King Charles ascended to the throne on 8th September 2022, the day of the Queen's death, and was proclaimed King two days later on September 10th, making him the oldest new monarch in British history.
It takes a long time to plan a coronation! The ceremony will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury on the morning of 6th May 2023 at Westminster Abbey.
Every British coronation since 1066 has happened in the Abbey, making Charles the 40th monarch crowned here. The ceremony will see the King be crowned alongside Queen Consort Camilla.
Image above © Independent
Around 2,000 people have been invited to attend the ceremony. While not officially confirmed, it's guaranteed that members of the British Royal Family will be in attendance, including Princess Anne, Prince William and Catherine, the Princess of Wales.
The guest list also includes UK leaders and British MPs, foreign heads of state, other crowned monarchs, religious representatives and Queen Camilla's family.
In 1953, over 20 million people in Great Britain sat down to watch the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on TV, exceeding the radio audience for the first time! The Coronation of King Charles III will of course also be aired on TV. In the UK, it will be broadcast live on the BBC. U.S. news networks like ABC and CNN will likely to provide coverage too.
Tens of thousands of people are expected to flock to the many streets of London that will be closed for the King's procession to the Abbey.
Did you know Queen Camilla has been Patron of the Royal School of Needlework since 2017? On the day of the coronation, the Queen consort will depart the Abbey in a Robe of Estate that was designed and hand-embroidered by the school!
They have announced that the robe will draw on themes of nature - featuring flowers and insects, as a nod to Their Majesties devotion to sustainability and the natural world.
The Royal School of Needlework have also hand-embroidered new cyphers on the Chairs of Estate that will be used by King Charles and Queen Camilla throughout coronation day, as well as a new Coat of Arms for Her Majesty the Queen's Throne Chair!
Image above © Royal School of Needlework
The King and Queen Consort are encouraging togetherness over the long weekend. The Coronation Big Lunch, street parties, and the Big Help Out - a day dedicated to good causes, will bring communities together across the UK.
Neighbourhoods are being asked to share food and fun together at street parties and Coronation Big Lunches over the weekend of 6th - 8th May 2023, in a nationwide act of friendship and kindness! Sign up for free a Coronation Big Lunch pack here.
You won't need to worry about what music to listen to on the day! An official government coronation playlist has been released on Spotify, including songs by the Beatles, Harry Styles, the Spice Girls and more - check it out here.
Not sure what food to bring to the party? Official coronation recipes have also been released - featuring coronation aubergine and a strawberry and ginger trifle!
We'll be getting our bake on and cooking up a storm creating some royal themed cupcakes and Victoria sponge cake! Check out our Pinterest board with more sweet recipes here.
As tribute to His Majesty the King's public service, a national day of volunteering will take place on Monday 8th May, the bank holiday of coronation weekend. The Big Help Out will give everyone an opportunity to do their part, no matter what you enjoy. Find out more by downloading the Big Help Out app.
Why not mark this historic day by crafting something special?
Craft some bunting for your street party or create a keepsake to remember this special event. For a chance to have your work featured in the official Coronation Creative challenge, simply submit it here.
Not sure where to begin? We've released a limited edition Royal Coronation cross stitch kit ahead of the ceremony which is perfect for cross stitch beginners due to its full stitches and easy-to-follow pattern.
Featuring flowers from the official emblem to unify the flora of the four nations of the United Kingdom: the rose of England, the thistle of Scotland, the daffodil of Wales and the shamrock of Northern Ireland. This beautiful piece of art could be used to decorate your home and then as an heirloom for years to come!
Our adorable Corgi needle minder makes the perfect stitching buddy for this project!
Make your street party stand out and create your own, unique British bunting.
Your bunting can be as detailed or as simple as you like, so this craft is one that's suitable for all ages. Once made, you could even pass the bunting around the street and have each household put their own stamp on it, drawing on their own ideas! Check out our Creative Director, Sally's bunting here!
If bunting isn't your style, you could create a themed paper chain or design your very own flag instead.
Celebrate in style by designing your very own street party invitations using paper or card. Similar to the bunting, the invitations can be as intricate or as straightforward as you wish, making this a craft that would suit most ages.
You could take inspiration from the official coronation invitation (pictured below), designed by heraldic artist Andrew Jamieson, or come up with your own ideas entirely.
Image above © The Royal Family
Once done, pop the invitations through your neighbours letterboxes - this act is sure to make them smile, and will make a great keepsake to look back on in years to come!
If you're into crochet, you could create a royal crown ahead of the big day. This royal crown pattern by The Cajun Creates is completely free and would make for a lovely souvenir.
Image above © The Cajun Creates
Not a crocheter? No problem! You can still DIY your very own crown using paper, card or foam. Tap here for a simple tutorial on how to create your very own royal crown.
Take your crown to the next level and customise it with jewels, sequins or glitter. The official coronation website has a range of templates and materials to help you get crafty - tap here to discover more.
However you decide to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III, we hope you have a fantastic day paying tribute to the new King and Queen Consort!
Cross another craft off your bucket list and indulge with Sally's book, guiding you through beginner friendly designs, tips, easy-to-follow instructions and a simple list of supplies that you will require to complete your first cross stitch.
In the book, you will learn basic skills that you'll need to get started in this creative craft! There are 6 designs for you to practice your new skills, become a pro with your hoop and fabric and explore a variety of finishing options. With recommendations for the best thread, needles and helpful tools, you'll be on your way to cross stitch euphoria!
This beginner-friendly cross stitch subscription box contains all of the high-quality supplies needed to create a craft-themed cross stitch project - easy-to-follow instructions, a professionally printed colour pattern on one page of A4 paper, DMC stranded cotton, 1 DMC branded size 24 needle, sand Zweigart 14 count aida fabric (ideal for beginners) and a pre-sorted CCS thread holder.
