King Charles III’s Coronation: 11 Fun Trivia Facts

King Charles III’s coronation took place on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at Westminster Abbey. The king solemnly swore to be a faithful Protestant and serve the people. Discover the intriguing facts and trivia about King Charles III’s coronation: Did you know that the oil used to anoint King Charles III is called Chrism oil? It was created using olives harvested from two groves on the Mount of Olives, a mountain ridge east of Jerusalem’s Old City, Israel.

1. A New Reign Begins: King Charles III’s Ascension

King Charles III's Coronation
King Charles III’s Coronation. Screenshot BBC

On September 8, 2022, King Charles III ascended to the throne following his mother’s, Queen Elizabeth II, death.

2. A Royal Coronation Set in History

King Charles III’s coronation was Saturday, May 6, 2023, at Westminster Abbey. He was the 40th monarch to be crowned in this historic location.

3. United as King and Queen

King Charles and Queen Camila at King Charles III's Coronation.
King Charles and Queen Camila at King Charles III’s Coronation. Screenshot: BBC

King Charles III and his wife, Camilla, were crowned together as king and queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms.

4. Embracing Diversity: A Multicultural Ceremony

The Archbishop of Canterbury conducted the coronation ceremony, which included representatives from various faiths, cultures, and communities across the United Kingdom.

5. A Shorter, Modern Coronation

The ceremony was more concise than Queen Elizabeth II’s 1953 coronation, lasting just over an hour.

6. Anointing with Holy Chrism Oil from Jerusalem

King Charles III's Coronation: Chrism Oil Anointment
Chrism Oil Anointment at King Charles III’s Coronation. Screenshot: BBC

King Charles III was anointed with Chrism oil, made using olives harvested from two groves on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.

7. Royal Transport: From Modern to Traditional

Royal Transport at King Charles III's Coronation
Royal Transport at King Charles III’s Coronation. Screenshot: BBC

Charles and Camilla traveled from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey on the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, a modernized carriage. After the ceremony, the royal family returned to Buckingham Palace in the Gold State Coach, a more traditional and “bumpy” carriage.

8. The Royal Family’s Balcony Appearance

The royal family made a grand appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace following the state procession.

9. Commemorative Stamps and Celebrations

The Royal Mail issued four stamps featuring portraits of Charles and Camilla to mark the coronation. A Coronation Big Lunch and a musical celebration at Windsor Castle allowed the public to join in the festivities.

10. Encouraging Community Service: The Big Help Out

The Big Help Out initiative, scheduled for May 8, promotes community service and volunteering in honor of the coronation.

11. Bonus Fun Fact: Harry’s Short UK Visit

Prince Harry's arrival at King Charles III's Coronation
Prince Harry’s arrival at King Charles III’s Coronation. Screenshot: The Royal Family Channel on YouTube

Prince Harry flew in from California for the coronation and stayed 28 hours. He missed the balcony appearance at Buckingham Palace and raced to the airport in his Dior coronation suit and medals.

After the service, the Archbishop of Canterbury invited everyone to swear “true allegiance” to the monarch, sparking debate and protests. Prince William and Kate Middleton shared a cinematic social media recap of the day’s events. After appearing on the balcony, the royal couple left Buckingham Palace for a rural retreat.

Take the King Charles III Quiz!

Now that you know all about King Charles III’s coronation, how about a news quiz?

King Charles III Quiz

Royal Quiz: 7 Multiple-choice general knowledge questions about the United Kingdom’s newly crowned King Charles III. No time-limit. How smart are you today?

1 / 7

1. Who was King Charles I?

Image: Library of Congress, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, colorized.

2 / 7

2. How old was King Charles III when he was crowned?

Photo: Hugo Burnand / Clarence House via Instagram

3 / 7

3. When the former Prince Charles secretly nicknamed Meghan Markle “Tungsten,” what was he referring to?

Photo: Office of the Governor-General / CC BY

4 / 7

4. Where did Britain’s then Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, go first on their first royal tour since the start of the coronavirus pandemic?

Image: @clarencehouse onTwitter

5 / 7

5. What does the R represent in the King Charles III monogram?

Image: Buckingham Palace

6 / 7

6. King Charles III was crowned on May 6, anointed with a special oil made from what?

Screenshot: GMA – YouTube

7 / 7

7. How many candles did King Charles III blow out on his latest birthday cake?

Screenshot: 7 News Australia – YouTube

Challenge your friends to see if any of them can do any better!

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Sources

King Charles III’s Coronation facts are cross-checked with the world’s leading news providers. Here are some of the articles we read in preparation for this post.