King Charles

King Charles III: Military's new Commander-in-Chief's coronation date announced

The coronation of King Charles III will take place on 6 May 2023, Buckingham Palace has announced.

The coronation ceremony will take place at Westminster Abbey, conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

His Majesty King Charles III will be crowned alongside The Queen Consort.

The Armed Forces are expected to play a role in the proceedings, as they did for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953.

Then, the Sovereign's procession was made up of 250 people including church leaders, Commonwealth prime ministers, members of the Royal Household, civil and military leaders, and the Yeoman of the Guard.

Grenadier Guards, who were among the last people who saw Her Majesty as a princess, marched from Wellington Barracks to nearby Westminster Abbey.

The battalion formed a guard of honour under a canopy, which had been put up to protect the Queen from the rain that day.

Four guards detached from the guard of honour and slow-marched up the aisle to the music that was playing inside.

A Royal Salute of 41 rounds fired by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery in Hyde Park to mark the Principal Proclamation of King Charles III (Picture: MOD). — A Royal Salute of 41 rounds fired by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery in Hyde Park (Picture: MOD).

HMNB Portsmouth carried out a 21 Gun Salute to mark the proclamation of King Charles III (Picture: MOD). — HMNB Portsmouth carries out a 21-gun salute (Picture: MOD).

HMS Albion conducts a 21 Gun salute to mark the proclamation of King Charles III (Picture: MOD). — HMS Albion conducts a 21-gun salute (Picture: MOD).

Reservists from 104 Regiment Royal Artillery fire a 21-gun salute at Cardiff Castle to mark the Principal Proclamation of His Majesty King Charles III (Picture: MOD). — Reservists from 104 Regiment Royal Artillery fire a 21-gun salute at Cardiff Castle (Picture: MOD).

Soldiers of 4 Regiment Royal Artillery marked the proclamation of HM The King with a 21-round gun salute in York Museum Gardens (Picture: MOD). — Soldiers of 4 Regiment Royal Artillery marked the proclamation of HM the King with a 21-round gun salute in York Museum Gardens (Picture: MOD).

State Trumpeters at The Principal Proclamation of King Charles III at St. James's Palace (Picture: MOD). — State Trumpeters at The Principal Proclamation of King Charles III at St James's Palace (Picture: MOD).

The Company of Pikemen and Musketeers parade following King Charles' proclamation (Picture: MOD). — The Company of Pikemen and Musketeers parade (Picture: MOD).

The reservists of 206 (Ulster) Battery, Royal Artillery mark the official proclamation in London of Charles III as King with a 21 Gun salute at Royal Hillsborough Castle (Picture: MOD). — The reservists of 206 (Ulster) Battery, Royal Artillery mark the official proclamation in London of Charles III as King with a 21-gun salute at Royal Hillsborough Castle (Picture: MOD).

To mark the proclamation of Charles III becoming King a 21 Gun Salute was conducted at HM Naval Base Devonport by Gunners from HMS Drake, Plymouth (Picture: MOD). — A 21-gun salute was conducted at HM Naval Base Devonport by gunners from HMS Drake, Plymouth (Picture: MOD).

In pictures: Military marks King Charles III's proclamation.

Earlier this year, one of the guards spoke of his memories from that day, ahead of the the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June.

His Majesty King Charles III succeeded to the throne upon the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on 8 September.

The military's new Commander-in-Chief was formally declared Head of State during an historic ceremony in which the Armed Forces played a key role.

At St James's Palace, The Band of the Coldstream Guards, alongside eight State Trumpeters from the Household Cavalry, played God Save the King after the proclamation was read out.

It triggered a series of Royal gun salutes across the nation – 41 rounds fired by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery at Hyde Park, 62 by the Honourable Artillery Company at the Tower of London – 21 for the traditional salute, an extra 20 in Royal parks and a further 20 at the Tower as it is a Royal palace.