Where will King Charles III's coronation take place?

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, many are asking questions about King Charles III's coronation.

As next in the royal line of succession, the Queen's eldest son ascended to the throne immediately following the death of his mother - but it's King Charles III's coronation ceremony that will see the new sovereign officially crowned. 

There are few alive today who can remember the Queen's coronation - owing to her incredible 70 year-long reign - so many have questions about what the tradition entails - as well as whether trains will be running on the big day itself. Here's what we know about where the ceremony will be held, and what time is the coronation of King Charles III, plus the history of important coronation symbols such as the Coronation chair.

Where will King Charles III's coronation take place?

King Charles III's coronation will take place at Westminster Abbey - the same place all coronations of UK monarchs have taken place for the past 1,000 years - and he will be crowned alongside his Queen Consort, Camilla.

The Abbey is in the City of Westminster in London and its history is entwined with that of the Royal Family, having held royal weddings and royal funerals, alongside the coronations. Westminster Abbey is also the resting place of 30 kings and queens.

The Telegraph reports that up to 2,000 guests are expected to be invited to the coronation of King Charles III, where he will be seated in the Coronation Chair - also known as Edward's Chair - holding the sceptre and orb.

The Sovereign's Sceptre and Sovereign's Orb are part of the Crown Jewels and represent the Crown's governance and the Christian world respectively. These objects also played a prominent part in the Queen's funeral, as well as the St Edward's Crown, which King Charles will be crowned with. 

The Archbishop of Canterbury will conduct the ceremony, and he will present the King with the coronation oath, before anointing, blessing and consecrating him.

There will be other venues hosting coronation events too, including the coronation concert, which will take place at Windsor Castle.

What is the Coronation chair at Westminster Abbey?

The Coronation Chair at Westminster Abbey dates back to the Middle Ages and is a significant part of the ceremony, with the crowning monarch sitting on it as they are crowned King or Queen. 

According to London Tickets, it was built for King Edward I between 1297 and 1300.  A stone attached underneath was previously considered a part of the Coronation Chair, however this was removed and returned to Scotland in 1996.

What is the stone under the Coronation Chair?

The stone that formerly made up part of the coronation chair is known as the Stone of Destiny. It's essentially a sandstone block that King Edward I seized after defeating the Scots at Scone in 1296. 

"For centuries, Scottish kings had been crowned on the symbolic 'Stone of Scone', which has been associated with a wealth of mythology," says the London Tickets website. "Although the Coronation Chair is still in use for its purpose, the stone now sits apart from it in the Edinburgh Castle."

When was the first coronation held in Westminster Abbey?

The first coronation held in Westminster Abbey was that of William the Conqueror which took place on Christmas Day in 1066. William I was crowned shortly after defeating King Harold II at the battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066.

By all accounts, the first coronation at Westminster Abbey was a eventful one. According to the Westminster Abbey website, the ceremony was performed in English and French due to William's heritage, and there proved to be a translation issue on account of this. The Norman soldiers mistook the French-speaking Normans and English-speaking Saxons cheers of support for an assasination attempt. They began setting fires and rioting around the Abbey as a result, filling the church with smoke and leading the congregation to flee.

Why was the Queen's coronation delayed?

Queen Elizabeth II's coronation was delayed to allow an appropriate amount of time to pass following the death of King George VI, meaning she waited almost 16 months for her coronation.

This is part of a royal tradition to ensure that a sufficient mourning period has taken place before the celebration of a coronation, which also allowed for plenty of time to plan the ceremony.

The date, 2 June, was chosen in the hopes of good weather for the event, but, as is typical of British weather, it rained all day. However, that didn't stop thousands of people lining the streets to watch the royal procession following the ceremony, or throwing street parties across the UK.

King Charles III's coronation takes place on Saturday, May 6. It's yet unsure if Prince Harry and Meghan are going to the coronation.

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