2023-05-06 08:11:05
United Kingdom You are close to living a very special day. The countdown to the coronation of the King Charles III and the queen consort Camila Parker-Bowles has started. Next Saturday, May 6, a celebration will begin that will last three days and in which different types of events will take place.
To recall the previous coronation that the British royal family has experienced, we must look back 70 years, when a young Isabel II ascended to the throne at the age of 27, after the death of his father, King George VI. Seven decades go a long way and the world of that time has little or nothing to do with current reality. Prince William’s father is aware of this, as he is preparing a ceremony that will reflect “the current role of the monarch and will look to the futurewhile taking root in the traditions and pageantry of yesteryear,” according to the royal statement.
This look to the future can be translated as a step towards inclusion in a coronation that will feature a concert with international artists, an LGBT choir, a national vegetarian lunch and various initiatives that promote volunteerism.
differences
But those will not be the only differences between two ceremonies that belong to two different centuries and in which the accession to the throne occurs at completely opposite moments in the life of the monarchs.
Different vital moments
One of the most obvious differences between the two ceremonies is the vital moment and the age and at which Isabel II and Carlos III are crowned. Charles of England had already turned 73 on the day of the death of his mother, who was 96. The monarch faces the position with practically all stages of life as experience and, in principle, with little to do. Isabel II, on the other hand, found herself in this situation after the death of her father, who could not overcome a long illness and died at the age of 57. The loss of her father was a hard blow for young Isabel, who was facing a enormous responsibility and a long trajectory full of challenges and complications.
In the images of that coronation you can see the then 5-year-old Prince Charles, combed and a bit bored at times. Both he and her sister Ana of hers accompanied an Elizabeth who could not continue mourning, she had to face her new life as Queen of England.
Camilla, Queen consort
King George VI’s wife, Queen Elizabeth – also known as the Queen Mother – was named the new Queen Consort in 1937. However, at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, her husband, the Prince Philip of Edinburgh, he was not crowned alongside her despite being the queen’s consort. On May 6, however, Camila Parker Bowles will be crowned queen consort with her husband in a simpler ceremony.
Less guests and duration
The celebration that will be organized for Carlos III will be considerably less crowded than his mother’sbecause the guest list will be about 2.000 personaswhile the Isabel II party was attended by more than 8.000caused them to be very tight and those who were located further away had to use binoculars.
In addition, some 96,000 paying guests gathered in front of Westminster Abbey to take part in the procession. Elsewhere, the Queen’s Grand Procession featured over 40,000 UK and Commonwealth service personnel and 24 military marching bands who marched during the 8 kilometers of parade.
Along a route packed with sailors, soldiers and airmen and women from across the British Empire and Commonwealth, 22 guests and officials processed past a few three million spectators who gathered in the streets of Londonsome camping overnight to gain a vantage point for the monarch, and others erecting steps and scaffolding along the route.
With Britain’s Armed Forces shrinking at an alarming rate, everything indicates that the size of the procession of Carlos III will be less in number and also in route, since it will not be more than 2 kilometers.
In addition to being less crowded, in terms of the religious service it will also last approximately between one hour and a half and two hoursshorter than that of Queen Elizabeth, which lasted up to three hours.
Less luxurious and more expensive
It is expected, as reported by some British media, that King Carlos III opts for wear their military uniform instead of standard royal attire. He won’t wear silk stockings and breeches either, because they “look too old-fashioned,” and he wants the ceremony to reflect a “modern 21st century monarchy.”
Unlike her son, in 1953 she wore a white satin dress with an embroidery of flowers from the Kingdom of the Commonwealth countries of the time, sequins, pearls and crystals, the work of Norman Hartnell, a designer who also made the bridal gown for her wedding to Philip of Edinburgh. The gold and silver threads of her suit were designed for the iconic images that were shared of the monarch, who accompanied the dress with a six and a half meter tunic.
More modern and inclusive
Carlos III intends to associate the British crown with an image of modernity, for this reason he is preparing a coronation with less paraphernalia and with a more inclusive, open and respectful atmosphere with the environment. The King has also stressed that the ceremony represents the different beliefs and communities of the country and that reflect ethnic diversity of the present United Kingdom. All this, of course, without offending the most traditionalists.
Thus, the British Royal House has organized the performance ‘The Coronation Choir‘, a choir made up of refugees, people with hearing disabilities, activists from the LGTBI community and British health workers. At the same time as this cultural event, various parts of the country will be illuminated in honor of the coronation and the new king, Carlos III.
There will also be a concert with internationally known artists to which several thousand people will be invited. Performing artists will include Katy Perry, Mark Owen, Gary Barlow and Howard Donald, from the band Take That; Lionel Richie or Andrea Bocelli, among others. This musical event will be more similar to Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubileewhere Queen, Diana Ross, Craig David and Duran Duran performed, which at his coronation.
Like his mother, Carlos III will also celebrate the act of the ‘Great Coronation Lunch’, but the menu will not be the same. The current monarch has replaced the mythical ‘coronation chicken‘ for a vegetarian recipe: Spinach, broad bean and tarragon quiche. Finally, the Royal House wanted to close the ceremony with a last day dedicated to volunteer actions and programs carried out by charitable societies, such as Los Scouts.
Similarities between the two ceremonies
The coronation of Isabel II and Carlos III will have certain differences, but you can also find many things in common.
Day, time and place
To begin, Carlos III will respect the day, time and place of the ceremony. He Saturday morning at Westminster Abbey it is the time and the place chosen during the last 900 years for this event. And, just as it happened with the late monarch, the Archbishop of Canterbury and spiritual leader of the Anglican Church will be the master of ceremonies.
Protagonism of the protagonist
What will also remain will be the most important piece of the ceremony: the st edward’s crown, created in 1661 for King Carlos II and made of solid gold with more than 400 precious stones. At the precise moment in which the crown touched the head of the monarch, the crowd shouted: “God save the Queen!”, something similar to what is expected to happen this May 6.
broadcast on television
The coronation of Elizabeth II was a milestone because it was the the first in history that was broadcast on British television and on the screens of many countries. The historic act had a great impact, with 27 million viewers and more than 11 million radio listeners. However, the decision to broadcast the ceremony was subject to debate within the British cabinet on the subject. The first Minister Winston Churchill he was against the idea of transmission; But, Isabel rejected her advice and insisted that the event take place on camera.
As it could not be otherwise, the current monarchy has also wanted the act to be broadcast live on television. The BBC prepares a special program which will be on the air from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., local time and the televisions of the rest of the countries will also cover the historic event. In addition, the British Royal House will broadcast live through his official channel on YouTube.
greetings from the balcony
To close the first day of the ceremony, the expected moment is resumed: The King and Queen consort will be seen on the balcony of Buckingham to greet the crowd that will gather around. The most natural images will be seen there between so much protocol. Seven decades earlier, Elizabeth could be seen in a more relaxed environment with her royal family.
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