ‘Wishes’ for Music Box session

Boston trio Tiny Habits perform ‘Mudroom’ in Music Box session

03:58

Boston trio Tiny Habits perform ‘Mudroom’ in Music Box session

On The Ground

Searching for the ‘Whitby Woman’

03:51

Searching for the ‘Whitby Woman’

On the campaign trail with Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg

04:18

On the campaign trail with Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg

Life at 50C: Delhi’s streets struggling to cope with heatwave

06:26

Life at 50C: Delhi’s streets struggling to cope with heatwave

Indian farmers use election to make voices heard against Narendra Modi

04:30

Indian farmers use election to make voices heard against Narendra Modi

More On The Ground

Behind The Headlines

What would a President Trump 2.0 look like?

10:42

What would a President Trump 2.0 look like?

When will the Cost of Living Crisis end?

06:27

When will the Cost of Living Crisis end?

How airlines greenwash the skies

07:23

How airlines greenwash the skies

Is it time to panic over AI? | Behind The Headlines

06:35

Is it time to panic over AI? | Behind The Headlines

More Behind The Headlines

Decomplicated

What is tactical voting - and why could it be a powerful tool?

07:25

What is tactical voting - and why could it be a powerful tool?

Are ultra-processed foods bad for you?

04:31

Are ultra-processed foods bad for you?

Why are UK councils going bankrupt?

07:30

Why are UK councils going bankrupt?

What causes the winter flu and how does it differ from other types?

03:34

What causes the winter flu and how does it differ from other types?

More Decomplicated

News

Oprah Winfrey issues final Trump election warning at Harris rally

00:22

Oprah Winfrey issues final Trump election warning at Harris rally

Dick Van Dyke reveals presidential endorsement in powerful speech

03:14

Dick Van Dyke reveals presidential endorsement in powerful speech

Trump blasts ‘sick’ critics over his cognitive skills in final rally

01:33

Trump blasts ‘sick’ critics over his cognitive skills in final rally

Trump calls Nigel Farage a ‘little bit of a rebel’ in rally shoutout

00:47

Trump calls Nigel Farage a ‘little bit of a rebel’ in rally shoutout

Sport

Turkish league ‘smells bad’ and nobody watches it, says Jose Mourinho

01:35

Turkish league ‘smells bad’ and nobody watches it, says Jose Mourinho

Lewis Hamilton playfully interrupts F1 chief’s interview

00:50

Lewis Hamilton playfully interrupts F1 chief’s interview

New Zealand respond after England player calls Haka ‘ridiculous’

01:00

New Zealand respond after England player calls Haka ‘ridiculous’

Yankees fans rip ball from Mookie Betts’s glove during World Series

00:48

Yankees fans rip ball from Mookie Betts’s glove during World Series

Climate

Surfers ride powerful 13ft waves amid weather warning

00:49

Surfers ride powerful 13ft waves amid weather warning

Floodwaters rage across Yelville as residents evacuated from homes

00:33

Floodwaters rage across Yelville as residents evacuated from homes

Greece shuts down Acropolis as temperatures hit almost 40 degrees

01:00

Greece shuts down Acropolis as temperatures hit almost 40 degrees

Eerie tornado sirens ring through downtown Chicago

00:31

Eerie tornado sirens ring through downtown Chicago

Culture

Guard dogs worshipped Nepal Kukur Puja

01:16

Guard dogs worshipped Nepal Kukur Puja

Moment Chris Martin falls through trap door during Coldplay concert

00:20

Moment Chris Martin falls through trap door during Coldplay concert

Watch: First look at M&S Christmas advert as Dawn French returns

01:32

Watch: First look at M&S Christmas advert as Dawn French returns

Watch: Quincy Jones recalls producing Thriller with Michael Jackson

01:41

Watch: Quincy Jones recalls producing Thriller with Michael Jackson

Saudi Cup

Saudi Cup: ‘A true display of horsemanship’, says Prince Bandar

01:36

Saudi Cup: ‘A true display of horsemanship’, says Prince Bandar

Princess Nourah praises young fashion designers on show at Saudi Cup

00:42

Princess Nourah praises young fashion designers on show at Saudi Cup

Andrew Strauss says Saudi is an eye opener

01:26

Andrew Strauss says Saudi is an eye opener

Saudi Arabia is ‘pushing limits’ of fashion creativity

00:32

Saudi Arabia is ‘pushing limits’ of fashion creativity

Galaxy The Ripple Effect

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on the imposter syndrome epidemic

04:23

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on the imposter syndrome epidemic

Finance coach Ellie Austin-Williams on the psychology of money

04:26

Finance coach Ellie Austin-Williams on the psychology of money

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on how to tackle imposter syndrome

01:01

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on how to tackle imposter syndrome

Simple ways to boost your money situation with Ellie Austin-Williams

01:07

Simple ways to boost your money situation with Ellie Austin-Williams

E.ON Next Power Switch

Episode One - Cooking

03:13

Episode One - Cooking

Episode Two - Entertainment

03:10

Episode Two - Entertainment

Episode Three - Body Care

02:48

Episode Three - Body Care

Episode Four - Lighting

03:12

Episode Four - Lighting

Big In America

Can Willsow’s children’s books pique the interest of the US market?

15:55

Can Willsow’s children’s books pique the interest of the US market?

Will the founders of Spice Kitchen be able to find US retailers?

16:33

Will the founders of Spice Kitchen be able to find US retailers?

Co-founders of See.Sense bring their cycle safe tech to New York City

16:06

Co-founders of See.Sense bring their cycle safe tech to New York City

Collctiv fintech founder Amy Whitell tries to crack the US tech market

15:01

Collctiv fintech founder Amy Whitell tries to crack the US tech market

More Big In America

Saudi Green Initiative

Saudi government doesn’t ‘pay lip service’ on climate action

01:16

Saudi government doesn’t ‘pay lip service’ on climate action

SGI ‘seems like a nest of harmony’, journalist says

00:36

SGI ‘seems like a nest of harmony’, journalist says

SGI ambitions are ‘extremely high’, says Saudi climate envoy

00:48

SGI ambitions are ‘extremely high’, says Saudi climate envoy

Saudi Green Initiative aims to ‘not just preserve, but create’

01:08

Saudi Green Initiative aims to ‘not just preserve, but create’

More Saudi Green Initiative

AlUla

Gérard Mestrallet on the challenges of bringing infrastructure to the region of AlUla

01:51

Gérard Mestrallet on the challenges of bringing infrastructure to the region of AlUla

Sir George Iacobescu, chairman of the Canary Wharf Group on the investment into the historic region of AlUla

02:07

Sir George Iacobescu, chairman of the Canary Wharf Group on the investment into the historic region of AlUla

Oliver Ripley of sustainable hotel group Habitas talks about how AlUla challenged his preconceptions of Saudi Arabia

02:00

Oliver Ripley of sustainable hotel group Habitas talks about how AlUla challenged his preconceptions of Saudi Arabia

Thomas Kaplan of wild cat conservation charity Panthera on the mission to save the Arabian Leopard

02:09

Thomas Kaplan of wild cat conservation charity Panthera on the mission to save the Arabian Leopard