Five Days Away: UK Charles III Coronation to Be Simplified... Costs Not Disclosed

Ending 64 Years of Crown Princes, Finally Wearing the Crown
Emphasis on 'Simplified' Coronation... Costs Remain Undisclosed

The coronation of King Charles III of the United Kingdom will be held on the 6th. After spending 64 years as the Prince of Wales, the 75-year-old King Charles III will finally wear the golden crown. As this is the first coronation in 70 years since his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, global attention is intense.

King Charles III of the United Kingdom
Photo by AP Yonhap News

◆ How will the coronation be conducted? "More modest than 70 years ago"

According to BBC and other sources on the 1st (local time), King Charles III's coronation will be conducted more modestly compared to the coronation of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, held 70 years ago in 1953. The Guardian reported that Charles III himself wanted a simpler ceremony. It is also interpreted that this decision takes into account that Queen Elizabeth II was in her 20s during her coronation, Charles III is in his 70s, and that adjustments are needed to fit modern times after 70 years.

After the coronation at Westminster Abbey, Charles III will ride in a golden carriage and parade approximately 2.1 km for about 30 minutes. The procession will start from Westminster Abbey, proceed along the road in front of the government central offices (Whitehall), go to Trafalgar Square, then turn left and follow The Mall, a 1 km-long road leading straight to Buckingham Palace.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Compared to Queen Elizabeth II's 1953 procession, Charles III's parade covers a relatively shorter distance. Elizabeth II traveled 2.6 km along the Thames River and, on the return to Buckingham Palace, marched 8 km over two hours through Piccadilly, Regent Street, and Oxford Street.

Charles III will use a comfortable carriage equipped with heating and air conditioning for part of the procession instead of the traditional golden carriage. The golden carriage, used at every coronation since 1831, is a rolling work of art made of wood covered with gold leaf. It is famously uncomfortable, to the extent that the Queen recalled in 2018 that the ride was terrible.

Foreign media report that considering the king and queen consort are suffering from back pain, they are expected to use the comfortable carriage for part of the procession.

The carriage that appeared at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

The cost of the British royal coronation is covered by the UK government budget. The government has not disclosed the cost of this coronation. The 1953 coronation cost was estimated at ?18.8 million (about 31.4 billion KRW) in 2021 cash value.

◆ Who will attend the coronation?

BBC reported that about 2,000 guests will attend Charles III's coronation. This is a significant reduction compared to the 8,000 guests invited during Queen Elizabeth II's time. Most members of the British royal family will attend, including the second son Prince Harry, but Harry's wife Meghan Markle will not attend.

Key British cabinet members will attend, along with major world leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron, Polish President Andrzej Duda, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The United States will be represented by First Lady Jill Biden instead of President Joe Biden. Since the American independence in 1776 during King George III's reign, no U.S. president has ever attended a British monarch's coronation.

China caused an uproar in the UK by reportedly planning to send Vice President Han Zheng, who led efforts to undermine Hong Kong's system in violation of the agreement before the handover from the UK.

Major royal family members from other countries, including the Crown Prince and Princess of Japan, are also expected to attend. Among the guests, about 450 representatives from charities and local communities are included.

◆ Festival atmosphere in the UK ahead of the coronation

As the coronation is held for the first time in 70 years, a festive atmosphere is already spreading within the UK. With the coronation day designated as a public holiday on the 8th, the British people will enjoy a "golden holiday" in early May, similar to Korea and Japan.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

On the day after the coronation, the 7th, a large coronation celebration concert will be held at Windsor Castle with 20,000 attendees. World-renowned singers Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Andrea Bocelli will perform to celebrate Charles III.

The number of tourists visiting the UK to witness the coronation is also expected to increase significantly. According to CNBC, citing data from travel agency Red Savannah, inquiries about travel to the UK in the first quarter of this year increased by 90% compared to the same period last year. CNBC reported, "Millions of people are expected to visit across the UK to see the coronation."

CNBC also reported that hotels in London are offering special coronation packages for sale.

◆ Challenges: Declining interest in monarchy and signs of Commonwealth withdrawal

Although King Charles III's coronation is attracting worldwide attention, opposition is emerging in various places. Amid what is described as an "unprecedented challenge" to the British royal family, it is expected that Charles III will face many tests following the coronation.

First, interest in the monarchy is significantly declining, especially among young people. If support for the monarchy and royal family decreases, the very existence of the monarchy becomes unstable.

According to a recent survey conducted by YouGov for BBC, 70% of British respondents aged 18 to 35 said they have little interest in the royal family. While 58% of all respondents said the monarchy should continue, only about one in three young people support the monarchy.

Flags of Commonwealth countries hanging in front of Westminster Abbey in London, England Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

Signs of withdrawal from the Commonwealth, the last remnant of the British Empire, are also emerging ahead of Charles III's coronation. The Commonwealth is an international organization established in 1931, centered on countries that were colonized during the British Empire from the 17th to 20th centuries. Charles III is the head of the Commonwealth, a political union of 56 countries, and serves as the head of state for countries including the UK, Australia, Canada, Jamaica, and New Zealand.

However, Australia, a member of the Commonwealth, decided in February to replace the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the 5-dollar bill with Indigenous Australian artwork, and Caribbean countries have expressed or pursued desires to become republics in 2021 and last year.

In the UK, there are concerned voices that after Queen Elizabeth II, who served as the head of the Commonwealth, passed away, Charles III, who has taken on this role, will face declarations of independence from Commonwealth countries.

Born in 1948, Charles III became Prince of Wales in 1969. After Queen Elizabeth II died at age 96 last September, Charles III became the king of the UK. He married Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1981, had two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, and divorced in 1996. Since 2005, he has been married to his current wife, Queen Camilla.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.