Full details of the service at Westminster Abbey that will mark the coronation of King Charles the Third and his wife, Queen Camilla, have been released.
King and Queen’s wedding procession
Following the choir, religious and Commonwealth leaders, Her Majesty will enter Westminster Abbey to the anthem I Was Glad, a version of Psalm 122 set to music by Sir Hubert Parry. Jerusalem, The cry in Parry’s setting was ‘Vivat Rex!’ (Long live the king!) Which will be announced by the scholars of Westminster School.
moment of silent prayer
The royal couple took some time out to meditate and pay homage to the Supreme Lord.
greeting and introduction
The Archbishop of Canterbury welcomed the congregation with a blessing.
Identification
It is the first element of the traditional English coronation ritual in which the congregation affirms support for the king: ‘God save King Charles.’
Representing the sovereign power, the orb of the sovereign is placed in the palm of the king
presentation of the holy bible
A copy of the Bible is gifted to the king, symbolically establishing the ‘Word of God’ above all human laws. The moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland would tell the king: ‘Here is wisdom; This is the royal law; These are the living words of God.’ The tradition dates back to the coronation of William III and Mary II in 1689.
Oath
The oath is a pledge to support people of all religions and beliefs. The Archbishop asks Charles III if he is prepared to take the oath and ‘oath to promise and rule’, to which the King replies: ‘I solemnly promise to do so.’
king’s prayer
The emperor delivers a specially composed prayer that draws inspiration from Galatians 5 and the well-known hymn, I Vow to Thee My Country.
gather
Another prayer, written specifically for the coronation, addresses the theme of loving service.
Letter
Colossians 19:17
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will read from the first chapter of the letter to the Colossians (which is translated as ‘the letter’).
Scripture
Luke 4:16-21
The Gospel – derived from the Greek for ‘good news’ – is St Luke’s account of Jesus in worship in the synagogue.
Sermon
This is an opportunity for the archbishop to place the ceremony in a wider theological context, and explain how the themes of the celebration relate to both the public and the monarch.
Coronation
As the king prepares to anoint the coronation chair, he removes the robe of state – a symbol of his humility before God.
The archbishop would anoint the king on his hands, chest and head. This sacred part of the ceremony will be conducted behind a screen and will not be televised.
Meanwhile, the choir sings Handel’s Zadok the Priest, which he composed for the coronation of George II in 1727.
It has been sung before the anointing of the monarch at the coronation of every British monarch since then.
presentation of coat of arms
Peers of the House of Lords and senior Anglican bishops will present various symbols of royalty. Non-Christian peerages would present regalia that did not have clear Christian motifs, attesting to the different religions that would serve under the king.
the orb
Representing sovereign power, the orb is placed in the palm of the king.
The Sovereign’s Ring 1831 is composed of a mixed-cut octagonal sapphire inlaid with four rectangular-cut and one square-cut ruby in a gold setting.
ring
In the same way that rings are exchanged during a wedding ceremony, the coronation ring symbolizes the emperor’s promise and commitment to God. The Archbishop will tell King Charles that the ring represents ‘the covenant sworn on this day between God and the King, the King and the people’.
scepter and rod
Another piece of regalia loaded with significance, the scepter represents cosmic power and authority. The Rod of Equity and Mercy represents the spiritual role of the emperor and his pastoral care for the people.
the crowning
Made of solid gold and inlaid with precious stones, St Edward’s Crown (created in 1661) represents the king’s calling before God, and a reminder of the promises and vows made to the people.
As he crowns the king, the archbishop chants ‘God save the king!’ will lead the congregation in announcing the – a loyal exclamation that has been part of the coronation ritual since 1689.
fanfare
Richard Strauss’s famous Vienna Philharmonic Fanfare will be followed by the crowning and then the abbey bells will ring for two minutes, followed by a gun salute by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery as well as all saluting stations throughout the Kingdom including Bermuda, Gibraltar and Gibraltar . On ships at sea.
Blessings
The archbishop and other Christian leaders will bless. It is the first time that a blessing has been shared by clergy from different denominations – a reflection of Britain’s ecumenical progress.
enthrone the king
The king is seated on the throne, while the archbishop orders him to ‘stand firm, and abide henceforth in this seat of royal dignity, which is yours by right of Almighty God’ – the phrase king pre-dates the date of Edgar’s coronation. 959.
Admiration
The Church of England, following Prince William, pays tribute to the king. A new tradition then begins: an opportunity for the public to swear their ‘true allegiance’ to the Emperor and his successors. A chorus of millions will participate – from members of the congregation to people living out on the streets, up and down the country – in this solemn and joyous moment.
coronation of the queen
In short order from the king, Queen Camilla has her own coronation, which begins with a brief consecration.
The late Queen Mother was the last sovereign consort to be crowned in 1937. It is an honor only given to consorts, and so there was no such ceremony for His Late Royal Highness Prince Philip.
the crowning
Queen Mary’s crown is placed on his head. The crown is adorned with jewels from the Queen’s private collection, including the Cullinan III, IV and V diamonds.
enthrone the queen
Camilla is seated next to the king, symbolizing their joint vocation before God. A momentous musical moment ensues, as the choir sings Andrew Lloyd Webber’s coronation anthem, Make a Joyful Noise as the King and Queen are united in their joint occupation. This setting of verses from Psalm 98 was commissioned for this service.
The Sovereign’s Scepter with the Cross has been used at every coronation since Charles II in 1661
prasad bhajan
Gifts of bread and wine are brought before the king.
eucharistic prayer
This prayer recalls the words of Jesus at the Last Supper.
sancts
With words from the fifth century, Sanctus will be sung to music composed by Roxanna Panfnik, a British composer of Polish heritage, one of the king’s 12 commissions for the coronation.
god’s prayer
The Archbishop will invite everyone to join in the prayer, wherever they are, in whatever language they prefer. The Our Father was Jesus’ gift to his followers when he asked how they should pray.
prayer after dinner
Taken from the Book of Common Prayer, this prayer asks God to guide us in His holy ways.
final blessing
The Archbishop of Canterbury gave the final blessing, praying: ‘Christ our King, make you faithful and strong to do His will, that you may reign with Him in glory’.
te dem
This Latin hymn dates to the 4th century and is sometimes called the hymn of the church. It is sung when Her Majesty enters St Edward’s Chapel and is vested in the Robes of the Estate and Charles puts on the Imperial State Crown.
The term ‘Imperial State Crown’ dates to the 15th century, when English monarchs chose the design of a crown closed by arches to demonstrate that England was not subject to any other worldly power.
the National anthem
God Save the King has been the national anthem for over 250 years. It is both song and prayer, calling on God to protect the sovereign and ensure his wise rule. The nickname phrase that appears several times in the King James Bible is much older than the song itself.
Greetings from Faith Leaders, Representatives and Governor-Generals
In an unprecedented gesture marking the importance of the regions’ religious diversity, the Sovereign will spend her final moments at the abbey receiving greetings from leaders and representatives of the major non-Christian faith traditions: Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, Muslim and Buddhist.
For the first time in history, the entire coronation will be recorded and released as an album on the day of the ceremony itself.
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