The King will be officially crowned in May and an extra bank holiday has been announced as part of a weekend of celebrations.
King Charles will be crowned in May, with celebrations taking place over a weekend unlike any other to mark the start of his reign.
The historic investiture will be followed by a Coronation concert at Windsor Castle, featuring “global music icons” and “contemporary stars.”
People from all over the country will also attend the Coronation Big Lunch the day after the ceremony, where neighbors and communities will be invited to share food and fun.
The Prime Minister will host a Big Lunch at Downing Street on Sunday, and guests will include community volunteers from across the country, according to the government.
But when will the bank holiday fall, and what will people in the UK be encouraged to do?
What date is King Charles’s Coronation?
The Coronation of King Charles is scheduled for Saturday, May 6, 2023, at Westminster Abbey.
When will the bank holiday take place?
Last year, the government announced an additional bank holiday to commemorate the Coronation.
Following the Coronation ceremony on Saturday, the bank holiday will fall on Monday, May 8.
In keeping with the 1953 bank holiday commemorating Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation, this will be a chance for families and communities across the country to come together to celebrate.
In honor of the King’s many decades of public service, the public will also be encouraged to participate in the Big Help Out initiative.
“The Coronation of a new monarch is a unique moment for our country,” Rishi Sunak said in announcing the bank holiday. In honor of this historic occasion, I am pleased to announce that the United Kingdom will have an additional bank holiday next year.”
“I am looking forward to seeing people come together to celebrate and pay tribute to King Charles III by participating in local and national events across the country.”
“The Coronation combines the sacred and the solemn, but it is also celebratory,” said Oliver Dowden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
“As we mark this important day in our nation’s long history, this bank holiday will once again provide people across the United Kingdom with the opportunity to come together as families and communities to welcome His Majesty to the throne.”
Previous Royal events that have warranted a bank holiday
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – Thursday 2 June 2022
An extended bank holiday was held in June 2022 to allow the people of the United Kingdom and communities around the world to commemorate Her Majesty’s 70 years on the throne.
The end-of-May bank holiday was rescheduled to take place from Thursday, June 2 to Sunday, June 5.
The Queen’s State Funeral – Monday 19 September 2022
Her Majesty’s State Funeral The Queen’s funeral was held at Westminster Abbey, and Monday, September 19, was declared a one-off bank holiday to allow people across the UK to mourn the late monarch.
The Royal Wedding – Friday 29 April 2011
The royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton was declared a public holiday in the United Kingdom. This allowed the majority of the country to celebrate the occasion.
Pubs to stay open longer
The Government has announced that pubs will be allowed to stay open until 1 am over the Coronation Bank holiday weekend to allow patriotic revelers to “raise a glass” to King Charles.
To commemorate the King and Queen Consort’s Coronation, pubs, clubs, and bars across England and Wales will be able to extend their licensing hours from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m., according to ministerial proposals.
The extension would extend through the Coronation Bank holiday weekend, which runs from Friday, May 5 to Sunday, May 7.
In addition to assisting communities in commemorating the occasion, the government stated that the extended hours would provide a boost to the hospitality industry.
The Home Secretary has the authority to make an order relaxing hours to mark occasions of “exceptional national significance” under Section 172 of the Licensing Act 2003.
Suella Braverman predicted that the Coronation in May would be a special occasion, with communities coming together to celebrate over the bank holiday weekend.
“His Majesty the King’s Coronation will be a historic moment in which our great nation and the entire Commonwealth will join together in celebration,” she said.
“Our country, and especially our hospitality industry, has faced many challenges in recent years, and the King’s Coronation is an opportunity to boost our local businesses while also celebrating with our local communities.”
“Over the bank holiday weekend, we can raise a glass to our new monarch and wish him a long and prosperous reign with our friends and families.”
What will happen on the day of the coronation?
The coronation of King Charles III is expected to be a smaller affair, with only 2,000 guests expected to attend, compared to the 8,000 or so who attended Queen Elizabeth’s ceremony in 1953.
Before being seated in the Coronation Chair, the King will be asked if he will govern the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth nations with law and justice and if he will maintain Christianity in the country.
After the Archbishop has anointed, blessed, and consecrated Charles, the crown of St Edward will be placed on his head, officially crowning him as King Charles III.
