King Charles’ coronation: Here’s everything you need to know

King Charles’ coronation next month promises to be a lavish affair — with processions, concerts and festivities stretching across the globe. Hundreds of special guests and dignitaries are expected to gather in London. Millions more around the world will tune in to watch the historic event.

This is the first British royal coronation since the crowning of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, which officially marked the start of her record-breaking reign.

Much has changed in the Commonwealth — let alone the world — within the span of those seven decades. As King Charles ascends to the throne, he ushers in a new era for the British royal family, one in which there is seemingly more scrutiny than ever on the monarchy and its place in society.

The event, scaled-down compared to that of the King’s mother, is expected to hearken back to the monarchy’s storied traditions while highlighting the royal family’s place in the world today.

“The Coronation will reflect the monarch’s role today and look toward the future, while being rooted in long-standing traditions and pageantry,” said Buckingham Palace in a statement issued last fall.

From the procession route and the list of expected attendees to the event timeline and info on where to watch, here’s the Toronto Star’s comprehensive guide to the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

When is the King’s coronation and what is the timeline of events?

The King’s coronation service at Westminster Abbey will occur on Saturday, May 6 at 6 a.m. EDT (11 a.m. British Standard Time.) However, coronation events are scheduled for that entire weekend.

Before the coronation ceremony, King Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla, will travel from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. Following the service, the pair will return, taking the same route in reverse, for the official coronation procession, which will be larger in scale compared to the earlier procession departing from Buckingham Palace.

When the couple returns to Buckingham Palace in the afternoon, they will receive a salute from the United Kingdom and Commonwealth Armed Forces in the palace gardens. They will then appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with other members of the royal family.

The day after the coronation, a special concert will be staged and broadcast live from Windsor Castle, a royal residence west of London. Residents across the UK will also be hosting “Big Lunches” with neighbours and families to commemorate the event. (Buckingham Palace even released the recipe for a coronation quiche.)

On Monday, May 8, members of the public are invited to take part in “The Big Help Out,” a national initiative which encourages civic participation. To mark the coronation, thousands of organizations across the UK are offering residents the opportunity to help out in their communities.

Who is going to the coronation — and who is not?

The coronation on May 6 will draw hundreds of special guests and dignitaries from nations around the world. Roughly 2,000 people will attend the official ceremony at Westminster Abbey.

Attendees include Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, King’s Charles’ representative in Canada. However, the rest of Canada’s coronation delegation has yet to be announced, though it’s widely expected that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will attend.

Other individuals expected to attend include U.S. first lady Jill Biden and Prince Harry. The latter’s confirmed presence ended weeks of fervent speculation about whether the 38-year-old would be welcome, following the sharp criticisms and allegations of discrimination he levelled against his family, publicized in a Netflix docuseries and his bestselling memoir, “Spare.”

His wife, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, however, will not be travelling to the coronation, instead remaining in California with the couple’s two children, Princess Lilibet and Prince Archie, who will be celebrating his fourth birthday on coronation day.

Are Canadians involved in the processions?

There are two processions on coronation day. The first — dubbed the King’s procession — precedes the coronation ceremony and runs from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. King Charles and Queen Camilla will ride in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, made to honour the late Queen Elizabeth II on the 60th anniversary of her reign in 2012. The coach will be drawn by six Windsor Grey horses and accompanied by The Household Cavalry.

After the King’s and Queen’s coronation, they will return to Buckingham Palace, via the same route, for the much larger coronation procession. This time, King Charles and Queen Camilla will travel in the opulent Gold State Coach, commissioned in 1760 and used for every coronation since that of William IV in 1831. Compared to the coach used for the earlier procession, this heavier vehicle will be drawn by eight horses instead of six.

Armed forces members from across the UK, Commonwealth and British Overseas Territories will accompany King Charles and Queen Camilla. Canadians set to appear in the procession include five members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s musical ride, the Mounties’ renowned performance cavalry unit.

What is the procession route for Coronation Day?

The two processions on Coronation Day, leading to and from Westminster Abbey, will take the same two-kilometre route.

Departing from Buckingham Palace, the royals’ coach will travel down The Mall, a grand processional route that leads to Trafalgar Square.

After passing through London’s iconic Admiralty Arch, they will then turn onto Whitehall, a road that passes Parliament Square and leads to Westminster Abbey.

Thousands are expected to gather along the route to catch a glimpse of the royals. The UK government said viewing areas will open at 6 a.m. local time and that there will be heightened security in place.

What is a coronation?

A coronation, in essence, is the crowning of a sovereign or their spouse. Within the British monarchy, the traditional proceedings have remained largely unaltered for roughly a thousand years.

For the last nine centuries, every coronation ceremony has taken place at London’s historic Westminster Abbey. And since the Norman Conquest in 1066, the person charged with conducting the service has always been the Archbishop of Canterbury, the leader of the Church of England.

While most people likely associate a royal coronation with pomp and pageantry — which is accurate — the event is also a solemn and religious affair. As for the ceremony itself, sovereigns must take a coronation oath, before they are “anointed, blessed and consecrated” by the archbishop while seated on King Edward’s 14th-century chair.

After accepting the orbs and sceptres, the sovereign then receives the crown on their head — that iconic image depicted in various media for centuries.

Will Canada get a public holiday on coronation day?

Royal watchers and casual observers across Canada will be keenly watching the King’s coronation. On this side of the pond, there are numerous festivities and events planned for Canadians.

A ceremony in Ottawa on May 6 will feature speeches, artistic performances and special unveilings. Canadians are also invited to visit the Governor General’s residence, Rideau Hall, that weekend to visit the residence, tour the grounds and learn more about the King’s ties to Canada.

As well, federal buildings around the capital region and landmarks across the country will be lit up in emerald green on May 6 and 7 to commemorate the coronation.

Perhaps the biggest question on Canadians’ minds, however, is whether they’ll receive a public holiday. While the UK has declared a public holiday for Monday, May 8 (because the coronation falls on a Saturday), the Canadian government has not announced a holiday and has not hinted about doing so. When Queen Elizabeth died last year, the federal government announced a holiday for all federal workers. However, because most workplaces are regulated by the provinces and many of these jurisdictions did not follow the federal government’s lead, most Canadians didn’t receive a day off then.

Who will perform at the coronation concert?

International superstars Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Andrea Bocelli, along with the mega pop group Take That, will all perform at the coronation concert on May 7 at Windsor Castle, BBC confirmed April 14.

Additional performers will be revealed at a later date. The concert is expected to draw a crowd of 20,000 public and invited guests and will be broadcast to millions more around the world.

“The concert will celebrate a new chapter in the nation’s history, with themes of love, respect and optimism, celebrating the four nations, their communities and the Commonwealth,” the public broadcaster said in a statement.

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